Absence of Malice is a 1981 American drama neo noir thriller film directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Paul Newman, Sally Field, Wilford Brimley, Melinda Dillon and Bob Balaban.

[1] Miami liquor wholesaler Michael Gallagher, the son of a deceased criminal, awakens to find himself a front-page story in the local newspaper.

She acquired it from reading a file left intentionally on the desktop of federal prosecutor Elliot Rosen, who is doing a bogus investigation.

He also makes anonymous contributions to one of Quinn's political action committee backers and then he and Carter begin a love affair.

Assistant US Attorney General Wells calls the principals together and offers them a choice between going before a grand jury or informally making their case to him.

In his review, Time magazine's Richard Schickel wrote "Absence of Malice does not invalidate All the President's Men.

But with entertainment values – and a moral sense – every bit as high as that film's, it observes that there is an underside to journalistic gallantry.

"[5] The Chicago Sun-Times' Roger Ebert wrote that some may take the approach "that no respectable journalist would ever do the things that Sally Field does about, to, and with Paul Newman in this movie.

[7] Although Pauline Kael described the film as only "moderately entertaining", she offered higher praise for Newman's "sly, compact performance" and particularly for "the marvelously inventive acting of Melinda Dillon".

[9] Absence of Malice has been used in journalism and public administration courses to illustrate professional errors such as writing a story without seeking confirmation and having a romantic relationship with a source.