Charley Varrick
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Movie Reviews of Charley Varrick
Movie Review: Full screen masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
Here we go again. The DVD of Charlie Varrick, a brilliant thriller by Don Siegel, comes out in full screen. Just like the DVD of Moonstruck, available only in full screen. I have the letterboxed Moonstruck, recorded off Bravo, and the letterboxed Charlie Varrick, also recorded off Bravo. What is the matter with these companies? Why put a 185:1 movie out in full screen?
The movie itself is a masterpiece of construction which meets the highest expectations of poetic justice. For instance, how does Charley know that Molly suspects Maynard Boyle? Because Charley was hiding outside the trailer when Molly was torturing Harman Sullivan and heard Molly say "Young doesn't have the ___ for a deal like this. It was Boyle, wasn't it?"
Early in the story, when Harman insists on spending the money now, Charley instantly gives him up for dead. This is why Charley switches Harman's dental records with Nadine's at the dentist's office. Charley goes to Tom's gun shop and indiscreetly tells Tom he has some money to fence -- why? So he can draw fire to Harman in the trailer. Molly soon arrives and kills Harman.
The final scene is perhaps a bit too ingenious. Charley lures Boyle to a remote air strip, assuming that Molly will be there watching. He puts on a pantomime of hugging Boyle, congratulating Boyle on the caper they have pulled off together. Molly kills Boyle with his car and then pursues Charley's plane around the field. Charley, taking advantage of his training as a rodeo stunt pilot, overturns the plane and tells Molly he is injured. He points to an abandoned car. "The money is in there." When Molly opens the trunk, he finds Harman, some of the money, and a stash of dynamite. The dynamite explodes, Molly is killed. Charlie takes the money out of the overturned plane, burns his flying suit in the car so the mafia will believe both he and Harman are dead, and drives off with the money.
A subtle, perfectionistic piece, well worth seeing for those who like thrillers.
Movie Review: Charley chews them up: neat & tidy
Summary: 5 Stars
Terrific character story. Great title: not easily forgotten. A paean to ice-cool self-control, about a middle-aged guy who keeps his grip on essentials. Cynical, if you like; but what is life about, anyway? Beautifully laconic --- it's nearly all there in the action, the personalities and the events, without tons of explanatory dialogue (although there is a bit of background exposition in the beginning). Charley is not a fundamentally violent man: he's got unusual common sense, good judgement, no fancy ideas, and he doesn't weep over spilt milk. He doesn't drink or smoke: that's why he's always chewing gum. But he doesn't mind wiping out a couple of no-goods, either, like cream on the last piece of cake, leaving the platter clean, with the dishes washed and everything put away. It all has an air of finality. Otherwise, let the thugs kill each other, keep the brain ticking over 15 to the dozen, and you might just clear the lot. Note well that Charley gives his dead and gormless sidekick not only his dentist's xrays, but also his watch and his wedding ring. Siegel pays the audience the compliment of allowing them to work it out for themselves. It's refreshing not to be treated like an idiot. A really acid, well-played, encouraging little story for anyone thinking to retire --- I kept it in the memory bank until I finally checked out of wage-slave purgatory. This is a long way up the 1000 best films --- a long, long way up. PS; when Sybil says South by South-West, does she mean North by North-West? Charley knows how to make better use of a crop-duster. By the way, the cops found the mobile home via the book of matches in the second car, abandoned at the heist scene. Funny they didn't find Charley's plane and hangar, though.
Amazon should have two separate categories of review: one for the film and one for the dvd quality. I couldn't understand why this totally professional piece of film-making only averaged 3 and a bit stars.
Movie Review: Superb crime thriller from Dirty Harry director, Don Siegel.
Summary: 5 Stars
"Charley Varrick" has got to be one of the finest sleeper movies of the 1970's ! Maverick thriller director Don Siegel was riding high on the success of films like "Madigan", Dirty Harry" and "The Beguiled" when he also directed this slick caper movie that see's Walter Matthau play the lead character of the film's name. Varrick is a small town crop duster who supplements his income carrying out intimidating bank robberies with his wife Nadine ( Jacqueline Scott ) and smart talking Harman Sullivan ( Andy Robinson ).
However, one bank heist goes horribly wrong with several deaths, a botched escape and the terrible realisation that they have accidently stolen nearly $750,000 of mob money. Whilst the mob moves in ( suspecting an inside job ) sending vicious hitman Molly ( a cold blooded performance by Joe Don Baker ) and crooked bank president Maynard Boyle ( John Vernon at his traiterous best ), Varrick and Sullivan try to plan a way out of the escalating pressure.
Everyone in this cast is just superb in this underplayed thriller, with solid support lent from wonderful character actors Benson Fong, Norman Fell and Woodrow Parfrey. It's been a long wait to get this on DVD, and fans of this gritty film are eagerly looking forward to its release. If you are a fan of director Don Siegel's other fine work, then you won't be disappointed by the dynamic "Charly Varrick".
Movie Review: Ok, So It's Not In Widescreen, But Life Is Short
Summary: 5 Stars
I can empathize with those who are disappointed that we don't get this movie in widescreen. Of course we should.
However... it's $10, and life is short, and you don't want to go for the old dirt nap without seeing this one.
The basic plot set-up is simple enough -- clever bad guys rob the wrong bank (a Mafia money drop) and all hell breaks loose. And I'm not giving away anything you won't see in the first few minutes.
What makes this film work is the intelligent script (this is oh so far from a dumb "caper movie") and letter-perfect performances. Walter Matthau is wonderful as the phlegmatic and judicious title character, Andy Robinson does a great turn in his effeminate psycho character, and other highlights range from Normal Fell to the great suave and sinister John Vernon (yup, Dean Wormer as a mid-level mafia executive). But wait, there's more! Joe Don Baker is wonderful as the dogged, cornpone-flavored hit man who is set on Matthau's trail.
And even at this, I'm missing some great smaller performances -- this is one of those films where everyone shines.
One of the things that makes this film so wonderful to watch is that nobody's cast against type. Everyone's doing their usual thing, but they get to do it particularly well in a great setting.
Movie Review: You must have this movie!
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this movie. It is definately one of my all time favorites. I can't believe it took this long to make it to DVD. Walter puts in a great performance. Of course Joe Don Baker is a classic. He has tons of quotable lines. Andy Robertson (the psycho from Dirty Harry part 1) plays Charlie Varrick's partner. Another great performance.
The movie is about a guy who has a crop dusting business. Unfortunately the crop dusting business is going the way of all buffalo because of changes in how pesticides are applied etc. So Charlie Varrick decides he needs a way to make a little money to retire on. He and a couple other guys decide to rob a bank. They rob a little bank out in the middle of Nevada. They make a HUGE score and that is the problem. It turns out the mafia is using the bank to launder money. The rest of the movie is Charlie trying to get away from the mafia and outsmart the goon that they send after him (Joe Don Baker).
Please do yourself a huge favor and buy it right now.