Coincidentally 1998 saw Viggo co-star in not one, but two movie remakes of a
pair of Alfred Hitchcock's classic films - Psycho arrived around Christmas time and was generally
savaged by the critics.
However A Perfect Murder had already been released earlier in the year, and
despite some complaints that it did not live up to Dial M For Murder (the Hitchcock original), generally it could be agreed that it was one of the most
slick, stylish and gripping thrillers of 1998.
Gwyneth Paltrow stars as Emily, a beautiful and intelligent heiress in her twenties, who is the "trophy" wife of a wealthy tycoon Steven Taylor (Michael Douglas), a man at least thirty years her senior.
The two of them live an enviable existence together in a glorious New york penthouse, but it's crystal clear that Emily has become incredibly disenchanted with it all.
It is revealed that for some time Emily has been having a secret love affair with
talented but struggling artist David Shaw (Mortensen), whom she has fallen for in a big way.
Emily is sure that Steven is oblivious to what she and David have been up to, until one evening he proposes a most
unusual toast -"To stolen moments..."-
The plot thickens when the viewer realizes that nothing is quite what it appears to be, including that Steven knows far more than Emily ever dreamed of and that her perfect David has a few secrets of his own. The film's most gripping scene occurs when Steven arrives at David's apartment, and an extraordinary arrangement is made...
From that moment on, the film becomes even more engrossing, with surprising twists in the tale, leading to a great climax. However, it is wise not to reveal too much here - see it for yourself for pure enjoyment!
Michael Douglas is in his element as another smarmy, cold character (see also 1987's Wall Street and 1997's The Game) and while Gwyneth Paltrow is no Grace Kelly, she gives a memorably laid-back and subtle portrayal of the cheating wife.
Although many people rushed to see A Perfect Murder to see Douglas and Paltrow as an onscreen couple, it was instead Paltrow's onscreen chemistry with Viggo Mortensen that proved more interesting! The two of them make a sexy, passionate couple and act wonderfully together.
Viggo's acting as David Shaw is nigh on brilliant. The way he comes across as slightly mysterious, soft-spoken and loving, only to be revealed as a far more scheming and untrustworthy person is skillfully played, thus making Viggo's David the most interesting protagonist in the entire film.
Viggo has some very memorable scenes and dialogue in the film. One superb moment is the lengthy sequence in which Steven and David really lay their cards out on the table in David's apartment, and later on in the movie when the two men meet on a Staten Island Ferry, when it appears Steven has the upper hand only for David to steal his thunder with this cutting line ..."Hey Steve- do I keep f___g your wife in the meantime?" which is delivered with some panache by Viggo.
If there are any complaints to be made about A Perfect Murder, it would have to be that any other characters bar Steven, Emilly and David come across as mindless drones (stereotypical hoods on the street, an aging heirs, the irritating detective and the sappy best friend). Fortunately, this does not really affect the overall achievement of this great film.
TRIVIA: Michael Douglas is a life-long friend of Bruce Paltrow and Blythe Danner, Gwyneth Paltrow's parents and played with Gwyneth when she was a little girl! Needless to say neither imagined that they'd one day be playing husband and wife in a movie.
Much like himself, Viggo's character is an artist and all of David's artwork seen in the movie was actually created by Viggo, most impressively the painting of Paltrow's Emily.
It's also interesting to note that the DVD version & a recent 'special' vhs edition include an alternate ending to what was seen on the screen.