CAUTION -- CONTAINS SPOILERS --
"A Slight Case of Murder" stars William H. Macy in a role not that different from the car salesman he plays in "Fargo." Here he is a professional movie critic, and often his character speaks at the audience, directly into the camera. Although he has a nice, attractive and devoted girlfriend, he is weak. He is having an affair with a co-worker when she accidentally slips and dies while he is with her. Afraid, he slips away in the night, but is photographed by a PI (James Cromwell, who was the farmer in "Babe") hired by the jealous, separated husband. The PI attempts to blackmail him, and Macy whacks him, eventually disposing of the body parts in a lake over the side of his girlfriend's sailboat while she is fast asleep after he drugs her wine.
Meanwhile the detective (Adam Arkin, "Adam" on Northern Exposure) befriends Macy, who ends up having an affair with the detective's wife. At the conclusion, as it appears that Macy will get away with his various transgressions, and is all set to have a happy life with his girlfriend, he comes home and his apartment is overrun with police. The detective has found out about the affair with his wife, decides to plant evidence (back door key, blood on shoes) to frame Macy in retaliation for seducing his wife, not for a second thinking he is really guilty.
As the movie ends, and Macy is being taken away in a cop car, he says, "If you ever decide to commit murder -- and I don't recommend that you do -- don't complicate matters by getting involved with the detective's wife." Macy co-wrote the screenplay, and plays the main character very well. For good entertainment, and a moderate amount of suspense, I rate it "7" of 10.
"A Slight Case of Murder" stars William H. Macy in a role not that different from the car salesman he plays in "Fargo." Here he is a professional movie critic, and often his character speaks at the audience, directly into the camera. Although he has a nice, attractive and devoted girlfriend, he is weak. He is having an affair with a co-worker when she accidentally slips and dies while he is with her. Afraid, he slips away in the night, but is photographed by a PI (James Cromwell, who was the farmer in "Babe") hired by the jealous, separated husband. The PI attempts to blackmail him, and Macy whacks him, eventually disposing of the body parts in a lake over the side of his girlfriend's sailboat while she is fast asleep after he drugs her wine.
Meanwhile the detective (Adam Arkin, "Adam" on Northern Exposure) befriends Macy, who ends up having an affair with the detective's wife. At the conclusion, as it appears that Macy will get away with his various transgressions, and is all set to have a happy life with his girlfriend, he comes home and his apartment is overrun with police. The detective has found out about the affair with his wife, decides to plant evidence (back door key, blood on shoes) to frame Macy in retaliation for seducing his wife, not for a second thinking he is really guilty.
As the movie ends, and Macy is being taken away in a cop car, he says, "If you ever decide to commit murder -- and I don't recommend that you do -- don't complicate matters by getting involved with the detective's wife." Macy co-wrote the screenplay, and plays the main character very well. For good entertainment, and a moderate amount of suspense, I rate it "7" of 10.