Review of Sharky's Machine (1981) by Shawn W — 14 Aug 2009

Burt tries Dirty Harry in this just as Clint did for Bandit and the results are surprising.

Despite corny dialogue in the slower scenes (and in one or two of the macho tough scenes particularly Burt's "pulling the chain" monologue) and a love interest with Rachel Ward (who is clearly not an actress whatsoever and doesn't even try despite her natural beauty) and the annoying and out of place mainstream jazz score (Burt never came close to the chops Clint did) if this was all cut from the film and focused on Burt being the true bad ass he is and just protecting a witness instead of falling for her, the film would almost be up in the running for the great action/crime thrillers.

The interaction with the "machine" is downright hilarious, tough and even moving sometimes all at once, and with Bernie Casey, Charles Durning, Richard Libertini and Bryan Keith all lending a hand it makes the film special.

Vittorio Gassman doesn't have the chops to be a meancing villian, and his motives aren't clear except just to have power but Henry Silva proves his lifelong mettle as the man who played villians to end all of villains in any role and gives his all as the frightening and downright sadistic Billy Score.

Add to these highpoints the opening chase sequence will bullets flying (in the gritty 70's-early 80's style for true toughness) through the streets of Atlanta, a nightmare of a botche attempted hit from Score, the most disturbing interrogation scene in an action film to date and still of all-time (yes the fingers are shown) and one of the most amazing stunts of all-time ever caught on film of a leap of 200 feet from a high rise, and Sharky's Machine is worth it, albeit dated, but still enjoyable. And the balletic violence and halestorm of bullets and suspense in the last 1/2 hour does give Clint a run for his money. Too bad the film wasn't tighter.