A Perfect Murder
A Perfect Murder is a 1998 American neo-noir thriller film directed by Andrew Davis, starring Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Viggo Mortensen as a wealthy financier who uncovers his wife's infidelity and orchestrates an elaborate murder plot, the wife, and her lover, respectively.[1] Loosely based on Frederick Knott's 1952 stage play Dial M for Murder and serving as a modern remake of Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 film of the same name, the story relocates the action to contemporary New York City, emphasizing psychological tension and corporate intrigue.[2] The film follows Steven Taylor (Douglas), a powerful Wall Street executive whose marriage to the sophisticated Emily Bradford-Taylor (Paltrow) unravels after he discovers her affair with struggling artist David Shaw (Mortensen); leveraging blackmail and deception, Steven enlists David in a scheme that spirals into a web of betrayal and survival.[3] Produced by Warner Bros. with a budget of $60 million, it features a screenplay by Patrick Smith Kelly that incorporates updated elements like financial scandals and modern technology while retaining the original's core premise of a "perfect" crime gone awry.[4] Supporting performances include David Suchet as a detective investigating the ensuing events, adding layers of suspense through sharp dialogue and atmospheric cinematography by Dariusz Wolski. Released on June 5, 1998, A Perfect Murder earned mixed critical reception, praised for the lead actors' chemistry and Davis's taut direction but critiqued for deviating from Hitchcock's precision; it holds a 55% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 55 reviews.[2] Commercially, it succeeded by grossing $67.6 million in the United States and Canada and $128 million worldwide, ranking as the 30th highest-grossing film of 1998 globally.[5] Roger Ebert awarded it three out of four stars, highlighting its engaging thriller elements and Douglas's commanding presence despite some predictable turns.[6] The film's score by James Newton Howard further enhances its sleek, tension-filled tone, contributing to its status as a notable entry in late-1990s suspense cinema.Synopsis
Plot
Steven Taylor, a wealthy but financially strained Wall Street investor played by Michael Douglas, suspects his younger wife, Emily Bradford-Taylor (Gwyneth Paltrow), of infidelity and follows her to an artists' loft in Manhattan, where he discovers her affair with struggling painter David Shaw (Viggo Mortensen).[1] During a performance of Pagliacci at the Metropolitan Opera, Steven confirms the affair when Emily excuses herself to meet David.[6] Confronting David in his loft, Steven reveals evidence of David's involvement in an art forgery scam and blackmails him into murdering Emily, promising $500,000 from her inheritance and threatening exposure otherwise; to seal the deal, Steven forges a letter from Emily confessing the affair and leaves it with David as leverage.[1] David reluctantly agrees and hires a thug to carry out the killing during a staged burglary at the couple's Central Park West apartment while Steven hosts a party as an alibi. Steven provides David with a duplicate key to the apartment for access.[2] On the night of the attempt, Emily returns home early from a United Nations event and is attacked by the intruder. She fights back fiercely, impaling him with a pair of scissors after a struggle, and survives the assault. Meanwhile, Steven calls Emily from the party to monitor the situation, but the line goes dead during the attack, heightening his tension.[6] Police investigate the incident as a botched robbery, but Emily notices inconsistencies, such as the lack of forced entry.[1] As suspicion mounts, Steven manipulates evidence to frame David, planting the forged letter in David's possession and alerting authorities to the forgery scheme. David meets Steven to collect the remaining payment, but Steven ambushes and stabs him to death in a private compartment on a train to Montreal, taking the money and David's gun. As David dies, he reveals he mailed a tape recording of Steven's murder plot to Emily via courier.[2][7] Emily receives the tape, plays it, and confronts Steven with the evidence of his scheme. Steven attacks her, but Emily grabs David's gun from the safe and shoots him in self-defense, killing him. The police rule it as self-defense, and the film concludes with Emily's inheritance secure.[1]Cast
The principal cast of A Perfect Murder (1998) features Michael Douglas as Steven Taylor, a wealthy financier who discovers his wife's affair and plots her murder; Gwyneth Paltrow as Emily Bradford Taylor, his unfaithful younger wife; Viggo Mortensen as David Shaw, Emily's artist lover drawn into the murder scheme as the reluctant assassin; and David Suchet as Mohamed Karaman, the sharp-witted detective investigating the crime.[8][9] Supporting roles include Sarita Choudhury as Raquel Martinez, Emily's close friend and confidante; Michael P. Moran as Bobby Fain, Karaman's detective partner; Novella Nelson as Ambassador Alice Wills, a diplomatic figure connected to the social circle; Constance Towers as Sandra Bradford, Emily's wealthy mother; and Will Lyman as Jason Gates, a business associate of Steven's. Other minor roles are filled by actors such as Maeve McGuire as Ann Gates and John Lo Cascio as a doorman, contributing to the film's New York elite atmosphere.[8][9]| Actor | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Douglas | Steven Taylor | Wealthy financier and scheming husband. |
| Gwyneth Paltrow | Emily Bradford Taylor | Unfaithful wife targeted in the plot. |
| Viggo Mortensen | David Shaw | Artist lover coerced into assassination. |
| David Suchet | Mohamed Karaman | Investigating detective uncovering the scheme. |
| Sarita Choudhury | Raquel Martinez | Emily's supportive friend. |
| Michael P. Moran | Bobby Fain | Detective assisting Karaman. |
| Novella Nelson | Ambassador Alice Wills | Diplomatic acquaintance in the elite set. |