MovieChat Forums > Absence of Malice (1981) Discussion > Unrealistic Romance

Unrealistic Romance

posted 13 years ago by lreed7950
7 replies | jump to latest

...I mean the pretense - the preceding events as the basis for a romance were unrealistic.

Let's say a reporter publishes a false story about you that leads to potentially ruinous hardships for your family business - You'd hate her right?

How about she then publishes a story that leads your best friend since childhood to commit suicide. Feeling romantic now?

The movie presents it as though her giving up the source afterward somehow evens things. He even feels compelled to replace the blouse that he tore when she confronted him, as if all else is equal and he owes that to her.

Made the whole thing unbelievable.

[–] olea65 11 years ago

So true Ireed7950. This is one of my favorite movies in spite of this flaw. It doesn't add up that Gallagher would sleep with the person who caused his very close friend's suicide. Someone with no moral constraints would have. But Gallagher's character was someone with high integrity. There certainly was however, a high amount of sexual chemistry between them so, who knows? Anything is possible. Sally Field is so adorably sexy here in her prime at age 34. Sadly, she doesn't date anymore. I think no one was ever able to get too close to her. Though so many wanted to including me.

[–] Swampfire 10 years ago

A) It was clear that neither one of them was of romantic nature.

B) The pecker wants what the pecker wants.

[–] moosefeathers 8 years ago

Gallagher was just using her. There was no romance.

Swing away, Merrill....Merrill, swing away...

[–] jenniclaire-89981 8 years ago

Just watched this film again fit the first time since it cane out and this point still bothers me.
She shrugs off his assault on her- maybe, because she rightly felt hugely guilty for the woman's suicide.
And he...gets over her part in that suicide? That's not how people are.
Even if the dead woman hado not been his friend, had just been any woman he knew this reporter to have
stitched up...just no.
Otherwise an excellent film.

[–] jimprideaux2 8 years ago

Like someone else said this ain't no romance, a peculiar relationship, yes, romance, no. Gallagher started the relationship with Megan to get information. Megan responded to get information to continue her story. There develops some physical attraction, I think mostly on Megan's part. Then the suicide. Gallagher violently expresses his feeling towards her. Gallagher still needs information and visits Megan. Megan feels guilty and needs forgiveness from Gallagher. Gallagher senses Megan's need and uses her to further his scheme. During Wilford Brimley scene Gallagher kinda admires Megan's decision to do no further damage. For whatever reason Megan visits Gallagher at his boat. Gallagher more or less lets her know even the relationship, let alone romance, ain't going nowhere.

[–] Iconoclast321 (386) 4 years ago

Agreed - both those points bothered me as well.

[–] Etherdave (175) 4 years ago

You might hate her enough to enter into a relationship with her in order to help enact your revenge by making it look like you've got a pet journalist in your sack. If you pretend to care enough, she might convince herself this is some 'Out of the Blue' romance, and go with it. Gallagher tells her he is old-fashioned, and must court her in an old-fashioned way; he is mostly being honest here. He knows how to show her a good time; he knows how to show her he cares; he knows how to wine and dine and buy replacement blouses... in other words, he knows just how to snare her. If anybody should be questioning their sense of romance, it should be Carter. But she's simply too swept off her feet to protest or question the situation. Could any man be that, er… charismatic? You hear stories all the time. Especially about guys who look like Newman.