Malone, o Justiceiro

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.

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.

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.

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.

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