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In Malone, Burt Reynolds is a CIA paid assassin who's tired of the life and wants out of the company. Of course the company doesn't see it his way and his former protégé Lauren Hutton is sent to terminate his contract with the agency.

But Reynolds in looking for obscurity finds a place where a mysterious millionaire Cliff Robertson is buying all the land in some obscure valley in Idaho to make it his headquarters for some ill defined right wing conspiracy. Robertson's bought the sheriff, Kenneth McMillan and several local louts to enforce his will on the community. Reynolds's car broke down here by sheer chance and he's taken in by garage owner Scott Wilson and his daughter Cynthia Gibb. When Robertson's thugs start leaning on them, Reynolds springs into action.

Burt Reynolds's style is a whole lot like James Garner, quizzical, cynical and charming. I'm not used to seeing him play it as tight lipped as he does in Malone, but he does carry it off. The film borrows a lot from the plot of Shane and I could certainly see a 1987 version of Alan Ladd in the part.

It's a good action film even though a lot of the plot issues are unresolved. More than fans of Burt Reynolds will enjoy this.

There are some films that miss whatever target they are aiming for yet somehow are just great fun to watch. Malone, a fairly obvious updating of Shane, reaches deeply in to the duffers bag of clichés to pull out; the burnt out assassin, the beautiful former colleague, cute teenage girl and her brave but crippled father and, of course, a nutter who along with his evil henchmen are bent on taking over the government. Starting with the most inept of the baddie's henchmen Malone is gradually drawn in to the fight until he achieves his final pyrrhic victory and moves on. Burt Reynolds is actually not a bad actor when he's not trying to be 'a good old boy' all the time. Cliff Roberstson goes jarringly over the top. Laurren Hutton is beautiful, brave and loyal. Cynthia Gib is cute as apple pie in a see-through nightie and the much miss-used Scott Wilson does exactly what he needs to do. So why is this not a good movie? Dunno. There is nothing obviously wrong with the film. It doesn't look cheap, everyone hits their marks and speaks the lines. The end is a bit over the top and perhaps people were reluctant to let Burt Reynolds be serious. Never mind, I've added it to my list of films to be watch every time they turn up in the schedule and I guess I'll just continue to enjoy it for what it is, a good bad movie.

Burt Reynolds at times can be a really annoying actor, often portraying an enormous ego, that gets in the way of true acting. I am happy to report that is not the case with"Malone", as a very low key Burt Reynolds is complimented nicely by an always low key Scott Wilson. There are some great character actors in this one also, including Kenneth McMillan, and Tracey Walter. Cliff Robertson is the strong arming overzealous, disillusioned, "patriot", putting the squeeze on a small Oregon town. Reynolds walks away from his C.I.A. operative position, and winds up the unsolicited defender of decent folks. "Malone" is a very good action film, and one of Burt's best. - MERK

This was a breath of fresh air compared to the silly movies that he made from about 1980 to 1990. There were no silly comments just lots of action. VanDamme or Segal could not have done better. The local filming was beautiful and the acting by the supporting cast was first-rate and not overdone. Burt might be too old for this type of movie now but this is the stuff that he should have done when he was in his prime. I am glad I saw it as I gained new respect for his acting.

The picture talks about a veteran CIA agent attempting to begin a new life in honorable issues , as he hopes for a tranquil life in the placid Pacific Northwest . As C. I. A. Assassin Richard Malone (Burt Reynolds) wishes the retirement , a guy running away from his past, but then things go wrong . The ex-CIA man whose car breaks down in a small town who then gets close to a family ( Cynthia Gibb , Scott Wilson) and attempts to battle an ominous villain . Along the way , nasty enemies led by fascist Delaney (Cliff Robertson) are menacing his plans and then goes into action . They go after him but Malone'll execute his legitimate defense as well as extreme wrath and he'll become in judge , jury and executioner . The woman held the key to his past. The man wanted to buy his future. Now both were trying to kill him. Ex-Cop. Ex-CIA. Ex-PLOSIVE! He didn't start the fight... but he'll sure as hell finish it.

