Overview: Before he embarked on a roaring rampage of revenge with 1977’s Rolling Thunder, director John Flynn made The Outfit, a hard-boiled thriller par excellence, based on a novel by Richard Stark (aka Donald E. Westlake), one of the greatest crime writers who ever lived. Earl Macklin (Robert Duvall, The Godfather) is a professional thief. Once upon a time, he and his brother Eddie robbed a bank together. Unfortunately, that bank was owned by criminal syndicate The Outfit.

Now Eddie is dead and it looks like Earl is next. But The Outfit hasn’t counted on Earl’s iron will. Released from a 27-month stretch in prison, Earl wants to get even and, with girlfriend Bett (Karen Black, Five Easy Pieces) and best friend Cody (Joe Don Baker, Walking Tall), he begins a private war to avenge the death of his brother. The entire criminal underworld is about to learn an unforgettable lesson: never mess with Earl Macklin.

With a score by Peckinpah regular Jerry Fielding, gritty cinematography by Bruce Surtees (The Shootist), and a veritable rogues gallery of classic character actors including Robert Ryan (The Wild Bunch), Timothy Carey (The Killing), Richard Jaeckel (The Dirty Dozen), and Bill McKinney (Deliverance), The Outfit is as tough, taut, and relentless as its protagonist.

Blu-ray Verdict: Simply put, this is a nicely drawn revenge piece starring Robert Duvall and Joe Don Baker. The script is by the renowned Donald E. Westlake adapting one of his own Richard Stark novels. If you’ve ever read a Richard Stark novel featuring the character Parker then The Outfit, even though I do not think it’s an actual Parker story will seem familiar: Cool Professional thief gets the shaft from old associates and then sets about rectifying the problem.

The books are intriguing for being very consistent: Westlake’s protagonists aren’t kill crazy revenge machines; they always want the money owed to them and in today’s world of millions, billions and more, their demands often seem very reasonable; here Robert Duvall demands only $250,000. But schmucks and wise guys are always trying to play it cheap in these novels and the films that they often become, leading to much enjoyable mayhem.

I’m also of the opinion that John Flynn had an effective no-frills directorial style. This film, along with Rolling Thunder and Best Seller, showcases his quiet formalism and knack for using simple set-ups and long takes to achieve a realistic, down-to-earth grit and everyday realism that works well for sleazy crime thrillers and revenge melodramas. I suppose now that he has recently passed away, his critical standing will only improve.

In closing, for an experience of the expert execution of cynical 70’s neo noir with grit, pace and exciting verve then this is as good a place as any. Oh, and I’d be surprised if the ending doesn’t raise at least the ghost of a satisfied smile to the most jaded of viewers.

LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY CONTENTS:
Brand new restoration from the original 35mm camera negative by Arrow Films
High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation with original and alternate ending options available via seamless branching
Original lossless mono audio
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Brand new audio commentary by critic & author Jedidiah Ayres and film critic Mike White of The Projection Booth Podcast
The Man With the Getaway Face, a brand new appreciation of author Donald E. Westlake (aka Richard Stark) by Westlake expert Levi Stahl
Paths Not Taken, a brand new appreciation of the film by critic Walter Chaw
Tapping into the Outsider, a brand new featurette on The Outfit and the Parker novels by Alissa Marmol-Cernat and Shay Dennis, creators of Tough Business: A Parker Site
Archival interview with filmmaker Walter Hill on director John Flynn
Theatrical trailer
Image galleries
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella
Collectors’ booklet with new writing by critics Chris D, Glenn Kenny, and Priscilla Page

The Outfit (1973) | 4k Remastered Trailer

Official Purchase Link

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