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20 out of 28 people found the following review useful: Two words: Bronson rules, 27 May 2004 Author: Mika Pykäläaho (bygis80@hotmail.com) from Järvenpää, Finland
Why do I love Charles Bronson when he is at his best? "Mr. Majestyk" alone gives about 103 minutes of good reason to do so. It's an excellent proof that Bronson really was the biggest action stars of cinema history and alongside with terrific classics like "Once upon a time in the west", "The Mechanic" and "Death wish" this is the film Bronson lovers will remember him by.I love everything about this movie. I love the inventive action scenes, silly yet exciting story, the amusing baddies, Charles Bernstein's cool score and 53 year old Bronson's irresistible performance as the toughest melon farmer the world has ever seen. If you call yourself a Bronson fan and you haven't seen this you have to do something about it immediately or you can't watch yourself in a mirror.
13 out of 16 people found the following review useful: Bronson, an action-violence king!, 27 August 2001 Author: ironside (robertfrangie@hotmail.com) from Mexico
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Like Clint Eastwood, Bronson never had real success until he went to Europe in 1968... Then he hit, and hit big... In one year he becomes a star, and an action-violence king...Bronson has a strong Slavic face, invisible slit eyes, a gently menacing smile-something like Jack Palance, but more humane... Social themes are not the usual stuff of Bronson films, but in 'Mr. Majestyk,' he looks tough, yet manages to convey a sympathetic streak in the character he portrays...He stars as a cool fighting loner who finds his efforts far to be carried out, and solves his problems with muscle and firearms - this time a formidable shotgun..Vince Majestyk, a Colorado melon grower who haven't clipped his melons yet, gets trouble from a local racist labor racketeer Paul Koslo (Bobby Kopas) who attempts to force him to do business with him, using his crew rather than the hand-picked Chicano migrants he employed...Majestyk straight advise to the unscrupulous punk is clear: Not to interfere... In this moment, Richard Fleisher's film looks as an action picture about labor and race troubles.... But the script twists it on throwing our genuine working man in prison on false charges... Accidentally in the same jail is gangster Frank Renda (Al Lettieri).When Renda's mafia associates stage a breakout for their boss, Majestyk seizes Frank and frustrates their carefully-schemed plan... He then offers to exchange the mafia thug for his own freedom... However, his own plan is ruined when Frank escapes from him, promising bloody revenge... Al Lettieri, the ruthless hoodlum, is probably best known as Solozzo in "The Godfather," and as a loan shark in 'Rocky.'Dragging along with Bronson, while he battles the mafia and cops, is Linda Cristal (Nancy Chavez), the beautiful Labor Organizer who provides all the necessary help to our hero... Nancy is quite clear with her Latin accent: 'If you want to go to bed with me, why don't you say so?'If you like to watch the machine-gun slaughter of hundreds of defenseless watermelons, this is the movie to watch...
17 out of 24 people found the following review useful: Bronson's Best Action Film, Period., 9 July 2003 Author: actionpro from Texas
This movie is simply Bronson's finest work. While I concede that the movie is formulaic and predictable, his acting is top-notch, as is the acting of the supporting cast. The premise is also exciting and downright cool: Bronson as a watermelon farmer who gets screwed by the man for protecting his property and then gets screwed when he attempts to secure his freedom via a poorly conceived plan. I can see him farming anything, but not watermelons (or maybe blueberries). Rent this movie along with The Mechanic, and you'll see Bronson in 2 of his finest action films. You definitely won't be disappointed.
