first of all i have no idea why this be name mortal thought . more appropriate would be and fatal lie or an inadvertent confession and or maybe desperate friend . be that a it may and this be a superior thriller mainly because the story be compel and the acting be first rate . demi moore who play cynthia be just outstanding . she command the screen with her beautiful and expressive feature and her great natural skill . if you do not like her and i guarantee you will not like this movie because she dominate the film . she be a vivid and unforgettable a an al pacino or a betty davis . a an aside on the career of demi moore and i want to say that it a shame for her that her off screen personality be not well like and which in large part account for the fact that she be one of the most underrated and although one of the most often see and hard work star of the last fifteen year or so . this movie be an example of how she be ignore . the plain fact be her performance here be good than many who have win oscar and and she wasn not even nominate . another problem for her be that this movie ( and others she have make ) be not the sort of film that the academy pay much attention to . mortal thought ( which she co produce and by the way ) be too low budget and too common one might say and for any part in it to be take seriously in an artistic sense . too bad . glenne headly ( joyce ) be also outstanding while bruce willis be excellent a joyce drug addle and booze and wife beat loser of a husband . the dialogue be right on and realistically depict the life of new jersey beauty shop people while the plot tell in ersatz flashback unfolds nicely with a fine tension . the story be that of two friend and joyce and cynthia who find they have to cover up a killing ( not a murder and but at bad a manslaughter and or good yet and a case of self defense ) and but fall apart a the investigation close in on them . in a sense they be both like lady macbeth with blood on their hand and no effective way to wash it off . they be both appropriately naive a young work class woman and and both act foolishly and a many of u might in their predicament . here a nice bit of ironic dialogue . joyce be question her ability to convince people about what happen . she tell cynthia that she isn not a very good liar . but cynthia reassure her represent joyce and youre a terrific liar . you just lose confidence in yourself . this be all to the good as far a film making go . it be the end that be the problem . one might ask and what happen to the end . maybe i need to watch this again to be sure i do not miss anything . but good yet and you watch it and you be the judge . what i think happen be director alan rudolph truncate it . either that or he decide to try something artistic and which i do not recommend in a commercial thriller flick . maybe they just run out of money and have to wrap it up . at any rate and we be leave wonder what be go to happen and who actually do what to whom . presumably and the last flashback from cynthia tell u how bruce willis character meet his end and but that doesn not solve the problem of how or why ( somebody else ) be shoot full of hole . maybe the producer think they would wrap it all up in a sequel . actually and there enough there for one and easily . i would also like to complain about a movie that act out a false story tell by one of the character a though the story be true . that can be do and but it must be do in such a way that there be some kind of hint or coloring of the story that allow the viewer to suspect that something be amiss . true and det . john wood ( harvey keitel ) make some compelling argument along the way to suggest that cynthia be not tell the truth and but we be mislead by the action that our eye see and the sound that our ear hear . in movie and since anything can be contrive and it be the usual rule to have the camera show the truth while let the character do the lying . what might have save this ( and what i be expect all the way through ) be joyce side of the story act out on screen so that we could compare the story and make our choice about who be tell the truth . bottom line represent good than one might expect with a realistic edge clearly a notch or two above the usual thriller fare .