As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Blistering performances.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

In a way, I see why this might have been the case. That information comes from one of the other reviewers. It's helpful, unlike those reviews that tell us the cast list and regurgitate the plot. This is an excellent, memorable film. The cast list is very similar to Siegel's previous effort, Dirty Harry, but this is a much, much better movie. He's replaced Eastwood with Matthau. I suppose Clint didn't want to be featured as dodgy. Maybe Matthau didn't either, but he certainly makes this film. It's tremendously entertaining, witty and surprising. Novel characters: Joe Don Baker as a supremely sadistic ultra-racist. I can't visualize him in a contemporary narrative. I can't see any reason for calling this film slow-paced. There's never the slightest clue where it's heading, so the viewer is kept alert throughout, right up to the logical, well-planned, dramatic climax. Great film ! Worth multiple repeat viewing.

I seem to think I saw this upon its original theatrical release but watching it again remembered nothing so certainly have not seen it since. A really very good film. Solid script beautifully delivered particularly by the wonderful Walter Matthau. His is such a seeming laid back performance and early on we really cannot see the film going anywhere but he has it all worked out. What is really impressive here is that now and again there are loose ends and you reckon you'll just have to live with them button, it all gets whipped up and used. Far from being a slow and meandering 70s movie this is tight as a drum and one of Don Siegel's best.

Bankrobbers accidentally rob a bank in which the mob had stashed away a million dollars. The mob goes after them. That's the story. Will they getaway? That is the suspense.Tarantino loves trashy pulp movies and although "Charley Varrick" aint trashy, it certainly has got a cheap seventies tv movie feel to it: the soundtrack could be from mass production for tv, however it is none other than the legendary Lalo Schifrin who scored it. Well great composers, can write mediocre scores too when they get paid little. "Charley Varrick" has got a general cheap seventies feel to it, but nonetheless it is still great to watch, because the acting by Walter Matthau is terrific and so are the other supporting actors. The camerawork in this movie is pretty epic: lots of use of telelenses with wide cinemascope landscapes, really gorgeous. The movie is very slowpaced which I love, I will say it again: I love the slow pace and the long scenes with the wide camerashots. So dont expect anything flashy and modern. But it still has got lots of suspense, you just wanna know what is gonna happen next after each plotturn. Action is (again) a bit cheap sometimes, but nonetheless gripping.So there you have it. A simple but clever story. Cheap seventies feel. But still lots of great acting and camerawork. I have come to like this Tarantino favorite (quoted in Pulp Fiction). I wouldnt have seen it if it wasnt recommended by Tarantino. I have watched it mutiple times now and there is something really cool and righteous about the lead character played by Walter Matthau in this movie. Maybe that's why Tarantino likes "Charley Varrick" so much. "Are you cool? I am cool". It is cheap, but cool! Akward combination, but it works splendidly! A real moviegeeks gem.

First off this is an anti-hero movie--if you need the good guys to win, this is not really your movie. This movie could be described as a more clever but less slick Quentin Tarantino film. I put this on because I had some friends over with their kids and the kids had seen everything new. I thought that an older, quality movie starring Walter Matthau (who they had never even heard of) might hold their attention, and it succeeded very well. I'm not the hardest grader, and if a movie simply leaves me with no regrets its already on its way to high marks from me. The production values of this film obviously don't match today's, and, of all of the performers, only Matthau's acting holds up well in hindsight. Strange as it sounds though, the dated performances of the other actors just added to the '70s atmosphere of the film, which made for terrific nostalgia for me. This is really a case of "they don't make them like they used to", and it's really too bad. Might be time to go back and watch some old Colombo episodes.