Review of The Missouri Breaks (1976) by Eric M — 28 Jan 2011

It's hard to pinpoint the exact moment when Marlon Brando went from being one of the most-respected actors of his generation to one of the biggest (figuratively and literally) oddballs on the planet, though this is a pretty good place to start.

Hot off the heels of his comeback roles in "The Godfather" and "Last Tango in Paris", Brando seemed ready to torpedo his career again with his decidedly eccentric turns in this off-beat Western, which include such flamboyant mannerisms as speaking with an Irish accent for no apparent reason (a quirk that he drops periodically throughout the film), and killing one of the supporting characters while dressed in elderly woman drag.

Savaged by critics upon its initial release, your enjoyment of the film will depend on whether you find Brando's over-the-top affectations amusing or not, as the film is pretty unremarkable in other aspects.

Not nearly as awful as its reputation, but not really good enough to qualify for cult classic status, "The Missouri Breaks" is an oddity worth checking out for diehard Brando buffs, but probably worth passing on for casual viewers.