Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

Wonderful character development!

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

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

The Outfit is directed by John Flynn and Flynn adapts the screenplay from the novel written by Richard Stark (AKA: Donald E. Westlake). It stars Robert Duvall, Joe Don Baker, Karen Black and Robert Ryan. Music is by Jerry Fielding and cinematography by Bruce Surtees.It arguably took a further decade to pass before the 1970s would be revealed as a superb decade for neo-noir. For where the 60s purveyors cribbed close to the stylistics of the 40s and 50s, the 70s operators often saw a shift in emphasis on noir plotting over stylistics, using their own ideas on style to befit tone of plot. One such case is The Outfit, a cunningly moody piece that's at times brutal and at others a wry revenger pumped full of dialogue barbs.Nobody's luck holds forever.Plot finds Duvall as Earl Macklin, who upon being released from prison finds his brother has been murdered by "The Outfit" and he himself is on the hit-list as well. It transpires that Earl and his brother knocked off a bank that "The Outfit" had serious ties to, and the rub-out is on. Only thing is, Earl isn't about to put on a concrete overcoat any time soon and turns the tables on his pursuers.Macklin's mission of revenge and financial rewards is filtered through a world populated by unsavoury characters in unsavoury period suits, the locations frequented often drab and colourless so as to sidle up with the narrative drive. At Earl's side is Cody (Baker), a cool bad ass who fears no one and can spot a femme fatale from a mile off. Also along for the journey is Bett (Black), she's Earl's squeeze, an unmeaning fatale who is quickly thrust into the bloody tale to play an active part.In the villain corner overseeing quiet menace is Mailer (Ryan). In one of his last films released in the year of his death, Ryan leaves noir lovers a character whose every word is to hang on, while his spousal relationship with Rita (Cassidy) is amusingly tender yet cold. The rest of the heavies are by-the-numbers, but they are really only serving purpose as fodder for Earl and Cody's machismo fuelled spree, with the dialogue exchanges a thing of caustic beauty.Baker and Duvall are excellent, and they are backed up by a brilliant support cast, it's a roll call of film noir heroes, villains and dupes. In fact the noir credentials are incredibly high here, from source writer Stark (Point Blank/The Grifters) and director Flynn (Rolling Thunder), to the cast list, it's noir nirvana. Sure we hanker for more from the likes of Elisha Cook and Marie Windsor etc, but Flynn makes his point and ensures lovers of the noir form can feel his love as well.Problems? Well yes of course there's the issue of not having some true nighttime noir photography, and in truth Black is quite simply miscast but gets away with it since the makers offer her up for a narrative sting. Elsewhere, the treatment of women will annoy some, but tonally speaking you have to say it sits well in the world the story exists in. Then there's the ending! I haven't seen the TV version of the pic, but have to say the one offered up there is surely (in the noir universe) far greater than the one we have in the official release, and certainly more befitting what has preceded it.Niggles apart, The Outfit is a cracker and well worth seeking out. 8.5/10

