Mr. Majestyk (1974)

brilliant actors, brilliant editing

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The directors of today must pine for a villain like AL LETTIERI. You can tell that he is a man who has never sat in front of a computer. He has never worried about calories. He drinks bourbon at 10 am in the morning. He would never pretend to be a feminist. If he ever fought a war, he must have chopped off a few enemy heads for fun. When he does get beaten up/shot, it is on the big screen and only by the best men - BRONSON, BRANDO, WAYNE, PACINO and MCQUEEN.I cannot say anything about BRONSON that hasn't already been said. There isn't a more effortlessly badass actor than him. He just turns up on screen and doesn't do much. He looks a little more weather beaten than EASTWOOD. His body language is comparable to BRUCE LEE and BRANDO. All his character wants to do in this movie is get his melons picked. And he would kill anyone who came between him and his melons :) The film is a terrific small town action flick. Maybe just a notch below CHARLEY VARRICK, due to the fact that BRONSON bests the villains too easily. The film could also have used a sharper background score. But its great entertainment. All those American backroads, unusual characters (like the quiet book reading beer drinking lady who lets BRONSON use the phone when he is on the run), creeks, gas stations (the film begins at one) and bars are something that any film viewer would cherish.RICHARD FLEISCHER has directed some terrific films in his career - like 10 RILLINGTON PLACE and NARROW MARGIN. ELMORE LEONARD writes some great one liners and scenes. The first scene in the film when BRONSON lets the Mexican lady use the toilet despite the gas station attendants objections is such a great opening. The hands on action scenes were terrific. They are all set in dusty backroads and rocky mountain ranges.It is for films like MR.MAJESTYK that i watch American movies.I think a couple of locations might have been used by David Lynch for WILD AT HEART and Tarantino for DEATHPROOF. Or they might have been inspired by them.

If you like simple story action films, which are made to entertain, you will love this. A fine supporting cast, great script, and sensible action scenes. I saw it again a year ago, and it was as fresh as an autumn apple. Bronson does a convincing job of playing a no nonsense, don't tell me what to do farmer. No Melons were hurt in the making of this film.

Mr. Majestyk (1974) *** (out of 4) Melon farmer Vince Majestyk (Charles Bronson) has a wise guy trying to force his workers onto his land, which lands the farmer in jail on assault. While in jail, hit man Frank Renda (Al Lettieri) tries an escape but the farmer puts an end to his plans. Soon the hit man eventually breaks away from Majestyk but he has sworn vengeance on the farmer and comes after his crops and him.MR. MAJESTYK is one of Bronson's better pictures from this period even though there's no question that it runs a tad bit too long and has a rather long-winded plot. With that said, if you're a fan of Bronson then the Majestyk character is certainly one of the most memorable of his career and it allows the actor to show off his tough side but it also gives him a couple very funny bits.The biggest factor that makes this film work is of course the cast. Bronson is tough-as-iron as you'd expect and this role really fits him well. The farmer is obviously your everyday type of person and Bronson fits this perfectly. He just looks, sounds and walks like a melon farmer. As I said, there's action throughout, which the actor handles without a problem but he's also given a chance to play a real character and deliver a real performance. For those who say Bronson was just a figure and not an actor, show them this. Lettieri was making a great career playing worthless scumbag and he's wonderful here as well. Linda Cristal and Lee Purcell are both good in their roles Paul Koslo is so slimy as the worthless wannabe tough guy.The film contains a great number of action scenes that are all perfectly directed by Richard Fleischer. Some of the memorable moments include the terrific car chase at the end and there's another very good sequence where Bronson has some fun beating the tar out of the hit man. The film also benefits from some great visuals and a very good music score. MR. MAJESTYK is everything you'd expect from a 70s action film.

Especially if the man in question is the great Charles Bronson. The iconic tough guy actor plays the title role, who merely wants to go about his business in peace. And that business is watermelon farming. When Majestyk is arrested for roughing up sleazy, worthless little weasel Bobby Kopas (Paul Koslo), it brings him into contact with syndicate hit man Frank Renda (Al Lettieri). After a series of incidents, Renda comes to utterly despise Majestyk and want him dead.Very capably directed by the versatile Richard Fleischer, "Mr. Majestyk" features an engaging Bronson performance, and a strong supporting cast. The tongue in cheek antics are courtesy of screenwriter Elmore Leonard. Brief bursts of violence and a few action set pieces help to make this watchable, as well as a brilliant music score by Charles Bernstein. Lettieri is an effectively intense antagonist, Linda Cristal has lots of appeal as migrant worker Nancy Chavez, and Koslo is great fun as the pathetic Kopas, although Lee Purcell has an underdeveloped role as Rendas' associate "Wiley". Taylor Lacher, Frank Maxwell, Alejandro Rey, Jordan Rhodes, and Bert Santos are all good as well. Veteran character actor Richard Erdman appears uncredited as attorney Dick Richard.In the end, "Mr. Majestyk" is no great shakes, but is still nicely plotted and solidly entertaining for its duration. For a disposable bit of entertainment, it is quite agreeable.Seven out of 10.