A Perfect Murder (DVD)

...is having an affair with a younger man, David Shaw (Viggo Mortensen) - who is an artist. He takes the opportunity to visit the man and rather than attacking him, decides to provide him with an incentive to kill Emily. Hesitant at first, David is tempted towards the opportunity and also unprepared to face whatever threat would lie before him should he refuse - so he decides to accept the contract. Together they plan the 'perfect murder' whilst Emily ...
...man is arranging for her a violent ending, but she is not one to go down without a fight.

A war of mistrust

This is a film all about conflicts of interests, where each of the main protagonists chooses the 'wrong path' because they think it is of most benefit yet they simply become tied up in a web of deceit where their enemies really are close. Emily is naive and truly believes that she has broken her husband's trust, ... more

Story

Steven Taylor (Michael Douglas) plays the husband of an incredibly wealthy woman, Emily (Gwyneth Paltrow), who he discovers is having an affair with a younger man, David Shaw (Viggo Mortensen) - who is an artist. He takes the opportunity to visit the man and rather than attacking him, decides to provide him with an incentive to kill Emily. Hesitant at first, David is tempted towards the opportunity and also unprepared to face whatever threat would lie before him should he refuse - so he decides to accept the contract. Together they plan the 'perfect murder' whilst Emily remains completely oblivious to the danger that lies ahead. She feels terribly guilty about her affair yet confides in her closest friend how tired she is of the cold, apathetic attitude of her husband and the bond she feels with the new man in her life. Little does she know this very man is arranging for her a violent ending, but she is not one to go down without a fight.

A war of mistrust

This is a film all about conflicts of interests, where each of the main protagonists chooses the 'wrong path' because they think it is of most benefit yet they simply become tied up in a web of deceit where their enemies really are close. Emily is naive and truly believes that she has broken her husband's trust, which in a sense, she has - but she is also foolish enough to believe that both her husband and 'boyfriend' can be trusted. The most dramatic moment in this film is as her husband, who participates in her attack by making an anonymous call, sits back coldly and without any emotion listening to the proceeding fight. This in itself is shocking, but it really brings home the message that something like this could be done by the one person she would least suspect.

I can't help but wonder whether such characters really exist, but although I find it hard to imagine the scene in this film occurring in reality, I know as well as anyone how empty words like 'love' and 'trust' can be to some. Most of us have not (I certainly hope) met a man who pays his wife's boyfriend to kill her, but we have all come across people who know how to appear as though they have our best interests at heart when there is a hidden agenda on their minds.

Acting

Michael Douglas has something in his natural behaviour that makes him perfect for this film. It is very hard to explain, but he has such a neutral expression that there is plenty of room for a calculating killer in his characters. That is not to say that as a person in real life he has any hidden motives in his marriage. No really, I'm sure it is all very innocent.

Throughout the film he shows only hints of anger and otherwise little or no emotion at all, yet I doubt this was an easy role to play, because it means really controlling those human feelings that naturally surface when something terrible happens - even if you know it is not real.

Gwyneth Paltrow was moving, yet a strong character. To me she remains ridiculously naive, which is a shame. The scenes prior to her attack are also slightly disappointing, as they resemble - too closely - so many other scenes from those corny old horror movies. Perhaps it is her guilt that makes her jumpy, but she seems less a guilty person than one afraid that a psycho-stalker lurks behind her bedroom cupboard door.

Viggo Mortensen excels in this film. He manages to play a most devious of characters, both showing 'pretend feelings' as he continues his undercover relationship with Emily and yet a brutal, selfish creature that becomes entirely concerned with getting his money, whatever it takes. At one point he asks of Steven "Do you want me to keep f***ing your wife?"

Film qualities

The film uses music sparingly (or perhaps I am going deaf - feel free to comment lol).. yet I suppose this has the effect of allowing you to feel the impact of what is actually happening in the film, rather than because the soundtrack dictates so. In a way this shows how good the plot and acting of the film is - because it is not needed to enhance the film. It also seems a little old-fashioned to overuse music. Of course there is some mild suspense music building up to Emily's attack and where used the music seems fairly appropriate but often barely noticeable.

Graphic-wise, the film is simple and as realistic as possible. Although nothing is held back from the viewer in terms of gore and blood, the focus of the film is more on the relationships between characters, the tension and drama than violence and action. Violence is used to show how ruthless our two 'killers' can be, rather than for the sake of it.

Gwyneth Paltrow dresses like a true aristocrat (if that is the appropriate term) in this film and her costumes are both modern-stylish and of high-society. Our artist has the predictable image of rough, long hair, un-brushed, and over-worn linen clothes. Douglas wears mostly smart suits and appears constantly business-like.

The classification

There are, as should (I suppose) be expected with this type of film, violent, bloody scenes and 'scenes of a sexual nature'. I tend to argue that any such film showing sex - which this film virtually does - should be rated 18. However this is a 15. It is not exactly aimed at a young audience - I would suggest 20s and above are most likely to be interested in this kind of film - so my views remain that it ought to be classified as 18, but it is not... so there you go.

Over all

I found, although not totally gripping, I was definitely intrigued by this film and saw it through mostly out of curiosity of how it would end. Some parts were less memorable but certainly I found this film impressed me with the 'how low can you go?' achievements of the husband.

It is not a film I would describe as particularly moving or exciting but it certainly affects the viewer. I could probably watch this film a few times simply because I am fascinated by such scenes as the attack and the surprise I felt at how cold people could be, but I have to admit it is not a particularly unique or original film so if you are seeking something special this might not be it.
 

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