Dirty Harry (1971)

4.5 / 5
Tagline: You don't assign him to murder cases, You just turn him loose.
Directed by: Don Siegel
Written by: Harry Julian Fink, Rita M. Fink
Actors include: Clint Eastwood, Harry Guardino, Reni Santoni
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Length: 102 minutes
Banned: Finland

Review:
I wasn't sure that I'd ever get into cop thrillers, I hate to say that I'd always considered them "boy" movies and so I've avoided. Once again I was wrong to do so for this was one action packed stylish thrilling flick! Firstly it's impossible not to love Clint Eastwood, especially as this Dirty Harry character who plays by his own rules. He says what he likes (iconic sayings of course), shoots first and asks questions later plus he's a bonafied hero that is afraid of nothing! In this story his major foe is a serial killer (very similar to the real live Zodiac killings) who happens to be an all around bad guy in every sense of the word (he's even freaky looking). He has to deal with a new partner, the force which is trying to make him play by the rules while stopping at nothing to try to nab the crook. It's purely awesome in nearly every way, and I can't wait to see the sequels if they are half as great as this film!

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray

Charley Varrick (1973)

4 / 5 Dec '11
Tagline: When he runs out of dumb luck he always has genius to fall back on!
Directed by: Don Siegel
Written by: John Reese, Howard Rodman
Actors include: Walter Matthau, Joe Don Baker, Felicia Farr
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Length: 111 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This is a fun little film about a group of robbers who take on a small bank only to obtain one heck of a big score...only the radio announces that they only made out with a few thousand dollars! They know something is wrong, but Charley Varrick (Walter Matthau) figures out that it must be mob money! Then the cunning robbers must figure out how to survive and to stay hidden from the mob featuring more elaborate schemes and tricks along the way. Matters are not made simple by the fact that his main associate is frighteningly reckless. It's very exciting, it's filled with action and fun and there is never a dull moment. Certainly one of the better films like this and well worth a viewing, something for everyone in this I think.

Availability:  On DVD