Customer Reviews

The Outfit [VHS]

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This movie is yet another of the untold examples for why I'd like to pound the heads of the movie production execs. When is this going to be released on DVD? Okay enough ranting, I'll get to the specifics.

A small time hood Macklin (Robert Duvall) is released from prison just in time to find out a couple of killers shot his brother. The bank they robbed was run by the syndicate. Its the classic crime deal gone wrong scenario. When a killer comes after him also, he ruthlessly sets out for revenge with the aid of his friend Cody (Joe Don Baker.)

This thriller moves with contiguous action. There aren't any unnecessary scenes. I credit the fast paced direction of John Flynn (who also co-wrote the excellent script.) This was only his third movie as a director, and believe me, this doesn't contain any of the corny stuff found in "Out To Justice."

Duvall makes a convincing ruthless thug. Its a scary portrayal. There are solid performances all around from an excellent supporting cast, consisting not only of the aforementioned Joe Don Baker, a gorgeous Sheree North (cameo), in addition to three of Hollywood's late great legendary icons of the classic film noir days: Elisha Cook, Jr. (Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, The Gangster, et al); Jane Greer (Out of the Past, The Big Steal); and in his last film appearance, the great Robert Ryan (The Set Up, The Racket, et al).

Now if the production companies would stop putting out retarded remakes 60s/70s shows (hello!!!) and give us restored classics like this one our Saturday nite's would always be fly. Criterion, please save us!

One of my favorite authors is Richard Stark (the wonderful Donald Westlake on a "bad" day).
He created perhaps the greatest anti-hero in hardboiled crime fiction: Parker - no first or last name. His first book was THE HUNTER, wherein Stark set Parker against "The Outfit", seeking
loot money he felt was owed him. Parker was implacable, unstoppable -and it took him three books - rising through the criminal food chain - to finally get what he felt was unjustly his. Lee Marvin made the perfect "Parker" - "Walker", actually: Westlake would not allow them to use Parker's name, as I understand it. And director John Boorman captured the essence of Parker in the strange, time-fragmented version of THE HUNTER: POINT BLANK.

A few years later, John Flynn decided to film THE OUTFIT, the third volume of the series. He did it in a very straight-forward, non-"arty" manner which captured the drive of Stark's prose. Robert Duvall plays "Macklin", still out to get his dough; Joe Don Baker is his buddy Handy. It's not a classic by any means; but, oddly, it does carry you along, wondering if Macklin will be able to bring The Outfit to its knees and its head, Robert Ryan, into a permanently comatose state of non-being.

This is a Warner DVD-R. Image is dark and bit soft; but - hey! - it put me back into that shoebox multi-cinema of beloved memeory. I had a blast. Stark fans: buy it!

This is one of those great seventies crime melodramas, lean and mean, thrilling and amoral. It's got two of the most important elements of these films: pump shotguns and .45s. Duvall and Baker are ruthless and professional pursuing their vendetta. The supporting cast is tremendous, down to the small parts played by many veterans of similar films. Marie Windsor, Elisha Cook, Henry Jones, among others. Felice Orlandi plays a creep named Orlandi, and the great John Milius regular Roy Jensen has a nice moment or two. Best of all, Richard Jaeckel as a retired wheel man waxing about the VW Beetle he wants to hot rod. Look for the luscious Sheree North as a classic moll, and the great Robert Ryan in his last role. One of my faves, Joanna Cassidy, has an early part as Ryan's squeeze. Nothing profound here, just slam bang action. Where the heck is the DVD?????

This is one tough little flick. Bobby Duval just want's whats owed him, and with Joe Don Baker proceeds to tear up a mob run by Robert Ryan. Familiar faces include Karen Black, Sheree North, Joanna Cassidy, Richard Jaeckel; even Marie Windsor and Elisha Cook, Jr.! Noir-like in it's outlook, dialog and pacing, it's grim take on humanity is probably of reflection of the collective weariness over Viet Nam and the death of the 60's dream.

Other 70's Crime / Cop shows with strong casts and a similiar attitude include: "Charlie Varrick" (1973) with Walter Matthau, Joe Don Baker, John Vernon, Sheree North, Norman Fell and Benson Fong; "The Stone Killer" (1973) with Charles Bronson, Norman Fell, Ralph Waite, Martin Balsam and Stuart Margolin; and "Rolling Thunder" (1977) with Bill Devane, Tommy Lee Jones and Lew Askew. Of these, only Charlie Varrick made it to DVD, all are worth seeking out.

A hard to find and very enjoyable movie from the 70's crime genre. Great Actors, Action and just damn fun to watch. If you remember the movie or the "tough guy" films from the period, go ahead and watch it!

Why on earth is this film not deemed worthy to be put out on DVD??!!??!! What this movie has is an intelligent script and excellent performances all around. What it doesn't have is an explosion every few minutes or characters who are super sexy wearing skimpy outfits showing off their tight abs and breast implants. If you haven't succumbed to Hollywood hype and can still think for yourself, you may just be able to appreciate The Outfit. The dialogue is sparse, but you don't need a lot of dialogue with intelligent criminal types. That's the beauty of films like this, the characters are intelligent and they plan well and execute their plan well, no BS, no nonsense. Any nonsense is delt with decisively. You want a mix of slapstick and crime caper, go watch a buddy cop movie. Think DeNiro and Kilmer in Heat, just not as much action......it was 1973 after all when people didn't need 5 million dollars worth of propane gas explosions or a comedian inserted into the script, in order to find a movie entertaining. Duvall's performance is every bit as good as it was in The Godfather and played with the same seriousness. Watch out for a man who can take on The Outfit!

Robert Duvall plays a small time criminal just released from prison with a big thirst for revenge.This is a great movie.Check it out!!

John Flynn's movie is based on the third novel in Richard Stark's "Parker" series, same title. I just caught this on Turner Classic Movies, and while it's an interesting crime/action film, I'm not as enthused as some of the other reviewers. Donald E. Westlake (Richard Stark) declined to allow use of the "Parker" name unless the film maker intended a series. Thus, we had "Walker" in 'Point Blank' and here "Macklin" in 'The Outfit.' A decent cast raises this above the level of the blah B-movie it was obviously intended to be. The script pulls away from Stark's series, and gives us a variant on 'Charley Varrick,' independent heisters unwittingly ripping off the mob. Robert Duvall is good and tough, except when he lets that Duvall chuckle off the leash. Some good stuff survives from the novel, including Chemmy and his brother, and the VW with the hyped-up engine (which becomes a throw-away). If you know the Parker series, a very young Joe Don Baker takes the Handy McKay role as "Cody," diner and all. On the other hand, the character of Brett is changed beyond recognition. Regretfully, this is par for the course for adaptations of Stark, 'Point Blank' still likely being the best. This film is a must for fans of Duvall and Baker.

Sheree North is my favorite. She's old now but not
then. She was hotter the Marilyn ever was. I would
LOVE to have that seduction melting all over me!

I'd give the movie five stars if she was in it longer