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Body of Evidence (1993 film)

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Body of Evidence
Theatrical release poster
Directed byUli Edel
Written byBrad Mirman
Produced byDino De Laurentiis
StarringMadonna
Willem Dafoe
Joe Mantegna
Anne Archer
CinematographyDouglas Milsome
Edited byThom Noble
Music byGraeme Revell
Production
companies
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer[1] (US),
Guild Film Distribution (UK)
Release date
  • January 15, 1993 (1993-01-15)
Running time
99 minutes
CountriesGermany
United States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$30 million[2]
Box office$13,275,426[2]

Body of Evidence is a 1993 American erotic thriller film produced by Dino De Laurentiis and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and has the rare NC-17 rating.[1] It was directed by Uli Edel and written by Brad Mirman. The film stars Madonna and Willem Dafoe,[3] with Joe Mantegna, Anne Archer, Julianne Moore and Jürgen Prochnow in supporting roles.

The first theatrical release was censored for the purpose of obtaining an R rating, reducing the film's running time from 101 to 99 minutes.[4] The video première, however, restored the deleted material. Madonna's performance in the film was universally derided by film critics and it marked her fourth film acting performance to be widely panned, following Shanghai Surprise, Who's That Girl and Bloodhounds of Broadway.[5]

Plot

An older man, Andrew Marsh, is seen viewing a homemade pornographic tape. It is later revealed the man died from complications stemming from erotic asphyxiation. The main suspect is the woman having sex with Marsh in the film, Rebecca Carlson (Madonna), who after being charged with murder is represented by lawyer Frank Dulaney (Willem Dafoe).

The trial begins in Portland, Oregon and it isn't long before Carlson and Dulaney enter a sadomasochistic sexual relationship behind the back of Dulaney's unsuspecting wife (Julianne Moore).

During their first sexual encounter, Dulaney, overcome by lust, notices too late that Carlson is tying his arms behind his back using his own belt. Carlson then pushes him onto the bed, removes his underwear, and while he is restrained, she humiliates him by pouring hot candle wax on his chest, stomach, and genitals, apparently amused by Dulaney's increasingly desperate reactions. The two then have sex with Carlson in complete control, an obvious counterpoint to their relationship in the courtoom, where Dulaney is the one in control.

Carlson proclaims her innocence to Dulaney in private as well as in court, but district attorney Robert Garrett (Joe Mantegna) is out to prove that Carlson deliberately killed Marsh in bed to receive the $8 million dollars he left her in his will.

The testimony of Marsh's private secretary, Joanne Braslow (Anne Archer), reveals that he also had a sexual relationship with her that could have contributed to his death, casting a reasonable doubt as to Carlson's guilt.

Dulaney can't resist Carlson sexually but doesn't trust her. His wife sees telltale marks on his flesh and realizes he's been having an affair. Carlson is shown in court to have had previous sexual relationships with a number of older rich men, including Jeffery Roston (Frank Langella), in which her lovemaking was just as rough, indicating that what she did with Marsh was not unusual.

Carlson's testimony convinces the jury, which acquits her. Before leaving court, she mockingly thanks her attorney for getting a guilty client off, fully aware that he cannot repeat what she said and that she cannot be tried twice for the same crime.

Dulaney goes that night to Carlson's home, where he finds her with Marsh's doctor, Alan Payley (Jürgen Prochnow), freely discussing the way they conspired to kill Marsh. She's free and clear, but taunts Payley by telling him to lie low (as he could be convicted of perjury) and to leave because "I've already forgotten you."

Carlson bluntly tells Dulaney that her sexual prowess is how she is able to make men do anything. An enraged Payley lashes out at Carlson physically and, after Dulaney pulls him off, Payley shoots her twice. She plunges from a window to her death.

Main cast

Reception and controversy

The film was almost universally panned by critics and was nominated for six Golden Raspberries, including Worst Picture, Worst Actor (Willem Dafoe), Worst Director, Worst Supporting Actress (Anne Archer) and Worst Screenplay, with Madonna winning Worst Actress.[7] It also appeared on the 2005 list of Roger Ebert's most hated films. The screenplay and performances were especially disparaged.[8] Body of Evidence has a 7% rating over at Rotten Tomatoes.

Body of Evidence also exacerbated an already burgeoning controversy about Madonna's frequent association with pornography.[9] Before its release she had already published her softcore coffee table book Sex, and the film features her and Dafoe's characters in graphic scenes of simulated rape, cunnilingus, anal and public intercourse.[citation needed] Madonna re-created her look from the film for the music video of her song "Bad Girl", released at the same time.

Box office

Body of Evidence performed poorly at the box office.[10] In its second week it experienced a 60% drop.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c David J. Fox (1992-08-31). "Madonna Set to Push Limits Once More With NC-17 Movie". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
  2. ^ a b "Body of Evidence (1993)". Imdb Business. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  3. ^ McKenna, Kristine (1992-04-19). "Willem Dafoe is making the leap from incendiary character actor to romantic leading roles opposite Susan Sarandon and Madonna". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  4. ^ Fox, David J. (1992-10-30). "Madonna's Movie Will Be Edited for 'R'". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  5. ^ Rainer, Peter (1993-01-23). "Madonna as Actress? The 'Evidence' Is In". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  6. ^ Galbraith, Jane (1992-04-23). "Politician Doesn't Want Madonna's 'Body'". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  7. ^ James, Caryn (1993-01-17). "FILM VIEW; Madonna's Best Role Remains Madonna". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  8. ^ Ebert, Roger (1993-01-15). "Body Of Evidence". Chicago Sun-Times. RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 2009-12-15.
  9. ^ Siskel, Gene (1993-01-15). "Madonna's `Body' Is More Laughable Than Her Book". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
  10. ^ Fox, David J. (1993-01-19). "Weekend Box Office `Body' Struggles to Make the Top 5". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
  11. ^ Fox, David J. (1993-01-26). "Weekend Box Office `Aladdin's' Magic Carpet Ride". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
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