MovieChat Forums > Absence of Malice (1981) Discussion > Not as good as I remembered it

Not as good as I remembered it


Nothing like this could happen in real life, that is, the guy wronged could revenge himself in such a way. The government (Justice Dept.) would take care of its own. And the ending of Sally Field with Newman at the boat was just "tacked on."

I used to think a lot of this after first seeing it, but it doesn't hold up. 5 ot of 10 stars.

reply

Give it another watch. Maybe after 10 years your mind will be changed.

Of course you will never see this message though.

reply

And love the scene of Melinda Dillon picking up her neighbors' newspapers before they can read em.

reply

[deleted]

I suggest you read up on 'The Dreyfus Affair' (as in NOT Julia Louise) on the subject of how willing a Government is to tolerate corrupt or bigoted officials in the face of public ridicule and excoriation in the Press. One recalls the example of a certain Daniel Ortega: known for his support of the lower classes in his home country of Nicaragua, he was demonized and chased from the political forum by his opponents, who then instituted (with the help of the United States) a right-wing military dictatorship to keep him from power. So he organized a grass-roots populist opposition, dismantled his opponents' regime, and got himself democratically elected in their place. Today the opponents are the ones running around in the jungles trying to avoid the very people they were oppressing. The United States presently has its hands full fighting two devastating disease pandemics: COVID, and Trumpism. Ortega? He's still his country's President. How's that for revenge?

reply