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
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Steve D
Hershey makes it work.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
09/10/23
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joe m
What a muddled mess "Defenseless" is and that's mostly due to a plot that is totally incoherent right from the start. The mess is compounded by Barbara Hershey's histrionic performance as an attorney who seems to lack any common sense in love as well as in performing her job. Round that out with an all star supporting cast that are as confused as Hershey in making any sense of this wildly ricocheting plot as the movie spirals out of control. I gave it 1 1/2 stars instead of 1 since it I was compelled to see how they contained the wreckage - and they didn't. The ending just drove it right off the cliff.
Rated 1.5/5 Stars •
Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars
03/30/23
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Audience Member
A pretty mediocre murder mystery involving underage pornography, infidelity and incest, all taking place in Los Angeles. The investigation into the murder is not particularly riveting, the courtroom scenes lack any dynamic drama, and the final reveal is not that unexpected.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
01/24/23
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
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