In the film there is action , exciting pursuits , shootouts , thrills , suspense and a little bit of violence . From the beginning to finish the noisy action-packed and fast-moving are continued and that's why it results to be entertaining . The great climax of the film is the final confrontation between the starring and the enemies that's stimulating and moving . The story is an adaptation from the novel "Shotgun," by William Wingate and script by Christopher Frank .Film attempts hard but doesn't succeed in being believable. Burt Reynolds acting is wooden but likeable , as being habitual in his roles as a merciless revenger . As he plays a burnt-out agent with secret missions stumbles into a real state swindle/murder plot in Oregon and sets out to stop it . This picture represents one of a handful of films starring Burt Reynolds playing tough and brave agents or cops or avengers in which he exacts his assignments by violent and expeditive ways , such as Rent-a-Cop, Sharky's Machine , Stick ,White Lightning , Fuzz , Gator , Hustle , Shark , among others . Reynolds is well accompanied by a good cast such as : Clift Robertson as a right-wing extremist plotting a secret revolution , a young Cynthia Gibb , Scott Wilson as her good father , Kenneth McMillan as a corrupt sheriff , Lauren Hutton , Philip Anglim , Tracey Walter , Dennis Burkley , Duncan Fraser , and Dennis Burkley.

It contains an enjoyable and moving musical score by David Newman. As well as colorful and adequate Cinematography by Gerald Hirschfeld . The motion picture was professionally directed by Harley Cokeliss . This filmmaker is a good artisan directing some decent films such as : Paris Connections , An Angel for May , Warlords of the 21st Century , Dream Demon , That Summer , , Black Moon , The Battle of Billy's Pond and making episodes of popular series, such as : Dark Knight , The Immortal , Xena and Hercules. Rating : 6.10 . Good , acceptable and passable movie. The pic will appeal to Burt Reynolds fans. Worthwhile seeing.

"Malone" manages to at least be watchable without being distinctive in any way. It's pretty much a routine action drama of the time as well as an okay vehicle for veteran star Burt Reynolds. The action is largely perfunctory, and yes, the plot isn't always terribly believable, but a strong supporting cast keeps the attention from wandering too much. There is some effectively brutal violence as bodies get ripped apart by bullets, and some explosions as part of the deal. Harley Cokeliss directs competently if not stylishly. The location shooting in Canada is decent, and that wilderness setting is lovely. (Stock shots of Langley and L.A. are also used). A great score by David Newman is an asset.

The story (scripted by Christopher Frank, based on a novel by William P. Wingate) is awfully familiar stuff: Malone (Reynolds) is a former CIA assassin with no more desire to do his job, so he takes it on the lam. Car trouble forces him to stop at a remote service station run by nice guy Paul Barlow (Scott Wilson), who just so happens to have a cute daughter, Jo (Cynthia Gibb). Malone has arrived in this community just in time to get caught up in the schemes of Delaney (Cliff Robertson), a rich man buying up property like crazy; Delaney turns out to be a right wing zealot hoping to establish a base of operations in the area.

Despite receiving a very serious bullet wound at one point, Malone is a tough s.o.b. who takes on all comers. Fortunately for him, most of Delaney's henchmen are completely useless idiots. That definitely removes a lot of suspense. Reynolds delivers a commendably low key performance in the lead, the ever likable Wilson is excellent as always, Robertson is amusing in a very unsubtle turn, and Gibb (whose character Jo becomes quite attached to Malone) is endearing. Lauren Hutton co-stars as the CIA agent sent to take care of the Malone problem, Kenneth McMillan is the local sheriff, and Tracey Walter and Dennis Burkley play a troublesome pair of redneck brothers working for Delaney.

If nothing else, this obvious "Shane" homage should be a mild diversion for Reynolds fans.

