A Slight Case of Murder | Rotten Tomatoes

A Slight Case of Murder

TV-14

1999

1 hr. 34 min.

Mystery & Thriller

Comedy

List

Reviews

67%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

In the midst of a spat, film critic Terry Thorpe (William H. Macy) accidentally kills his lover. Though Thorpe covers his tracks, he raises the suspicions of a private investigator (James Cromwell), who then tries to blackmail him. Thorpe also falls under the watchful eye of Detective Fred Stapelli (Adam Arkin), a cop who is intent on becoming a screenwriter. Before long, Thorpe's girlfriend, Kit (Felicity Huffman), and Stapelli's wife, Patricia (Julia Campbell), are roped into the case.

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Audience Member

A very entertaining William H Macy movie. Could be one of his least known performances, but definitely among his best.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Every so often a little gem of a movie comes along and surprises me. This brilliant film is one. William H Macy makes this film his own as his superb asides to the camera are truly funny and well done. His complete lack of ethics do not bother the viewer as he robs banks, kills people and bangs a cops wife. You know it cannot end well but you don't care because you are having so much fun watching this excellent film.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

well plotted, well portrayed...fun

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is Macey at his best in a comedic role. The scripting and dialogue are likewise tops. The play within a play format adds to the fun as Macey addresses the audience while his life falls apart. If you like murder, mayhem, sleazy characters, and smart cops, all wrapped up in a funny movie, you will love this gem.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

William H. Macy makes every film he is in better. As usual, he is terrific. Good story, amusing and always interesting. It can't quite escape it's television roots, which for me is a negative thing for a film, but it is entertaining. ?he supporting cast is fine, but it's Macy's film all the way.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

65/100. William H. Macy makes every film he is in better. As usual, he is terrific. Good story, amusing and always interesting. It can't quite escape it's television roots, which for me is a negative thing for a film, but it is entertaining. he supporting cast is fine, but it's Macy's film all the way.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

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Steven Schachter

Director

William H. Macy

Terry Thorpe

Adam Arkin

Det. Fred Stapelli

Felicity Huffman

Kit Wannamaker

James Cromwell

John Edgarson

Julia Campbell

Patricia Stapelli

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Scott Weinberg

DVDTalk.com

Macy, Arkin, Huffman, and Cromwell are clearly having a good time with this amiable little farce noir. Fortunately they're able to transfer much of that fun over to the viewer.

Rated: 3.5/5

Sep 20, 2006

Full Review

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

...a comedy-thriller that is really pretty nifty, with a topflight cast by television standards.

Rated: 6/10

Sep 18, 2006

Full Review

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

Rated: 4/5

Sep 2, 2006

Full Review

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Synopsis

In the midst of a spat, film critic Terry Thorpe (William H. Macy) accidentally kills his lover. Though Thorpe covers his tracks, he raises the suspicions of a private investigator (James Cromwell), who then tries to blackmail him. Thorpe also falls under the watchful eye of Detective Fred Stapelli (Adam Arkin), a cop who is intent on becoming a screenwriter. Before long, Thorpe's girlfriend, Kit (Felicity Huffman), and Stapelli's wife, Patricia (Julia Campbell), are roped into the case.

Director: Steven Schachter
Executive Producer: Salli Newman
Screenwriter: Steven Schachter, William H. Macy
Production Co: Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Rating: TV-14 (L|V)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Comedy
Original Language: English