Mortal Thoughts

R

Released Apr 19, 1991

1 hr. 44 min.

Drama

List

56%

16 Reviews

Tomatometer

36%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A loathsome man ends up dead, but it's not clear who's to blame. If ever a person got what he deserved, it's James Urbanksi (Bruce Willis), an abusive drunk who steals from his wife, Joyce (Glenne Headly), and promises her close friend Cynthia Kellogg (Demi Moore) that she'll be the next target of his rage. At a group outing, James bleeds to death after someone cuts his throat. But because he's such a terrible human being, police aren't sure which of his acquaintances decided to kill him.

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Audience Member

Mortal thoughts can be good or straight up murderous. Demi Moore co-produces and stars next to Bruce Willis, Harvey Keitel, and Glenn Headly. Cynthia Kellogg is best friends with Joyce who a while back got married to James Urbanski. Unfortunately James has an enormous temper, gets drunk regularly, and often takes his rage out on others. His wife had had enough. John then ends up dead but is it justified? Cynthia is currently being investigated by the authorities about what led up to the alleged murder. Detective John Woods heads the interrogation. The pieces of the story slowly come together and it unlocks some disturbing revelations as both of these women's lives are falling apart. The misdirection was actually handled pretty well. Moore and Headly make a great pair of friends. The film asks fundamental questions of whether murder is actually justified given how monstrous the victim is. Even our morality can be sustained for so long we abandon it. Either the guilt or innocence eventually sets in. A smaller budget of a thriller with some decent actors to boot and some smart plotting to keep the suspense adrift.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/20/24

Full Review

Steve D

Really unpleasant but the end is strong.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/11/23

Full Review

Andre G

Old school movie a lot of people probably never saw. It's your typical husband beating his wife. All their friends and family know about it and do nothing. There is a twist. It's worth a watch.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Overall, this is a fun thriller that begins with a vague and small storyline that grows into something far greater than I expected. It's filled with exciting mysteries that keep viewers engaged and continually guessing the big reveals. Performances are great, with Demi Moore being mysterious and believable and Bruce Willis playing a harsh character. With a good musical score and dark tones, this is a rewarding thriller that mixes themes of violence, friendship and trust. The climax ends on a high note which also feels extremely rewarding, making this film quite entertaining all around.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Mortal thoughts can be good or straight up murderous. Demi Moore co-produces and stars next to Bruce Willis, Harvey Keitel, and Glenn Headly. Cynthia Kellogg is best friends with Joyce who a while back got married to James Urbanski. Unfortunately James has an enormous temper, gets drunk regularly, and often takes his rage out on others. His wife had had enough. John then ends up dead but is it justified? Cynthia is currently being investigated by the authorities about what led up to the alleged murder. Detective John Woods heads the interrogation. The pieces of the story slowly come together and it unlocks some disturbing revelations as both of these women's lives are falling apart. The misdirection was actually handled pretty well. Moore and Headly make a great pair of friends. The film asks fundamental questions of whether murder is actually justified given how monstrous the victim is. Even our morality can be sustained for so long we abandon it. Either the guilt or innocence eventually sets in. A smaller budget of a thriller with some decent actors to boot and some smart plotting to keep the suspense adrift.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

You can't go wrong with Willis, Moore, Headley and Keitel. Only complaint is that Bruce wasn't in it for long. Great actors.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

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Alan Rudolph

Director

Demi Moore

Cynthia Kellogg

Glenne Headly

Joyce Urbanski

Bruce Willis

James Urbanski

John Pankow

Arthur Kellogg

Harvey Keitel

Detective John Woods

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Isham’s score makes the possibility of loving these characters or feeling morally committed to them not only impractical but unthinkable.

Rated: 2/4

May 24, 2022

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C-

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

There is another level to Mortal Thoughts than either the guilt or innocence of the characters, or the wit with which Rudolph portrays their world. It is the level on which ordinary people cut themselves loose from ordinary morality.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

With a sanguine base, the film seems to incongruously flirt with comedy, yet both aspects irreconcilably bifurcate. [Full review in Spanish]

Jul 31, 2023

Full Review

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Rated: 3/5

Sep 27, 2005

Full Review

Caffeinated Clint

Moviehole

Bruce Willis is rather terrifying.....a man of many faces indeed

Rated: 3/5

Jul 4, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

A loathsome man ends up dead, but it's not clear who's to blame. If ever a person got what he deserved, it's James Urbanksi (Bruce Willis), an abusive drunk who steals from his wife, Joyce (Glenne Headly), and promises her close friend Cynthia Kellogg (Demi Moore) that she'll be the next target of his rage. At a group outing, James bleeds to death after someone cuts his throat. But because he's such a terrible human being, police aren't sure which of his acquaintances decided to kill him.

Director: Alan Rudolph
Executive Producer: Stuart Benjamin, Taylor Hackford
Screenwriter: William Reilly, Claude Kerven
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation, Polar Entertainment Corporation, New Visions Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 19, 1991, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $17.8M
Sound Mix: Surround

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