Six out of 10.

"Malone" is not Burt Reynolds' finest hour (and forty minutes). It doesn't rank anywhere near the best of his movies. Burt seems to be on autopilot for much of the movie. He only seems to come to life in his scenes with Lauren Hutton. Cliff Robertson seems to be mailing it in too. The only cast member that comes off well is Kenneth McMillan. That said, it's still a watchable, semi-low budget '80s action movie. "Malone" has more in common with the movies that Charles Bronson made at towards the end of his career than the other movies in Burt's filmography.

Burt Reynold's might go low-key and solemn for his performance in "Malone", but when it came to delivering the action… it's a full-on assault. Slow-motion and shotgun = win-win. And that sequence is beautifully staged… for action fans. "Malone" is a moodily straight- face, if ridiculously plotted late 80s action fodder. Something very different to what Reynolds was participating in within this 80s period. Fans of "Sharky's Machine" might just dig it, because of the violence and a non-mugging Reynolds.

Still what stood out to me just how closely it followed Clint Eastwood's formula in the 1985 western "Pale Rider", especially the connection the between the young impressionable girl (the delightful Cynthia Gibb) and the ex-CIA hit-man drifter who unwillingly gets caught up a small town drama. That was a western, but here it takes a modern-day approach but the western vibe of a mysterious stranger coming into town lingers heavily. Someone escaping their past, trying to get by to only find themselves bringing unwanted attention. The script is rather slapdash and some story arches are questionable (main character's ability to heal), contrived and incredibly silly. Like that of Hutton's assassin, in what feels like nothing more than to push the plot along and add motivation.

Malone was a CIA hit-man who suddenly calls it quits despite the disapproval of his bosses. This leads him to hitting the road to escape his past, but he finds himself stranded in a small town when his car breaks down. For the time being he stays with the mechanic and his daughter until its repaired, but its not a peaceful stay as he comes to blows with a pitiless land developer with very ambitious political interest in seeing America weed out its traitors.

For most part "Malone" is predictable, stoic and casually paced with quick bursts of brutal, heated violence. However this all changes when it becomes personal for Reynold's hit-man, as the crackerjack climatic showdown feels like something out of a comic book James Bond outing. Nonetheless some scenes do pack a punch and the striking sequence of Reynold's coming out of the shadows to confront Cliff Robertson's callously patriotic bad-guy is a marvellous touch. You gotta love his paranoid ramblings and the extreme lengths he goes to. Robertson nails down the puppeteer character with great intent, despite a certain hammy glee to his grandeur viper illustration. There's some good support from the likes of Scott Wilson, Lauren Hutton, Kenneth McMillan, Alex Diakun, Phillip Anglim, Dennis Burkley and character actor Tracy Walter who has a very memorable encounter with the title character.

Director Harley Cokeliss' plain direction is sturdy without showing much style, despite his use of slow-motion and capturing shots of an attractive valley backdrop.

Going back to serious roots, Reynold's "Malone" is sober, tough and mindless action.

"Are you so important?"

This movie is perfect for making fun of. Last Friday, I rented this movie so my friends and I could ridicule it. We had a blast. We were also the only people ever to rent it from our local video store. I feel so proud.

Even though some people state that this film is awful, but they are forgetting that most 80's action films where and this was one of many that was churned out then forgotten.

I vividly remember first watching this on video rental and thought it was brilliant and even though it's very dated I still love the film as an 80's classic like I would watch some old black and white film.

I don't feel I should have to wait until the film is 40 or 50 years old to claim it is an classic nor should I go with other persons comments that it is crap just because they are watching the film without growing up in the 80's when the film was made and is set in.

with regards jpclarke

Ex-CIA hit-man running from his past (Richard Malone, played by Burt Reynolds) finds just how difficult it is to retire when he runs across a small town controlled by mercenaries and a family that is resisting their control.

