A Perfect Murder

R

Released Jun 5, 1998

1 hr. 45 min.

Mystery & Thriller

List

55%

55 Reviews

Tomatometer

51%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Wall Street baron Steven Taylor (Michael Douglas) discovers that his pretty young wife, Emily (Gwyneth Paltrow), is cheating on him. But what concerns him more than her infidelity is the hope of profiting from her untimely death. Emily has millions, and Steve's own financial empire is collapsing before his eyes. He hires her lover, David (Viggo Mortensen), to murder her. The plan -- to stage a break-in that will look like a random murder -- turns out to be far from perfect.

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Critics Consensus

A slick little thriller that relies a bit too much on surprise events to generate suspense.

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Steve D

Lame remake with stupid twist.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/29/24

Full Review

Kensi B

Dial M for Murder was one of the cleverest plotlines but this one seemed to have some major holes. Why would he give the murderer a KEY? Everyone acts like this is so clever but finding a key on the street (as it's implied how the murderer would get the key) doesn't mean you know where the key belongs. People don't have their names/addresses on their keys! So if the guy gets in with a KEY, it's going to clearly point to the husband as having been the one who gives it to him! Why not just leave the door unlocked? Also, how could he guarantee that she would stay home? As she is taking every available opportunity to meet up with her lover, wouldn't she do this once he leaves for the evening? And do you mean to tell me he would make a phone call with all those witnesses? And phone companies kept records in 1998! And how does Michael Douglas know the exact train/sleeper car that Viggo Mortenson will be on? And manage to get into it? Did he have a ticket? What? Additionally, Michael Douglas was one-note here. He's one of those actors who is incredible in some movies (Fatal Attraction) and very "meh" in others (like this one). The best part of the movie was Viggo Mortenson.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/17/23

Full Review

Jack O

Now I'm all set to review a film that really star Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow and Viggo Mortensen. OK, now years ago while I was watching it, I just found out that this is a remake which I didn't notice. It's called Dial M for Murder directed by Alfred Hitchcock so I think this is Alfred Hitchcock-ish so I was going to watch it to see what was going on. This film is pretty dark in many area's so this will be getting on the edge of my seat. Michael Douglas is a good actor in this and Gwyneth Paltrow and Viggo Mortensen did a pretty decent job. Michael Douglas's character plays Steven Taylor who wants his wife murdered named Emily Taylor played by Gwyneth Paltrow. She's in love with the painter called David Shaw played by Viggo Mortensen but she realized that he is a killer from the very beginning. That wasn't until the third act. Considering that there are scenes that are really interesting, there's a scene where the attacker attacks Emily Taylor and she kills him by stabbing him in the neck. It's always the best part every time I watch it. And the ending which is remarkable. Good cast in this entertaining thriller made in the 90's. I enjoyed it years ago and it is dark in places. When I played a video game that really scared me, Eternal Ring will be the answer. Every time I think about A Perfect Murder, Eternal Ring is the game where I die and get hit come across scary things, that really scares me. So, anyways, A Perfect Murder is an enjoyable movie that kept me on the edge of the seat the whole way through, nothing too special but still enjoyable. This is a good film but it is only good. I would give this an 8 but that was while back.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/22/23

Full Review

John G

Well, I enjoyed this murder plot set in the upscale art world in NYC. Gwyneth Paltrow, Michael Douglas, Viggo Mortensen, even David Suchet as a detective, The little grey cells, eh? But the plot seemed oddly familiar. The husband calling at just the right time etc. Yes, it's a remake of an iconic murder mystery. If you sit through enough of the credits, they even admit it. Look what it's based on. But there are, nevertheless, some good twists. (It's not a shot-for-shot remake.) There are even plenty of NY shots to let you know this wasn't farmed out to Toronto. When you can't place where you are in a NYC movie, it was shot up north. If you haven't seen the original, this may even totally surprise you

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/20/23

Full Review

Michael W

This crime movie was pretty good. Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, Viggo Mortensen, and the rest of the cast did a pretty good job in this movie. The plot of the movie was dramatic, suspenseful, and thrilling. It's about blackmail and deception. If you haven't seen this movie yet, you might enjoy it. That's my opinion.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/02/23

Full Review

alan p

The kitchen attack sequence. The David Suchet. Just two reasons why I loved this movie. Also the end fight is unmissable.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Andrew Davis

Director

Michael Douglas

Steven Taylor

Gwyneth Paltrow

Emily Bradford Taylor

Viggo Mortensen

David Shaw

David Suchet

Mohamed Karaman

Sarita Choudhury

Raquel Martinez

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: B-

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Jeff Strickler

Minneapolis Star Tribune

...a fast-paced thriller that probably will leave Alfred Hitchcock aficionados mourning its shallowness -- but not until after they've enjoyed an adrenaline rush.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 6, 2002

Full Review

Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

None of the amusement gained in watching the performances, unfortunately, amounts to much, as the script, in a desperate attempt to lend action interest to the original, static, puzzle plot, compounds surprise turn after surprise turn.

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 12, 2002

Full Review

Elissa Suh

Moviepudding

Efficient in plot but drab in tone, the real travesty of this remake of Hitchcock’s Dial M. for Murder lies in the severe lack of screen time dedicated to Gwyneth’s outfits.

Feb 16, 2023

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

The movie falls into the predictable pattern of who’s-plotting-against-who, with everyone’s motivations reduced to cardboard.

Rated: C-

Sep 2, 2022

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a briskly-paced and handsomely-shot endeavor that benefits quite substantially from its uniformly strong performances...

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 6, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

Wall Street baron Steven Taylor (Michael Douglas) discovers that his pretty young wife, Emily (Gwyneth Paltrow), is cheating on him. But what concerns him more than her infidelity is the hope of profiting from her untimely death. Emily has millions, and Steve's own financial empire is collapsing before his eyes. He hires her lover, David (Viggo Mortensen), to murder her. The plan -- to stage a break-in that will look like a random murder -- turns out to be far from perfect.

Director: Andrew Davis
Executive Producer: Stephen Joel Brown
Screenwriter: Patrick Smith Kelly
Production Co: Warner Bros. Pictures, Kopelson Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 5, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 28, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $67.5M
Sound Mix: Surround

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