Movie Review: Guilty Conscience

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: The acting and story

Cons: The DVD itself

The Bottom Line:

The poor DVD

Makes this excellent movie

Barely watchable

Anthony Hopkins in a Made for TV Movie

Arthur Jamison (Anthony Hopkins) is a brilliant and successful criminal defense attorney. There's just one problem. His wife Louise (Blythe Danner) has decided to file for divorce and is planning to milk him for all he is worth. Since Arthur doesn't want that, he needs to figure out a way to kill her. But, being the attorney he is, he knows that he'd be the first suspect. While he plots various ways to bring about her demise, his mistress (Swoosie Kurtz) shows up unexpectedly. Now what will Arthur do?

This is an interesting little known made for TV movie from the mid-80's. It feels like a low budget film with dark sets and cameras that stay in one place instead of cutting for lots of shots. In fact, it almost feels like a play since almost all of it takes place in Arthur and Louise's house. There are a few scenes that take place outside their home, but they are the exception, not the rule. Still, the movie never feels claustrophobic but uses the limited number of sets to great advantage.

Arthur, Louise, and the mistress are the only real characters in the film. Naturally, that means that the success or failure rests solely on these three actors. All three do a great job. The film was made before Anthony Hopkins was well known, but it is easy to see why he went on to great success. Blythe Danner and Swoosie Kurtz have both gone on to long, successful careers as well, and it's easy to see why from their work here.

The plot is hard to discuss without giving anything away. We get several sequences of Arthur's plots to kill his wife and then the cross examination he images he'll have when the case goes to trial. I was getting a little bored with the movie, but half way through there's a great twist that grabbed my interest for the remainder of the film.

While the movie itself is 5 stars, I had to take a couple off for the DVD transfer. The one I watched was done by Platinum Disc Corporation, and it's absolutely horrid. The picture looks like it is a third of fourth generation VHS recording. You know those old videos you've watched over and over again? Yep, that's what you get here. There are even occasional tracking problems for a couple seconds. The transitions at the original commercial breaks are jarring due to amateurish editing. I'll freely admit, this probably contributed to the low budget feeling of the movie I mentioned earlier. The disc does include a five question trivia challenge and a biography of Anthony Hopkins, and that's all in the way of extras.

I don't know if other DVD versions are better, but this one was disappointing. Guilty Conscience itself is highly recommended. Just be prepared for the poor quality of the disc.