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The Image

  • TV Movie
  • 19901990
  • RR
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
273
YOUR RATING
The Image (1990)
Drama
When career-focused journalist's investigation indirectly causes a suicide, he questions his own methods and life in general.When career-focused journalist's investigation indirectly causes a suicide, he questions his own methods and life in general.When career-focused journalist's investigation indirectly causes a suicide, he questions his own methods and life in general.
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
273
YOUR RATING
    • Peter Werner
    • Brian Rehak
  • Stars
    • Albert Finney
    • John Mahoney
    • Kathy Baker
    • Peter Werner
    • Brian Rehak
  • Stars
    • Albert Finney
    • John Mahoney
    • Kathy Baker
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 3User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys

    Photos22

    The Image (1990)
    Albert Finney and John Mahoney in The Image (1990)
    Swoosie Kurtz and Spalding Gray in The Image (1990)
    The Image (1990)
    John Mahoney in The Image (1990)
    Albert Finney in The Image (1990)
    Kathy Baker, Albert Finney, and Brett Cullen in The Image (1990)
    John Mahoney in The Image (1990)
    Albert Finney in The Image (1990)
    Albert Finney and John Mahoney in The Image (1990)
    Beth Grant in The Image (1990)
    Albert Finney in The Image (1990)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Albert Finney
    Albert Finney
    • Jason Cromwell
    John Mahoney
    John Mahoney
    • Irv Mickelson
    Kathy Baker
    Kathy Baker
    • Marcie Guilford
    Swoosie Kurtz
    Swoosie Kurtz
    • Joanne Winstow-Darvish
    Marsha Mason
    Marsha Mason
    • Jean Cromwell
    Spalding Gray
    Spalding Gray
    • Frank Goodrich
    Wendie Jo Sperber
    Wendie Jo Sperber
    • Anita Cox
    David Clennon
    David Clennon
    • Dr. Sigmond Grampton
    Brett Cullen
    Brett Cullen
    • Malcolm Dundee
    Jim Haynie
    Jim Haynie
    • David Hartzfield
    Robert Schenkkan
    Robert Schenkkan
    • Wilton Hale
    Nicholas Cascone
    • Sid Stillwell
    Beth Grant
    Beth Grant
    • Martha Packard
    Banks Harper
    • Jean Hartzfield
    Brad Pitt
    Brad Pitt
    • Steve Black
    Robert Aaron
    • Tom Packard
    Adilah Barnes
    Adilah Barnes
    • Nedra Scroggins
    Lillian Byrd
    Lillian Byrd
    • Stewardess
      • Peter Werner
      • Brian Rehak
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A TV movie made for the HBO network.
    • Quotes

      Irv Mickelson: Who said "no man's above the law"?

      Jason Cromwell: Richard Nixon. Is this a trick question?

    • Connections
      References Gone with the Wind (1939)

    User reviews3

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    The Power of News
    A superb and gripping HBO production starring the always impecable Albert Finney, greatly supported by John Mahoney, Kathy Baker, Swoosie Kurtz, Marsha Mason, David Clennon and with an early appearance by Brad Pitt, "The Image" touches themes of news journalism integrity and ethics, and how ratings, success and information are extremely hard to go hand-in-hand.

    Getting the truth inside of a investigative story is the decisive point before everything else, good journalism is based on that, or at least, should be. But to famous NY anchor Jason Cromwell (Finney) the coverage of a fraudulent bank scheme leads to the suicide of an innocent is that the ethical and personal conflict begins with dealing with a failed marriage (Mason), his affair with a colleague (Baker), and the successive debates on life and career he has with his producer (Mahoney, outstanding).

    "Absence of Malice" comes to mind in terms of similarity but that film doesn't have many subplots and the main character investigated part of the report is the one who gets more attention. Both films cover with touch and care the challenges news media face daily while trying to get important stories, facts, and bring essential information to readers and viewers. In any case, a report (solid or not) can bring fame or infamy, and the latter is the one that lasts longer because it's typical of many news outlets to hardly ever present a retraction or a follow-up that adds the same weight to the case. Words and images always speaks volumes.

    Peter Werner's direction is flawless but Brian Rehak's screenplay makes us question things when we shouldn't, unless if being provoking questions instead of a potential flaw ignored by the script. The guilty conscience haunts Cromwell, understandable but where's the backlash he could face from a whole community where the deceased was beloved, as presented later on? Their outcry only comes in the form a friend (Beth Grant), and in the meantime Cromwell tries to dig more about the story no one sees to extremely cold and bitter towards him. There's so fast conclusions as well but they don't drag the movie down.

    Media students and enthusiasts will have in "The Image" a full-hand with a stellar cast, great themes and questionings of it, all presented with quality, thrills and some humor. 9/10
    helpful•0
    0
    • Rodrigo_Amaro
    • May 18, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 27, 1990 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Citadel Entertainment
      • Home Box Office (HBO)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 29 minutes
      • Color
      • Stereo

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