With a "tip of its hat" to classic film noir, this revenge thriller is gritty, violent and hard-boiled. It's also fast-moving and action-packed. Everything it portrays is straight-forward, from its plot which doesn't have any twists to its dialogue which is extremely economical but also perfect for the type of characters it features. The characters are, in some cases, entertaining to watch but are nevertheless predominantly criminals who adhere to their own codes of conduct which will inevitably determine their destinies. It's this aspect of their behaviour that creates the on-going sense that they're all on a downward spiral and heading in the direction of a fate over which they have no control.When Earl Macklin (Robert Duvall) is released from a 27 month prison term, he's met by his girlfriend Bett (Karen Black) and learns that his brother Eddie (Edward Ness) has recently been killed by a couple of hit-men. The killing was in reprisal for his involvement in the robbery of a bank which was owned by a criminal organisation called "The Outfit" and as Earl and his old friend Cody (Joe Don Baker) had also been involved, they too would inevitably be on the hit list.At a motel where they share a room, Bett makes it clear that she'd unwillingly disclosed where Earl would be staying to a senior member of the outfit who'd tortured her and threatened to cut up her face. Suitably prepared, Earl surprises and beats up his potential murderer before eliciting some useful information and setting him free.Earl, who's determined to avenge the murder of his brother, then teams up again with Cody and together they raid a series of the outfit's gambling operations before he contacts mob boss Mailer (Robert Ryan) and demands the sum of $250,000 to stop disrupting his business. Mailer, who dismissively says that the outfit make more than that before noon on a good day, readily agrees to Earl's demands but, later double-crosses him before their dispute eventually reaches its violent and very tense conclusion.The action sequences in this movie are exciting, tense and well-directed and there are some standout sequences, for example, when Earl, Cody and Bett get ambushed by a group of outfit gunmen and an occasion when Earl holds up a poker game and robs all the players of their money before taking revenge on Jake Menner (Timothy Carey) for what he'd done to Bett.As if to reinforce its noir credentials, the impressive cast of this movie includes a whole collection of stars who featured in a number of the most famous films noir, with Robert Ryan, Jane Greer, Timothy Carey, Marie Windsor and Elisha Cook Jr. all prominent examples. Timothy Carey's sneering facial expressions are terrific as his character threatens Earl, even when he's in a position of weakness and Robert Ryan is totally convincing as the angry crime boss whose life seems to be utterly joyless. Robert Duvall and Joe Don Baker are also both perfectly cast in their roles with Baker adding some nice moments of humour that add enormously to the enjoyment of watching this fine movie that remains gripping from start to finish.

Your humble reviewer is not much of a follower of the "auteur" school of film criticism. Which says that you cannot do a proper review unless you appreciate the history of the work.Usually that is bunk. Not here.If you are new to the series, you should know that some of the best and most acclaimed fiction writers of the last century practically go soppy when you mention the Parker series by Donald Westlake. Writing as Richard Stark, one of the best pen-names of all time. The prose is not merely considered "good" -- there are PhD's who believe it is the best use of the English language of the era.Hollywood struggled with the adaptations. Marvin in 67, the great Bobby Duval here (one year before the breakout Godfather role) and finally the more recent hand-off to Mel Gibson who mugged and wise-cracked his way through the film.In my view, though different physically, Marvin and Duval tie. If I had to, I would give Duval -- one of the longest-working stars in Hollywood, he started in the 50s! -- the nod. Bald, and less imposing, he has to work harder to "sell" the role.Joe Don Baker and Karen Black are merely the icing on the cake.It is a solid actioner by the 70s standards (keeping in mind that the 70s was a "lost decade" for Hollywood, the star system had burnt out and digital SFX had not yet arrived).A good film. If you read the books first, it becomes a great film.

Before the opening credits, an assassination occurs. The victim turns out to be a former criminal, attempting to retire in peace. Next, his likewise criminally-minded brother Robert Duvall (as Earl Macklin) is released from an Illinois prison. Pouting girlfriend Karen Black (as Bett Harrow) takes Mr. Duvall to a motel and shares the bad news about "The Outfit" offing his brother. Duvall wants revenge, which moves him up on the hit list. He teams up with best friend Joe Don Baker (as Jack Cody) to go after the big boss, Robert Ryan (as Mailer)...There is fine direction and photography here, by John Flynn and Bruce Surtees, with a fantastic supporting cast - but not enough story for either side of the screen. The character played by Ms. Black is almost dispensable. She is often left sitting around - or, in a marvelous sequence with sexy Sheree North, quietly sleeping in the car. Better to stick with Duvall and Mr. Baker, perhaps opening with Duvall's release from prison and cross-cutting the assassination with a sad discovery of the dead brother's body. And, a smug close-up of Robert Ryan.****** The Outfit (10/73) John Flynn ~ Robert Duvall, Joe Don Baker, Robert Ryan, Karen Black