13 out of 18 people found the following review useful: The DVD cover shows Bronson aiming his shotgun..., 20 January 2004 Author: Earl Roesel (Sanguinaire) from Northern KY, USA
Promising another great action drama!Richard Fleisher's tight direction, Bronson's sheer force of presence, and above all Elmore Leonard's excellent dialog combine to make this one terrific piece of entertainment – and one of Bronson's best films. Also worthy of note is Al Lettieri as Frank Renda (another excellent performance), a fearsome, explosively violent antagonist who perfectly compliments Bronson's cool-yet-tough demeanor. Bronson plays Vince Majestyk, a watermelon farmer who wants nothing more than to get his harvest in and mind his own business. He is interrupted by the weasel-like Bobby Kopas, who is quickly set straight by Majestyk – but Kopas soon joins forces with the vengeance-seeking Renda, whom Majestyk tried to send back to jail. Renda is just itching to get at Majestyk, and what follows is an action packed battle of wits between two determined foes – with only one left standing at the end…Mr. Majestyk also manages to combine great action with some especially sharp, funny dialog. For instance, Majestyk overhears a gas station attendant claim the bathrooms are out of service: `Hey, I was the last one to use that men's room - you saying I busted the toilet?' Overall, Mr. Majestyk is highly recommended to fans of the great Charles Bronson, action movies, or just great movies in general.
7 out of 9 people found the following review useful: Lettieri + Koslo = Great Double Act, 23 August 2002 Author: Theo Robertson from Isle Of Bute, Scotland
MR MAJESTYK is without doubt one of Charles Bronsan`s greatest films . I know that`s not saying much but if you`ve never seen it then you can`t appreciate just how enjoyable it is . Bronsan is outshined on screen by Al Lettieri`s performance as mafia hitman Frank Renda . Witness the scene in the prison dining hall MAJESTYK : ( To Renda - Referring to meal ) Hey buddy you finished with that ?RENDA : ( Knocks prison tray onto floor ) You want it ? You eat itMAJESTYK : I`ll tell you what I`ll have one of those cigarettes of yoursCUT to Renda giving a facial expression that resembles a rabid rottweiller . But it`s when Paul Koslo as Bobby Kopas arrives onto the scene to get revenge on Vince Majestyk that the deadpan humour really takes offKOPAS : Hi Mister Renda . I thought maybe after you`d finished with Majestyk I could maybe put a couple of slugs into him RENDA : ( Referring to Kopas ) Who`s this a$$hole ?Or the scene where Renda , Kopas and a couple of other bad guys are driving past Majestyk`s farm on a stakeout when they notice a police patrol car parked on the road RENDA : Cops . How long the cops been here ?KOPAS : ( Nonchalantly ) Too long I guess RENDA : ( grabs Kopas violently ) Listen a$$hole . I ain`t known you two minutes but already you`re talking s*** to me boy ( Kopas becomes visibly more and more terrified ) What`s the matter with you a$$hole ?Lettieri and Koslo make a great team and it`s a pity they never appeared in their own show entitled THE MAFIA HITMAN AND THEA$$HOLE
8 out of 11 people found the following review useful: "You make sounds like your a mean little a** kicker...", 3 September 2002 Author: Ryan McNabb from The melon patch
This is great stuff, if not perfect. Charles Bronson gives a great performance here as the wronged man out for justice, which is a standard Elmore Leonard set-piece. (See "Valdez is Coming" and "Hombre".) But I never get tired of these situations as he writes them, because the stories are all unique, thrilling, well told, and (if you stretch a little) believable. Majestyk is a simple guy who just wants to get his melon crop in, but he steps on some toes, winds up in the drunk tank, and then accidentally foils a ham handed attempt to break a big time criminal out of the same jail. Well, he's too much for any of them when the crap hits the fan, and of course he can't be bought off. He just wants to get his melons in, remember? One thing leads to another, the criminals come to get him, and you can fill in the blanks from there. But it isn't all cut and paste; there is some really good story telling here and bravura performances by the man who plays the main criminal. (His hame escapes me, but he was also the bad guy in "The Getaway".) When things get hot and heavy, he looks at Majestyk with grudging admiration and says "You know something? You move, melon picker. You don't say much...but you move!" True fact, and so does this movie, which is also the home of one of the two or three best car chases on film, along with "Bullitt", although this time it isn't a Mustang, but a good old Ford F-150. What could be more perfect? Also a nice job by the man who plays the worthless little weasel wannabe crook...you just want to slap him. Neither side likes him worth a flip. Great fun.
