Physical Evidence

Weak script and even weaker direction. The dialogue (thanks to one Bill Phillips) is borderline embarrassing most of the time...seems Crichton was doing the wrong job here. The leads mostly do their game best, but that only goes so far. Burt Reynolds comes off best--his acting really is underrated. Theresa Russell looks fabulous and moves convincingly, but needed MUCH stronger direction--which she clearly did not get--for her line readings. Ned Beatty is allowed to be much to hammy.

Very routine thriller which provides zero surprises, but doesn't really annoy you either. Directed but not written by Crichton, it demonstrates that he was better suited as a writer as he didn't really have any style as a director. Reynolds plays his part straight which is refreshing, and personally I think Russell is ok, even though her performance has been heavily criticized. I learned afterwards that this was planned as a sequel to Jagged Edge, and that explains why it felt like a rehash.