Search - Sharky's Machine on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Brief Nudity, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Profanity Movie Release: 1981 DVD Release: 10/20/1998 Format: DVD - Pan and Scan Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 2 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Total Copies: 8 Genres: Action, Thriller, Action Thriller, Police Detective Film

A William Diehl novel was the source of the noirish nailbiter Sharky's Machine. Sharky (Burt Reynolds) is an undercover cop who fouls up an assignment and is kicked downstairs to the vice squad -- a rough-shod bunch of hellraisers who make life miserable. Soon, however, Sharky's life does a 180 when he encounters Dominoe (Rachel Ward) a prostitute seemingly in danger from her interaction with a number of very seedy thugs. To protect her, Sharky lines the high-rise apartment across from her residence with security cameras and surveillance equipment -- which only makes matters sticky as Sharky begins to fall in love with her. The film opened to a very warm critical reception (Janet Maslin observed that "Burt Reynolds establishes himself as yet another movie star who is as valuable behind the camera as he is in front of it"). It also features one of the most dangerous stunts on film, wherein the late stuntman Dar Robinson free falls from 16 stories off the ground. The "machine" of the title refers to Sharky's fellow cops, played by heavyweights Brian Keith, Charles Durning, Bernie Casey, and others. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Burt Reynolds - Sharky
Vittorio Gassman - Victor
Rachel Ward - Dominoe
Bernie Casey - Arch
Brian Keith - Papa

Burt Reynolds directs himself in the action thriller Sharky's Machine. The film comes to DVD with a standard full-frame 1.33:1 image. The closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Stereo. There are no subtitles on this release. There are no special features, but the inexpensive list price makes that fact less problematic. This is an uninspired DVD release of a by-the-numbers, slam-bang star vehicle. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide