Absence of Malice

• Paul Newman: Mike Gallagher
• Sally Field: Megan Carter
• Bob Balaban: Elliot Rosen
• Melinda Dillon: Teresa
• Luther Adler: Malderone
• Barry Primus Waddell
• Josef Sommer: McAdam
• John Harkins: Davidek
• Don Hood: Quinn
• Wilford Brimley: Wells

Malice is an American feature film from the year 1981.

Action

For half a year the union leader Joey Diaz disappeared without a trace. The investigation in the case directs Elliot Rosen, he has not the slightest trace. He puts the reporter Megan Carter that against Mike Gallagher is determined. Gallagher operates a liquor wholesale business in Miami. His late father was bootlegger and a member of the local mafia. Rosen believes he rankommt the missing Diaz about him. Carter writes an article about the investigation into Gallagher. The completely innocent Gallagher is suddenly publicly pilloried and get no chance to prove his innocence. The scandal drove him almost to financial ruin. Carter feels that he is innocent and meets regularly with him. She falls in love with the attractive man.

A conversation with the uncertain Teresa to the Gallagher takes care of since childhood, gives her the opportunity to whitewash this publicly. Teresa was in Atlanta, where she had an abortion on the day of Diaz's disappearance with Gallagher. Gallagher has an alibi. The Catholic girl asks Carter, however, not to publish her ​​story with the shameful details for them. But it is precisely these details prove Gallagher's innocence. On the day of publication of the article, Teresa takes her own life. Carter recognizes her guilt in the death of the girl and tells Gallagher that Rose was her informant.

Now Gallagher begins a campaign of revenge against the investigating authorities. He lures the prosecutor Quinn into a trap. He urges him to confess in a press conference that the investigations are set against him and were based on errors of authority. Gallagher gets the item that cleanses him. Roses determined now, however unofficially against the prosecutor. Gallagher has laid a trail through donations that allow the prosecutor appear as corrupt. Carter is able to view the files, which can cast doubt on Gallagher's innocence again. Again she writes an article that makes the alleged scandal publicly. Now, the federal official Wells takes over the investigation and invites all parties to a conversation before. Wells acknowledges that the story is fictitious, but received no evidence. Gallagher comes free because all the corruption can not be demonstrated. The prosecutor is discredited lose his job and also roses is dismissed on account of his methods. Wells ensures that the press now reports on the case, as he has played and so also Carter is discredited as a journalist because of their relationship with Gallagher and their insufficient sensation researched history of his own colleagues. Carter plans to leave the city and return to their homes in Berkshire. Gallagher has decided to break up with his boat in unknown territory.

Reviews

" An exciting and intelligently constructed socially critical film about media ethics, which emphasizes the responsibility of the individual; perfectly directed and acted. "

Awards

The film took part in the 1982 competition of the Berlinale. Sydney Pollack was awarded by the jury an honorable mention. The Reader Jury of the Berliner Morgenpost recorded from the movie as best film of the festival. Sally Field and Kurt Luedtke were nominated in the same year for a Golden Globe Award. 1982 Luedtke received for his screenplay also an Academy Award nomination, as well as Paul Newman and Melinda Dillon was nominated for an Oscar.