Sharky's Machine main backdrop
Sharky's Machine main poster

Sharky's Machine

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6.1/10 • 106

1981-12-182h 2m

CrimeDramaActionThriller

Nobody leans on Sharky's Machine.

Police officer Tom Sharky gets busted back to working vice, where he happens upon a scandalous conspiracy involving a local politician. Sharky's new 'machine' gathers evidence while Sharky falls in love with a woman he has never met.

Directors
Burt Reynolds
Editors
William D. Gordean

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Burt Reynolds

    Burt Reynolds

    Tom Sharky

  2. Rachel Ward

    Rachel Ward

    Domino

  3. Henry Silva

    Henry Silva

    Billy Score

  4. Brian Keith

    Brian Keith

    Papa

  5. Vittorio Gassman

    Vittorio Gassman

    Victor Scorelli

  6. Charles Durning

    Charles Durning

    Lt. Friscoe

  7. Earl Holliman

    Earl Holliman

    Donald Hotchkins

  8. Bernie Casey

    Bernie Casey

    Arch

  9. Richard Libertini

    Richard Libertini

    Nosh

Reviews1

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GenerationofSwine Avatar

GenerationofSwine

Jan 12, 2023

10/10

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.

Media

  • Sharky's Machine poster
  • Sharky's Machine poster
  • Sharky's Machine poster
  • Sharky's Machine poster
  • Sharky's Machine poster
  • Sharky's Machine poster
  • Sharky's Machine poster
  • Sharky's Machine poster
  • Sharky's Machine poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$17,500,000.00
Revenue
$35,610,100.00
Keywords
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