Reynolds is a smooth pimp, even kissing a young girl in front of her father. I mean, really, who has the balls to do that? Only Reynolds. And why not, when you can go around and beat people up -- or kill them -- without the police being able to stop you?

An odd mystery: at one point, Malone's birth date is given as February 14, 1941. I wonder if this date was chosen for any particular reason. This is not Reynolds' birthday, and in fact would make Malone a few years younger than Reynolds...

Malone (Burt Reynolds) is a former CIA man who wanders into a town in rural Oregon on pure chance and becomes embroiled in a conflict with a group of far right extremists terrorizing the residents.

Malone was one of a number of Reynolds movies released in the 80s, and like many others was subject to critical derision and financial disappointment. In Malone's case it was unfavorably compared to classic western Shane, and while the comparison isn't unwarranted, Malone is still a well made contemporary action thriller with a traditional western framework.

Reynolds as the titular Malone is actually pretty good in the movie, and it's nice to see Reynolds play against his established persona that had colored his career from Smokey and the Bandit onward. While he still maintains his dry laconic delivery in some humorous instances in the movie, the movie also allows Reynolds to convey a level of simmering intensity hidden behind a stone faced facade of quiet resignation that makes Malone a bit meatier than your average 80s action shoot 'em up. The villains are adequately dispicable and hateful, with Cliff Robertson being a memorably grotesque Delaney and Alex Diakun giving superbly slimey performance as Delaney's sadistic henchman Madrid. The only drawback to Malone really is that the comparisons to Shane are indeed as accurate today as they were then, but is that necessarily a bad thing?

Malone is a perfectly serviceable action film. Burt Reynolds gives a commander performance in what's essentially a classic western dressed up in contemporary clothes. It doesn't have much lasting impact, but it's a perfectly suitable time killer.

A good, old action flick if there ever was one. Not with emphasis on "good", however. This is not a film about people with normal motivation. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure it's a movie about motivation at all. These are just nice, fat stereotypes behaving the way they are expected to in order to fit into the very uncreative 1980s action genre. That said, the hero isn't played by just anybody here. With Burt Reynolds, you'll always have fun, because his acting isn't based on realism. It's based on claiming as much attention as possible and gladly flashing about a little if he can. The conflict between Reynolds and Cliff Robertson, all stupidity aside, has potential and is somewhat radiant. Robertson has that devilishly charming grin that few, other than Burt Reynolds, could match. They are both genial and mean at the same time. Unfortunately, the film doesn't really provide them with proper material, and Malone is, ultimately, a fairly stupid, uninspired yarn that has little to offer but a couple of semi-weary stars and a dose of good-old action.

I actually saw this first run and was shocked how bad it was. I've watched it again since and to be honest the biggest flaw is that it's dull (not to mention it includes a sequence where he survives a shotgun blast to the gut). I happen to enjoy Burt Reynolds work in general and will never understand the sudden and irrational scorn heaped upon him in the 80's that led to his starring in this kind of bargain basement dreck and retreating to TV as a result.

"Malone" commits the greatest sin any film can; it is dreary and bland. Bad movies don't generally bother me as long as there is some enthusiasm and style, this has neither, it just plods along as if the director couldn't care less and just wanted to get it over with.

At least disasters like "Rent a Cop" and "Physical Evidence" were entertaining in how they failed, "Malone" is just DOA.

Who are these people giving this thing a 10 rating? Anyone interested in seeing Reynolds potential just check out "Sharky's Machine", it's his career highlight creatively. Reynolds should have focused more on directing as he had a flair for it.

I was hooked on this movie from the opening scene. There's plenty to complain about, plot-wise, but I was so bought into the movie because of its strong performances and likeable characters that I didn't notice. In short, it's only slightly better than your average action flick, but it held my attention throughout and I enjoyed every minute of it.

