A Perfect Murder (1998)

Just perfect...

Good start, but then it gets ruined

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Overall I thought it was a good movie. Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow (who I normally find annoying) were good. The only person I found creepy was David Suchet (the detective). I don't know if that was their intention, but he was just weird and creepy. He creeps me out every time I have watched the movie.

A sense of class and sophistication prevails with dominance in this free remake of "Dial M for Murder" (1954), qualities also present in the Hitchcock film but this one has a sexier and bold quality that appeals to current audiences. Whatever the case, both films are outstanding in their own ways. Simple and safe, without many complex layers to its plot, Michael Douglas plays a problematic yet controlled rich man who wants to kill his wife (Gwyneth Paltrow) and he asks her lover (Viggo Mortensen) to do the job, but it all gets messy when the man hires a third part for the task who fails with his service. In terms of thrills and chills, "A Perfect Murder" brings back all the energy Andrew Davis has given us with his greatest film, the classic "The Fugitive". Each scene goes by and you wonder what's gonna happen next, the excitement is there, positively enjoyable and never losing the rhythm. A gifted master in creating the perfect scenario for all the intrigue, the plan and the murders, Davis uses of elaborated sequences that rings a Hitchcock touch but with better effect and not so showy like some of Brian De Palma's homages. Shots and plans are in that way for a reason (close-up of a random object that later on reveals its importance) and their use are simply great. Watch more than once and you'll know what I'm talking about. It gets better at each view. As for the cast, he got it right again. You love to hate Michael Douglas in those roles, effortless but completely magnetic, powerful and with a certain charm that captivates the whole way through. Like Ray Milland in that classic, you sort of like want this man to succeed with his frightening plans. Gwyneth is there because no one else then could fit the role with that measured sweetness. I tried to look back at the female stars of the 1990's and couldn't think of one name that could adapt well into that criteria as the Hitchcockian blonde, in this case a more vulnerable one. Viggo has all the right qualities to play the third man, the young artist/lover with a mysterious past inclined to serve the money coming from his "enemy" instead of saving the love of his life. However, the performance that steals the show is the one given by David Suchet as the detective behind the case. Usually the villain or playing Hercule Poirot, Suchet carries a weight that works with a sense of amazement and reality, with a character dealing with some internal problems that are seen by Gwyneth's character with thoughtful respect - their exchange in a foreign language is pure charm and greatness. Today's thrillers don't have the same quality and class "A Perfect Murder" has. It's all about being fast, furious and more edgy in certain aspects, and that doesn't always work, it usually makes it look poor developed. Rewatching this film was like rediscovering a time and a genre that didn't need constant plot twists to make it more effective - it had some but they're all brilliantly executed. Call me nuts but there's pure excellence in this film. Too bad that Mr. Davis never got back on top like that again. But I still hope for more. 10/10

This was better than I was expecting it to be, full of twists and turns and holding a decent level of suspense throughout. Admittedly I never really bought into the idea of Michael Douglas being married to Gweneth Paltrow but they both did a great job. Douglas plays (another) wealthy executive type here, who learns that his wife is having an affair with a struggling artist and then offers the (very young and probably for the time not well known) Viggo Mortensen half a million dollars to murder her. The plan should have been "perfect" but....This is apparently a remake of the Alfred Hitchcock classic 'Dial M for Murder'(1954) which I'm curious to see now, and a slick little thriller in its own right, as I wasn't ever sure where it was going to go what with everybody betraying everybody. Good plot.I also really enjoyed David Suchet in a small role as the detective, piecing it all together. I was left wondering at the end though if "David" really loved her or not? On that note Olivier Martinez played almost exactly the same character in Unfaithful -a somewhat tortured, sexy, bohemian, struggling artist. They even looked similar 10/4/15

A perfect murder is pretty much an update version with many changes of the original classic Dial M for Murder. Obviously this film is not quite as successful as the original film, but its still nevertheless a pretty decent and interesting thriller, that has lots of twists and turns. The story is basically about a husband and wife named Steven (Michael Douglas) and Emily Taylor (Gwyneth Paltrow) where despite being married and have high prolific careers, are having a troublesome relationship and various other issues in their lives. Emily (Gwyneth) is having an affair with someone, Steven (Michael) is having serious financial implications. Neither of them are mentally stable, yet have various 'targets' to achieve. The film is pretty good for what it was. Michael Douglas was the outstanding performer of this film and if not for his performance, then I just feel the film would've dropped way down to mediocrity. I'm surprised just how beautiful Gwyneth looked back then, she was a very good choice playing the character Emily. The cast choice was good and the film is a decent thriller worth watching for 1 night or something at least. The conclusion according to me was a let down otherwise it could've got a higher rating.Personally, I found this film pretty enjoyable and gave it a 6 rating and it is certainly worth watching. What makes the film different compared to Dial M for Murder, is that it is much much darker.