Stars: Paul Newman, Sally Field, Bob Balaban, Luther Adler, Barry Primus, Melinda Dillon

Director: Sydney Pollack

Summary: The story of a business man who suddenly finds that he is the innocent subject of a criminal investigation. His life is upturned as he tries to clear his name...

Sydney Pollack directs Paul Newman as Michael Gallagher, the innocent son of a long-dead Mafia boss who suddenly finds that he is the subject of a criminal investigation. Eventually he discovers that the press's source is intentionally pressuring him and hoping that he'll leak insider information in exchange for protection. Sally Field plays the reporter who stands behind her legal right as a journalist to exert the pressure--until she hears his side. The result is a drama in which the powerful and often prejudicial role of the press is convincingly depicted.

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In 1981, Absence of Malicewas a prescient drama set in the world of journalism just before its power exploded out of control. The title refers to a verbal loophole effectively allowing invasion of privacy. After months of fruitlessly investigating the disappearance of a prominent figure, the Justice Division contrive to leak a story that'll flush out information. Unfortunately they pick on the one news gal with a moral backbone lurking behind the all-business façade. Sally Field is superb at controlling the contradictions within Megan, and is perfect next to the resolutely calm Gallagher (an Oscar-nominated Paul Newman). His bogus investigation is sure to backfire, and once the two get together it does so in the most satisfying of ways. Shot in gloriously sunny Miami locations, the film has a constant atmosphere of realism. When it's time to point the finger of blame, the film is given over to the starriest of cameos from Wilfred Brimley as the straight-talking Assistant Attorney General. His differentiation between truth and accuracy ought to be required learning for all journalists.

On the DVD:The sound may be mono, but the picture is crisp enough. A minute-long deleted scene expanding Gallagher's business crisis is in poor condition however and doesn't add much. Neither does the theatrical trailer or three mini Filmographies of director Sidney Pollack, Newman and Field. The real extra treat is a 30-minute documentary, which features new interviews with Pollack, writer Kurt Luedtke, Newman and Field. Everyone has fond memories of making the film, even Field despite her bruises after the rough-and-tumble scene with the usually genteel Newman. --Paul Tonks

Aspect Ratio:	1.85 Wide Screen, 16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	The Story Behind Absence Of Malice, Deleted Scenes, Theatrical Trailer, Filmographies, Interactive Menus, Scene Selection
Subtitles:	Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
Year:	1981
Release Date:	July 16, 2001
Runtime:	111 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	C D R 10050
Keywords:	Absence, Malice, General, Wide, Screen, Drama
Genre:	Drama