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Physical Evidence

Play trailer Poster for Physical Evidence R 1989 1h 39m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
22% Tomatometer 18 Reviews 16% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A debutante public defender (Theresa Russell) takes the case of a police detective (Burt Reynolds) suspected of murder.
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Physical Evidence

Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety So choppily assembled none of the various clues and innumerable suspects ever seem to lead anywhere. Nov 5, 2008 Full Review Derek Adams Time Out The case is crazy with clues, fights, new characters who fail to detain the attention, and all-important tapes containing something or other. The resolution is rubbish. Feb 9, 2006 Full Review Janet Maslin New York Times Mr. Reynolds has appeared in a long string of stinkers in recent years, but this time, the trouble isn't his fault. May 20, 2003 Full Review Richard Freedman Newhouse News Service The many cliche elements in Physical Evidence are whipped into some semblance of new life. Jun 8, 2016 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews An ill-served courtroom drama under the uneven direction of author-turned-director Michael Crichton. Rated: B- Sep 5, 2015 Full Review TV Guide Reynolds' work is top-flight, making it all the more a shame that this vastly underrated film was a flop as a theatrical release. Rated: 3/4 Nov 5, 2008 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steve D Not Jagged Edge, but not bad either. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Considering this had roughly the same budget as "Born on the Fourth of July", which had been released the same year, it's pretty much the definition of a waste of money. The plotline could at best have served as a basis for a (still middle-of-the-road) Matlock episode and everything just feels lacklustre and cliché-ridden. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Physical Evidence does a good job of keeping you guessing... but that's mostly because there is very little connection given in the film that would lead one to figuring out the whole who dunnit portion. But you do get Burt Reynolds and Theresa Russell in a Michael Crichton flick so it's not all bad. But as far as who dunnits are concerned, Physical Evidence contains very little of the title items, contains a lot of evidence that is mentioned only briefly but never really revealed, lots of teasing with little payoff, and does most the things wrong which would normally make a mystery film work. Guess Physical Evidence figured the physical presence of Reynolds and Russell were all the evidence audiences needed... unfortunately... case dismissed. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member Although Critically Panned & A Box-Office Bomb, Reynolds' & Russell's Performances Makes This Film An Enjoyable Crime Thriller Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member A bit of a convoluted story has Burt as a drunk and suspended cop up on a murder rap with a snooty young female defense attorney who sort of hates him but sort of likes him too. Should have been better. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Burt Reynolds as always... I've seen better, I've seen worse... Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Physical Evidence

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Cast & Crew

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Michael Crichton

Director

Burt Reynolds

Joe Paris

Theresa Russell

Jenny Hudson

Ned Beatty

James Nicks

Kay Lenz

Deborah Quinn

Ted McGinley

Kyle

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Physical Evidence

Physical Evidence (1989) Physical Evidence (1989) Physical Evidence (1989) Physical Evidence (1989) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A debutante public defender (Theresa Russell) takes the case of a police detective (Burt Reynolds) suspected of murder.
Director
Michael Crichton
Producer
Martin Ransohoff
Screenwriter
Bill Phillips
Production Co
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating
R
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.5M
Runtime
1h 39m
Sound Mix
Stereo, Surround
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