SYDNEY POLLACK

Bil’s rating (out of 5):   BBBBB

USA, 1981.  Columbia Pictures Corporation, Mirage Enterprises.  Screenplay by Kurt Luedtke.  Cinematography by Owen Roizman.  Produced by Sydney Pollack.  Music by Dave Grusin.  Production Design by Terence Marsh.  Costume Design by Bernie Pollack.  Film Editing by Sheldon Kahn.  

Excellent drama about the world of journalism. Sally Field gives her best performance after Norma Rae as a green reporter who goes after the son of a long-dead mob boss (a superb Paul Newman) in the hopes that his story will shed light on a recent murder case. Newman hasn’t entered his father’s business, and is completely clear of any suspicion of criminal activity, but that doesn’t stop the press from leaking false stories of his involvement just to sell a paper. The personal power play between these two characters makes for one of the most fascinating films on the subject that has ever been made, and one of Sydney Pollack’s most violently emotional films. The perfect script was written by Kurt Luedtke, who would go on to do the superb adaptation for Out Of Africa four years later.

Academy Award Nominations:  Best Actor (Paul Newman); Best Supporting Actress (Melinda Dillon); Best Original Screenplay

Berlin Film Festival:  In Competition

Golden Globe Award Nominations:  Best Actress-Drama (Sally Field); Best Screenplay