Sans aucune défense

The lawyer Thelma "T. K." Knudsen Katwuller (Barbara Hershey) is having a love affair with her client Steven Seldes (J. T. Walsh) that is accused of making under-age porn movies through the Blue Screen Production. When T. K. meets her old college friend Ellie Seldes (Mary Beth Hurt), she finds that she is Steven's wife and Ellie invites T. K. to have dinner with her family at her home. T. K. Decides to break-up with Steven and he asks her to meet him in his office. While waiting for Steven, T. K. finds that he owns the Blue Screen Production and had lied to her. When Steven arrives in the office, T. K. fights with him and stabs him in self- protection. On the next morning, Ellie is arrested is accused of murdering her husband and Ellie hires T. K. to defend her. T. K. Believes that the killer is the violent father of a teenager the made a porn movie produced by Steven, but Detective Beutel (Sam Shepard) feels that something is missing in the case.

"Defenseless" is one of my favorite thrillers from the early 90's. I have just watched it today on DVD, maybe for the third or fourth time, and I still like this underrated film. The plot has many twists, and Barbara Hershey and Sam Shepard are in the top of their careers. The 27 year-old Kellie Overbey is convincing in the role of an abused teenager. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Sem Defesa" ("Defenseless")

Note: On 08 September 2024, I saw this film again.

Police try to solve the murder of a businessman. Unknown to them, the man's attorney is implicated and, of course, she wants to keep her involvement secret. This leads to the wrong person being charged, causing the lawyer to go looking for the real culprit. Good mystery with lots of action and tense drama.

The stage curtains open ...

"Defenseless" is typical of early 90's suspense/thriller films which were fairly formulaic with similar piano-tickling soundtracks and plot lines. This movie, starring Barbara Hershey in the lead role, was one of the better ones with solid performances and a story that will keep you invested.

Back in 1991, when this was released, it contained an additional 12 minutes that were crucial to the plot. Today, the DVD release is only 92 minutes as opposed to the original 104 minutes. Unfortunately, there is no way I can recommend you to watch the original version, unless you still have the first VHS copy of the movie and a VCR to watch it on (as I do). There is no uncut version available today on DVD or BluRay. So, if you do watch this movie, keep in mind that you are watching a much watered down version of it, feeling more like a made-for-tv effort, and it won't be that good.

However, if you can see the original uncut version, then I think you would like it - if you are a fan of the suspense/thriller genre of film. The story was credible and the acting good, with a few over-the-top moments from Hershey, but nothing overly distracting or really worth mentioning.

I enjoyed this movie and would recommend it without hesitation. Solid in all areas, a film worth watching and even owning. The uncut/original version that is.

Defenseless (1991) was directed by Martin Campbell and it was okay at best.

Positives for Defenseless (1991): The performances from the cast with Barbara Hershey, Sam Shepard, J. T. Walsh, Mary Beth Hurt, Sheree North and George P. Wilbur are great. The movie is directed very well by Campbell. The movie's slow-pace works for the story being told. That's all I got to say for the movie's positives.

Negatives for Defenseless (1991): The movie's story wasn't really that interesting and the execution was very mid. While the pacing is good for the sores being told, it was a little too slow for me. I also felt that the ending was a little anti-climactic.

Overall, Defenseless (1991) is another okay enough directorial effort by Martin Campbell.

Technically well-made but ordinary, unremarkable little mystery thriller. The script tries for ambiguity and succeeds most of the way, but ultimately goes for the predictable resolution. Martin Campbell's direction shows care and knowledge of the genre, but lacks style and seems mostly by-the-numbers. Barbara Hershey, although somewhat aging, still shines, and Walsh, Hurt and the actor who plays the brutal, deranged father offer excellent supporting work. But Sam Shepard just looks bored and disinterested. (**)