Malone (1987)

Very well executed

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Memorable, crazy movie

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

I have seen a number of burt reynold movies starting from deliverance, physical evidence, strip tease, mad dog time, hard time etc.. His physique gives him the scope do to action movies at ease.The action sequences are intense and short, but the movie is made well by the director harley cokliss, if u run thru the movie u will not find much action.Considering that it was released in 1987, the run up to the climax was nice.I would like to watch more movies of him

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?"

Malone likes his women older than his socks, was in 'Nam in 1961, and is ready to kick butt and chew gum in his super tight dungarees and well ironed shirt. I cannot understand how anyone can rate this movie anything less than a 10/10. The script is just so awful, you will want to watch it over and over again just to make sure you heard it right.I can't wait for this to come out on DVD with commentary by Burt Reynolds. Found this on e-bay on VHS though...was quick to grab it and hold on to it with my life. I watch this movie at least twice a week - just because it's such a great source of joy to me.

I strongly recommend that ANYONE disliking this movie---and that counts just about everyone---should run immediately to the library and check out the William Wingate novel "Shotgun" for the surprise of their lives. The surprise being that "Shotgun" is one of the best suspense and action thrillers I have come across. It's been a few years but I can't recall a single element of the book that was carried over into the movie including the name of the title character. Mr. Wingate I hope got a good payoff and spent it well and thanked his lucky stars that this half-assed by-the-numbers piece of Hollywood action schlock has nothing to do with his excellent yarn. It more puts one in mind of Shane and The Man With No Name in its tale of a lone stranger wandering through a small town, attracting the interest of a depressed teenage girl named Lou, and ultimately challenging the vicious criminal organization which holds the entire town in a grip of fear. The character development is much more than one might expect of such a tried-and-true genre and the violence that erupts makes the reader want to stand up and cheer. Souce material---HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Movie---THEY SHOULD'VE PAID ME TO SIT THROUGH IT.