There are definitely problems with the plot. The machinations of the movie's antagonist make little sense, though at least the script tries to explain why he's acquiring land in town. The plotline with the secretive government agency that Malone worked for gets almost no attention and is never resolved. Things in town escalate rather quickly for no obvious reason. Basically, the movie puts a bunch of pieces in motion to get to the action but doesn't do much with them. And, unfortunately, the penultimate scene in the movie is utterly cliche. Frankly, there's a lot of extra stuff in this movie that just doesn't need to be there.

I mentioned strong performances. I want to highlight the work of Cynthia Gibbs and Scott Wilson, as Jo and her father, Paul, respectively, whose physical performances add rich subtext to the dialogue and their developing relationshipst to Malone. One other major complaint I have: Lauren Hutton is unfortunately wasted--she's only in the movie briefly but she turns in a wonderful performance and has excellent chemistry with Reynolds. I wanted her storyline to have more depth to it, but as I stated above, that's the primary weakness of the script over all.

The technical aspects of the movie are handled well. Excellent direction, special effects, foley work.

I'm not a fan of Burt Reynolds, so I'm not familiar with his performances. I've enjoyed his work in movies like Smokey and the Bandit, Gator, and Heat (1986). Some reviewers have said his performance here was only so-so compared to his work in other movies, but I can't judge that. I loved his portrayal of Malone, but if you're a big fan of Reynolds, you might not be satisfied.

6/10

My scoring guide: 1-3: don't waste your time 4-6: good 7-9: great 10: outstanding.

Yet another formulaic, mediocre vehicle for Burt Reynolds - how could he hope to regain his popularity with films like this? The story is told in an unusually simplistic, "one plus one equals two" manner, and ends with a final shoot-out that's a virtual reprise of the finale of "Stick" (and also reminiscent of "Commando", although there are fewer bodies here). And the moment we realize that Reynolds could haven taken on the villains all along, we come to the conclusion that there was no point to this movie at all. As for Burt, his unfocused performance suggests that he probably had his mind somewhere else during the filming. (*1/2)

Burt Reynolds and Cliff Robertson star this light and simple spying adventure.Reynolds is Richard Malone,an ex-CIA agent who,tired of his profession as a killer,resolves to leave his past behind and travels through the country,in search of a new beginning.But he ends up in a small city when his car breaks down and,unexpectedly,gets involved with a magnate with megalomania's problems,played with cynicism by Cliff Robertson,who intends to extend his empire's tentacles over the whole country and reach the power,more exactly,the presidency,with the help of his comrades.It's set a well-directed trama,pleasing and without commitments.The movie counts with action scenes and introduces a romance between Reynolds and a killer played by Gator's Lauren Hutton.The character was made with precision for Reynolds qualities,and the film will certainly please his fans!

At first glance, it looks like a story told many times before. An experienced special forces guy (Burt Reynolds) quits his old line of work, looks for a quiet time in the countryside, but gets involved in a small war with a local villain and begins a private mission of revenge. But the point is how the story is told. Some reviewers criticize the movie as dull or cheap. I rather think it is intended simplicity. The makers kept the movie straight to basics in a time when action had to get faster and bigger, from "Terminator" to "Octopussy". "Malone" just wants to show a guy coming to town, getting to know some people - and kill most of them. No fancy stuff, it's all about minimalism. Reynolds plays the hero Malone in the most laconic way possible ("Got a first name?" - "Yeah."). It's not trying to impress anyone, but it's... cool! And in my view the movie should be appreciated more for what it is, an 80s action movie with the style of the 60s.

I found this move is slow pace and dull they could have called it Stick 2. Form the crowd of did this done that before. Very 80's action film, with very little to see here. Don't rent this one and watch another film. 5/10

Burt Reynolds did an awesome job as Malone, I thought he did real well as a CIA-agent; I thought he did well fighting as he did shooting, in that one scene on the bridge where he busted that dude up that was awesome; and unfortunatley for the guy's brother there was something under that newspaper! And Malone did a well job getting even with the villian & his followers when they killed that women. Malone is definantley not the type of guy to mess with!