Crime

Drama

Action

Thriller

Sharky's Machine

Deliverance Productions

Orion Pictures

United States of America

Burt Reynolds

Rachel Ward

Henry Silva

Brian Keith

Vittorio Gassman

Charles Durning

Earl Holliman

Bernie Casey

Richard Libertini

Darryl Hickman

Joseph Mascolo

Tony King

John Fiedler

Carol Locatell

Suzee Pai

Glynn Rubin

Val Avery

Aarika Wells

Princess O'Mahoney

Hari Rhodes

James O'Connell

Weaver Levy

Bennie Moore

Alveda King

Gerald Di Pego

William Diehl

Hank Moonjean

Edward Teets

William A. Fraker

William D. Gordean

Dennis Virkler

Terry Liebling

Walter Scott Herndon

Phil Abramson

Norman Salling

Al Capps

David R. Ellis

Buddy Joe Hooker

It was made in '81 and is actually a pretty solid police film. It's not great, it's not Chinatown, but it also is pretty far from horrible.

The dialogue is absolutely fantastic, and even in the throw away moments, there is a humor that seems very human. It's Hollywood sharp and witty to the point where it's almost too good to be realistic, it's just, human. There are a lot of little throw away conversations that seem like the kind of thing you'd hear in your everyday life.

And that adds a nice touch of realism to what is otherwise a cop film, and those are always pretty unrealistic.

The sound track is a little dated, a little 70s Adult film in places, but that was just a trope of the era and even great films like Three Days of the Condor had that 70s had that "I expect John Holmes to walk in any minute now" kind of music... but then it also had the cliche 80s sex scene instrumentals. So it feels like the merging of two eras and, audioly, it can't really decide if it wants to be 70s or 80s.

And then it has crooning that seems like it fits better in a Sean Connery era 007 film.

I guess what I'm saying is that, if there is a flaw, it's the sound track.

Essentially what it is though is a solid cop film that is bucking for 1970s gritty and realistic, but is still, ultimately, as over the top and unrealistic as most police thrillers. It's a very enjoyable film to watch.... despite the music.

Trailer

'Sharky's Machine' movie [02] - movie trailer-TV commercial (1981)

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Sharky's Machine

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Cast

Burt Reynolds

Rachel Ward

Henry Silva

Brian Keith

Vittorio Gassman

Charles Durning

Earl Holliman

Bernie Casey

Richard Libertini

Darryl Hickman

Box office

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