| Sharky's Machine (1981) Cast:Burt Reynolds, Rachel Ward, Brian Keith, Bernie Casey, Henry Silva,Charles Durning Burt Reynolds stars in this sturdy cop thriller about a edgy vice cop who stalks a hooker in order to get the goods on a mobster and a rich broker in this efficently made actioner. Sharky's Machine is without a doubt one of Burt Reynolds' best movies. The movie has lots of energy, suspenseful shootouts and a hero who would be more at home as a private eye in a 50's novel, any movie that boasts a cast that includes Brian Keith, Bernie Casey, Henry Silva is a movie that has a lot to live up to and I'm happy to say Sharky's Machine not only rises to the task but also exceeds all expectations. Sharky's Machine is a gritty crime drama that sets up an intriguing plot as well as intriguing characters that set up the real heart of the story. Burt Reynolds falling for Rachel Ward, this provides the real meat of the story because it's these scenes that set up the action and make it more compelling, because really we've seen hundreds of explosions but if we don't care about characters it's just another actionscene. Here we not only are absorbed by the overall complexity of the characters but at the climax when people are shooting it out, we find ourselves drained at the end. Sharky's Machine is a very good action movie not because the actionscenes themselves are superior but because there's much more texture at the center and while the actionscenes keep us in suspense, it's the story that engrosses the audience. D.Burt Reynolds ***1/2 |