Film Review: A Perfect Murder

As Emily Bradford, Paltrow sizzles with expected ambivalence torn between her lover David Shaw played by Viggo Mortensen, and Douglas, playing Steven Taylor, her domineering and manipulative husband. The movie looks and feels like Hitchcock’s Dial M for Murder as it should. The working title for the project was the same until 'in-the-can' after final production. Note that while officially and legally married in the film - Steven Taylor and Emily Bradford use their birth last names - the new paradigm on the 90’s marriage.

Veteran director Andrew Davis makes a brilliant return from the disconnected motion of his last film, Chain Reaction, to present us with a faithful remake of the classic, Dial M for Murder. The film even presents a touch of the Burt Lancaster classic, Sorry - Wrong Number. Davis, who gave us brilliant films like The Package, Under Siege, and Oscar winner, The Fugitive, delivers completely in A Perfect Murder. I was so pleased to see him leave his ensemble supporting cast of his last three films behind, an ensemble that included Ron Dean, Eddie Bo Smith, Michael Skewes, Johnny Lee Davenport, and of course, the city of Chicago itself.

The surprise / non surprise was Viggo Mortensen. I first noticed him as Wepps in Crimson Tide opposite Denzel Washington. Then as the ominous Master Chief John Urgayle in G.I.Jane opposite Demi Moore. Viggo has been around since 1984 playing a bit parts, progressing through today in a string of thirty films and television roles. Today he is clearly a hot property and an actor with a future as he delivers a performance that rivals any. His face is perfectly matched to his moody, stalking cleverness and his strange sense of honor contrasted with latent greed.

The story is spectacular. Anyone with a penchant for Agatha Christie, Hitchcock, or the mystery genre in general will appreciate the titillating clues that lead you … well you’ll have to figure that out for yourselves. I can promise you that the end is not what you think it will be and for the first time that I’ve ever noticed in American film, there is a sub story of alternate communication between Paltrow and the Arabic speaking homicide detective played by David Suchet that will surprise and please you. The flavor of the relationship is reminiscent of Rick and Captain Renault’s unspoken understanding in Casablanca. It is the unspoken gestures that form their mutual understanding. By the way; David Suchet has been in more than forty films including the leader of the terrorist opposite Halle Berry on board the 747 in Executive Decision

If you like roller coasters you’ll appreciate this film. Just when you thought it was okay to breathe, Davis takes your breath away again. Pay particular attention to the way Douglas communicates with his computer. There are important clues here that are easy to dismiss and contribute greatly to the plausibility. But even if you do miss them, you’ll still love this film

It is this critics view that director Andrew Davis is back, Viggo is on the rise, Paltrow,.. well what can I say, and Douglas; I don’t think this guy even knows how to make a bad movie. One more note on Michael Douglas; If you liked him in Basic Instinct, Wall Street, The Game, or Michael Crichton’s Disclosure, then in this role, he’s clearly the icing on the cake.

Movies; Art Reflecting Life. Enjoy !