In early 1990s experienced viewer had good reasons to be skeptical towards any new title advertised as an "erotic thriller". Same viewer had equally good reasons for mistrust towards new titles featuring pop star Madonna. When the new title combined the two, experienced viewer had all the reasons to run to the hills. A title that met those criteria was Body of Evidence, 1993 erotic thriller directed by Uli Edel.
The inspiration for this project came from two directions – Sex, Madonna's book of "shocking" photographs and Basic Instinct. Screenwriter Brad Mirman tried to give original spin to sex murder plot of the latter by putting his own plot in the courtroom and turning the sex itself in the murder weapon. At least this is the idea advocated by prosecutor Robert Garrett (played by Joe Mantegna) who claims that Rebecca Carlson (played by Madonna) intentionally caused heart failure in her old and rich lover during the unusually intense lovemaking session. Frank Dulaney (played by Willem Dafoe) is hired as a lawyer by Rebecca and he soon falls prey to his client's charm, willing to disregard professional ethics in exchange for some kinky sex. However, during the trial new facts emerge, causing Dulaney to start questioning Rebecca's innocence.
Madonna might be one of the most recognisable personalities of today's world and immensely talented and successful as a pop star, but her efforts as an actress (with few honourable exceptions like Evita and Desperately Seeking Susan) weren't particularly convincing, to say the least. This is evident in her attempt to play some kind of femme fatale in Body of Evidence - task even harder in light of fact that she looks rather plain in this film, which is shared by Julianne Moore and Anne Archer, both women being better actresses and more attractive. Madonna's failure as an actress is matched by bad acting by almost everyone else, including Willem Dafoe in thankless role of Michael Douglas impersonator. Joe Mantegna is the only player who gives some form of professional dignity to his role, as well as the film. But the biggest disappointment lies in Uli Edel, who failed even to deliver in the realm of "erotic" scenes, despite showing willingness for the rough stuff in Last Exit to Brooklyn. Yet, despite all of this badness, the viewer is left with the feeling that this film could have been much better with small amount of extra effort, or at least "it's so bad it's good" guilty pleasure.
RATING: 3/10 (+)
(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews on August 5th 2002)
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Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/2149-body-of-evidence?language=en-US
Critic: A
