Defenseless

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Jeff M I've come to the conclusion that coming up with a good ending is probably one of the greatest challenges a filmmaker faces - and sadly there's probably more failures than successes. This is a glossy, enjoyable, old-fashioned-feeling mystery/suspense yarn that doesn't take itself too seriously, has game performances from a cast of underrated thespians, but the ending stinks. I'm choosing, however, to concentrate on the other 90% and give this a mildly favorable review. Hershey has always been one of my favorite unsung actresses, especially during this period of her career. It's not much of a role, and she has some difficulty at the beginning when her character has an irritating tendency to talk to herself, but she acquits herself nicely. Hurt's performance is going to be polarizing - to call it over-the-top is a gross understatement. From the Southern accent to her...well, shall we say unsubtle take on the character, it's a doozie. It took me a bit to adapt, but she's having a lot of fun and they're not making CITIZEN KANE, so I just went with it. The plot does tend to get a bit scuzzy as it deals with underage girls in snuff movies, but it doesn't feel overly exploitative or anything. When all is said and done, it's not really that suspenseful or thrilling, and there are plot holes here big enough to stick Vince Vaughn in, but this is one of those little movies that rainy days were made for. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/22/24 Full Review Steve D Hershey makes it work. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/10/23 Full Review jon c Only thing more terrifying than the murder is the motive itself Director Martin Campbell shows a murder/mystery thriller starring Barbara Hershey, Sam Shepard, JT Walsh, Christine Elise The movie opens with a film producer editing an x-rated movie then a man comes up and nearly beats him to death Turns out this producer was casting minors in his adult films Los Angeles attorney TK takes on the case of defending her college roommate Ellie who's husband (the producer) is slain later This is after she's invited to his house by his wife then back at T.K.'s office he sees her again but finds his dead body after an assault Who is the culprit? T.K. might have to solve this all on her own but it's risky since she was personally involved with the victim and someone might have to silence her Barbara Hershey is terrific here and Sam Shepard as well as this point boiler of a mystery Honestly I don't see anything bad in this and for some reason this got mixed reviews from critics Ok it's not Martin Campbell's finest work but the suspense and inter workings of the case kept me glued wanting to see what happens I wasn't ready for the emotional impact towards the end Sure the story is somewhat salacious and contrived in a few areas but the shocking reveal is uncomfortably heartbreaking Hershey does her best with this material as much as possible Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a really well made and very well acted thriller with a legal basis. Some might say it's contrived, but no, it's very contextual with differences. A fiction thriller is a fiction thriller, and this has everything going for it (including the odd bit of nice, 80s movie style jazz fusion L. A. musical soundtrack). "Defenseless" never tries to be more than a very good, classic kind of film in the genre, if perhaps appearing as much on the made-for-TV side as a cinematic movie. Saying it is contextual doesn't mean that the film is predictable - far from it, although that's situated around a bit of a convoluted plot focus. In the end it makes for a really fresh, enjoyable, engaging thriller which isn't high octane but gripping naturally without sensationalism. Very compelling. Directing, production, editing and acting all conspiring so well to keep you guessing until it's all done. Another mention for the acting, really first class, you seldom get them like this anymore. That's especially in this kind of movie, in movies which are lower rung in aspirations than the bigger Hollywood fish which aim for the sky. Watch it, relax, a lot of talent went into this film. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member poradi ovoj film,nas covek frlil molotov koktel vrz amerikanskata ambasada pred nekolku dena??? ne mi se veruva...vo filmov nema nisto posebno da ti tekne toa da napravis...kako i da e,dobro filmce so Sam Shepard Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Great cast is wasted. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Defenseless

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