Very disappointing...

Redundant and unnecessary.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

A very simple story with a couple of great parts (and some tremendous squibs) but Burt Reynolds was not believable as a badass at all. From his expertly tucked in shirts with turtle necks, to his terrible hair, to his sleepwalking acting style, he came across as more of a bored old man than someone who was still a super agent. I get that he was supposed to be old and wanting to retire, but when you look at him, you don't get that sense of toughness beneath the fat, lazy exterior that you should. Bronson could have pulled it off much better. But at least the villain was evil, even if the whole thing was pretty low rent and cheap. Not a total waste of time, just not amazing or anything. Forgettable, like pretty much everything Reynolds did post 70's.

Malone marked Burt's return to cinema after more than a two year absence. It's a hell of return in this lamebrain sort of actioner, you'd expect to see those karate stars who couldn't act in. Fortunately we have someone who can, along with a good line up of other actors. It's not the most memorable of returns, but in a way it's kind of cool for someone's of Burt's stature to make a comeback in a film like this, where incidentally, in Adelaide, it only ran a week. For a while I was convinced this was Burt's worst film. I'm not sure I still am, but it's near the bottom. Burt's CIA, running from the agency who sends an old flame (Lauren Hutton) of his to do him. He prolonged the hit of guy, he was almost about to take out, but had second thoughts. So he's given up this employment, but some jobs you just can't walk away from. And Burt's luck does him one worse. His car breaks down outside this shitty town that is slowly being taken over by land baron (Cliff Robertson who plays good guy that mask's bad underneath, with a restrained professionalism. He's really a bastard, who has a lot of henchmen working for him, one who becomes deprived of having children after trying to take on Burt. My ears still ring and hurt when I think about that scene. Businesses are closing, left, right and centre in this evaporating town, where some residents who don't play ball end up dead. Burt makes a comical remark. "What happened to this town, someone discover toxic waste". Well they might as well have. Burt who's taken in by a gas station attendant and his daughter gets caught in another feud, instantly making an arch enemy with the local sheriff, who we can't discern if he's good or bad. I love it at the end when he balks as making a pathetic attempt to arrest Burt, after he's taken down all the bad guys. We got enough action to make this worthwhile and we are in the dark about Burt's shady past, but we do know he's a keen poker player, some handbooks, he keeps under his bed, references. The scene with two hit men, not the first, trying to take out Burt in his room at the top of stairs, is the film's best scene. No prizes for guessing who wins this one, although he doesn't come out, unscathed. Guess who nurtures him back to health. I love the direction Hutton's character took, a decision that endangers her own life, where there's no turning back. You gotta take Malone for what it is, an actioner, but it falls into the stupid category, honestly. You may even feel your i.q. drop slightly. Burt's worthy of better material.

Malone is one of my top 5 Burt flicks. White Lightning is tops, Deliverance and The Longest Yard hover around the 2 and 3 spot, Malone is next, and I"m sure there's another one, but I can't think of it right now. I think it wasn't a hit for only a few reasons. The opening sequence and the final action sequence were weakly written--especially in comparison with the fine, pulpy human drama of the middle part. And, the film, though it came out in 87, was actually much more 70s in flavor. It wasn't nearly exploitative or nasty enough to compete in the blood-crazed world of insane Norris and Bronson flicks. And, even though I LOVE Reynold's performance in Malone, he is constantly in competition with his own overgrown toupee in this one. Even as I am admiring his subtle damaged tough guy with a heart of gold characterization, I can't help thinking "damn, that toupee looks like a giant nylon Brillo pad up there. It has way too big of a "forehead shelf" and the color doesn't match in the back!" They should have just worked the bad toop into the story.But other than that--GREAT! I love it. How come this isn't' on DVD?

In Malone, Burt Reynolds is a CIA paid assassin who's tired of the life and wants out of the company. Of course the company doesn't see it his way and his former protégé Lauren Hutton is sent to terminate his contract with the agency. But Reynolds in looking for obscurity finds a place where a mysterious millionaire Cliff Robertson is buying all the land in some obscure valley in Idaho to make it his headquarters for some ill defined right wing conspiracy. Robertson's bought the sheriff, Kenneth McMillan and several local louts to enforce his will on the community. Reynolds's car broke down here by sheer chance and he's taken in by garage owner Scott Wilson and his daughter Cynthia Gibb. When Robertson's thugs start leaning on them, Reynolds springs into action.Burt Reynolds's style is a whole lot like James Garner, quizzical, cynical and charming. I'm not used to seeing him play it as tight lipped as he does in Malone, but he does carry it off. The film borrows a lot from the plot of Shane and I could certainly see a 1987 version of Alan Ladd in the part.It's a good action film even though a lot of the plot issues are unresolved. More than fans of Burt Reynolds will enjoy this.