BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

ChampDavSlim The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

Jemima It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

Staci Frederick Blistering performances.

James Those willing to indulge in a 1993 thriller had better be prepared to take a bit of the rough with the smooth. For example, the opening credits and music of Harold Decker's "Malice" are likely to deter all but the most determined, as then will be the rather scratchy look of the film-stock. But that would be a pity, as this film - when it gets going - is pretty good stuff. Alec Baldwin, Bil Pullman, Nicole Kidman, Bebe Neuwirth, George C. Scott, Anne Bancroft and even Gwyneth Paltrow may seem like an embarrassment of riches, but remember this is 1993, so Paltrow is just 22 here, and takes a small role. The others are also closer to the beginnings of their careers, but someone clearly had a good eye, and these actors easily take command of the film and - this being 1993 - maybe even come close to overacting by today's standards. But still...This movie weaves in a large number of dark elements, and is rich enough to allow two completely separate film-noir sub-plots to appear, develop and reach fruition in the company of the same characters. That's pretty unusual. And the core cast of Baldwin-Kidman and Pullman are indeed great, though (a pretty sexy) Kidman particularly so. However, all three play characters who have far, far more to them than meets the eye, and watching that all come out is highly satisfying. Though I invariably fill my reviews with spoilers, I'll elect not to do so here. My job is to tell anyone interested that - old as it may be - "Malice" is well worth a look for anyone keen on quality thrillers who has not seen it yet. And those making the committment will indeed enjoy having this complex and interesting story unfold over them.

Davis P 1993's malice is a very well-made thriller/mystery film starring Nicole Kidman Alec Baldwin and Bill Pullman. This movie has excellent chemistry between the actors, great dialogue along with a great plot that is entangled with many twists and turns. Nicole Kidman did a fantastic job in this movie as Tracy, her character was so wonderfully written, and she really executed the character well. As for Alec Baldwin and his acting, as always, his acting in Malice was superb, very entertaining and a truly flawless performance as Dr. Hill. Bill Pullman did pretty good in his role, not quite as well played as Nicole and Alec, but Still played pretty well. The plot really impressed me, I found myself being shocked, and constantly surprised by thing after thing. If you want an entertaining thriller starring A-list actors with an awesome plot, then check out Malice (1993). 7/10

statuskuo It's not a bad movie, only marginal. Better than today's movies, but still...it feels dated. I like the performances of the leads. But it gets frustratingly mean spirited as it gets to the end. Overall, it's a nostalgic watch very reminiscent of Hitchcock, but falls short when the people we want to suffer, don't. And there are inexplicable moments that draw out the story, such as the riddle- ladened drunken mother. There is NO reason she couldn't just come out and confess about her daughter.Also, they throw in an attorney to misguide you. There are plenty of moments where you do want to just shake the lead character's shoulder and tell him to leave. Or that the payoff to the comeuppance of the antagonist was to reveal an "a-ha!" moment. This seems forced.It's a good watch on a slow night.

Simon Harris Andy Safian is a small town college dean, and his wife Tracey is a school teacher. They desperately want children, and we get the impression they have been trying for some time. Enter Jed Hill, new Doctor at the local hospital, who meets and befriends Andy. So much so that Andy offers him the opportunity to rent a room at his home until he can get settled. Jed accepts, and Andy and Tracey become his landlords. Andy is distracted as he is dealing with the fact that someone is raping and murdering young girls from his college. The Police are all over the case, and even Andy himself is not above suspicion, and he is doing all he can to protect his young students. Against this backdrop, Jed is out letting off steam one night, and is drunk in a local bar when his emergency beeper goes. Jed rushes into the hospital to find Tracey, his landlord and his best friend's wife on the operating table. Andy arrives within minutes and Jed has to speak to him and tell him he can save Tracey, but must remove her ovaries, as they are necrotic. Andy of course tells Jed to save Tracey's life, which Jed does. However, when Tracey wakes from under the anaesthetic and finds she cannot ever bear children the movie really gets going. Tracey sues Jed and the Hospital. Jed, it seems, when forced to make a judgement call, got it wrong and removed a healthy ovary. Andy is left alone, with Tracey too traumatised to speak to him, and in hiding while her lawyer gets in to the business of suing the hospital, ending Jed's medical career and getting her compensation for the loss of her ovaries. Andy is desperate to contact her, but doesn't know where to find her. Jed has resigned himself to moving out of the Safian home, and is quietly drinking himself to oblivion in a rented hotel room. Out of sheer desperation to see and talk to Tracey, Andy muscles his way into her lawyers office, and demands to see her. Her lawyer turns him down flat, on instructions from Tracey. Clearly she does not want Andy in her life at all at this point. Then, a small scrap of seemingly innocuous information is let slip by the lawyer: he has worked for Tracey before, when he did some work that involved Tracey's mother. This is news to Andy, who had always believed that Tracey's parents were long dead. In desperation, Andy tracks down Tracey's mother. The film steps up another gear at this point, and is well worth the effort of watching it. There are no weak spots in this cast, Pullman, Kidman and Baldwin are note perfect, but there is great support from such luminaries as George C Scott and the absolutely wonderful Anne Bancroft, who steals her one, pivotal, critical scene effortlessly. But that's not the end of it, there's also the fine Peter Gallagher, the lovely Bebe Neuwirth (who makes a great cop by the way), and in lesser roles, there's Tobin Bell (who became SAW, and shows his scary credentials here too) and finally a bit part for Gwyneth Paltrow as a surly student. The remainder of the film is full of surprises, and when the curtain is finally pulled back and the magician revealed, you have to marvel at the depth, scope and ambition of the plot. The movie easily bears multiple viewings, as you will undoubtedly spot things the second and even third times that failed to register on the first viewing. A clever, dark and intricate movie, with all the stars on top form. A last word about Alec Baldwin. His acting is out of the top drawer in this movie, and that is not meant to detract from the performances of Pullman and Kidman, who are also very very good. I guarantee you that you will watch the scene where Andy (Pullman)tracks down Tracey's mother (Bancroft) again and again. It is an absolute delight.