BURT REYNOLDS STARS AS/DIRECTS THE ACTION NEO NOIR 'STICK'

Burt Reynolds in STICK Year: 1985 Rating: ***1/2

Elmore Leonard's yarn about an ex-con named STICK is brought to the big screen by actor/director Burt Reynolds, who doesn't ruin Leonard's staple brainy dialog by adding plenty of mainstream action, an over-synthesized score, predictable moments (you know who's gonna die and when) and undeveloped characters.

Yet none of the flaws matter since the character doesn't take his situation... revenge for his buddy's death (Jose Perez from SHORT EYES)... all that seriously: floating in-and-out of trouble with ease...

Burt Reynolds in STICK

And to close in on his target, Stick poses as a limo driver for a Florida-based film producer in cahoots with a drug dealer (Charles Durning) connected to the main villain, a Middle Eastern crime czar who uses black magic on his minions,,,

The real danger's a tall albino hitman, leading to a climactic penthouse-falling stunt in a vehicle that's not as good as Burt's other modern-Noir crime flick SHARKY'S MACHINE, but it still holds the same laidback acting style and worthy action scenes, once again proving Reynolds can direct.

Burt Reynolds in STICK

Burt Reynolds in STICK

Burt Reynolds in STICK with Tricia Leigh Fisher

Burt Reynolds in STICK

Burt Reynolds in STICK

Sachi Parker in STICK with Jose Perez

Sachi Parker in STICK

Candace Bergen in STICK

Burt Reynolds in STICK

Burt Reynolds is STICK

Burt Reynolds in STICK with Tricia Leigh Fisher

Sachi Parker in STICK with Burt Reynolds

Burt Reynolds as STICK in STICK

Burt Reynolds in STICK with Tricia Leigh Fisher

Burt Reynolds' STICK with Tricia Leigh Fisher

Burt Reynolds' STICK with Dar Robinson

Burt Reynolds' STICK with Dar Robinson

Burt Reynolds as STICK in STICK

Burt Reynolds as STICK in STICK