9 out of 13 people found the following review useful: Bronsons best!, 16 February 2004 Author: hamanncrosscreek from USA
Who would of thought that Charles Bronson would give his best performance as a melon farmer! Mr. Majestyk is a '70s classic. Elmore Leonards screenplay elevates this above other 30 year old action fare. The late great Al Lettieri is hilarious as hit-man Frank "The Keeeeeeeys" Renda. Character actor extraordinaire Paul Koslo nearly steals the show as the irritating Bobby Kopas. Linda Cristal is quite good as Charlie's love interest. Beautifully photographed, with scene after scene of memorable dialogue Mr. Majestyk delivers. Especially an amazing truck chase ( that ford used in TV commercials years later.) Instead of endless DEATHWISH sequels that numbed the senses, Charlie should have done a sequel to this one.
4 out of 4 people found the following review useful: "He Was Really Trying To Kill Me", 3 April 2008 Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York
Mr. Majestyk is one of my favorite Charles Bronson action films. The plot which is a bit complex for an action film does not get in the way of any of the action. By the way Bronson whose real name was Buckinski must have been happy to play a person of Polish ancestry in this one, I believe it is one of the few times he did.Bronson is Vincent Majestyk former army ranger who is now running a watermelon ranch. He's being squeezed by time because he needs to get his melons picked and to market in a matter of days and a local strong arm guy played by Paul Koslo tries to muscle him into hiring his crew.Big mistake for Koslo, but not right then because he has sheriff Frank Maxwell arrest Bronson. While in jail Bronson also runs afoul of big time hit man Al Lettieri and when Lettieri finally escapes he's out to get him.Bronson's willing to live and let live, but Lettieri crowds him and he's not given a choice. So he settles matters in the usual Bronson way.Lettieri was really coming into his own during the early Seventies with villainous roles in The Godfather, The Getaway, and McQ. A year later the cinema lost him, a real tragedy because he was superb in any part he played.Two women figure prominently in the proceedings. Linda Cristal who is an organizer for the United Farm Workers who Bronson aids and she in turn becomes pretty valuable to him. The second is Lee Purcell who plays a more modern version of a gangster moll from the Thirties.Over 30 years since I first saw Mr. Majestyk in the theater and I still love the way Bronson turns from the hunted to the hunter.
6 out of 8 people found the following review useful: "I got a melon to pick", 23 September 2006 Author: MisterWhiplash from United States
Mr. Majestyk isn't great art, but then Charles Bronson hasn't often been in many movies (Once Upon a Time in the West and possibly the Great Escape as exceptions) that might even be considered full-on 'films'. He's a movie-star, and on the B-side of the record, so to speak, of 1974's Death Wish was this little diddy where he plays, of all things, a melon farmer. But don't let that fool you into thinking this movie's a campy push-over. The first part of that might be true here and there, as it's hard to avoid it being a little goofy seeing a guy like Bronson as a farmer. Elmore Leonard as screenwriter, however, elevates the material to being fun without being overly stupid. Richard Fleischer as director, too, keeps the material afloat above that dangerous level of being one of those more forgettable Bronson programmers of the 80s. This is a writer, director and star all knowing what can be done with the material, and it works for what it's worth. I loved seeing some of the action, even if it early on is fairly brief (albeit with an amazing shot of Bronson literally crashing out of the back window of a car), and there's always a fresh way in terms of attitude with him. Mr. Majestyk is, if nothing else, a showcase for Bronson and his 'quiet but don't-f***-with-me' take on his character. He's believable because of a very simple character establishment- a war hero, already served time, divorced, just wanting to do his work, right? Wrong. He gets put in jail for getting in a scuffle with a cowboy (a funny scene all-around), gets put into a rock and a hard place with a mob boss (Al Lettieri) who is obsessed with rubbing him out for almost taking him back to jail. Soon, once the melons get involved, it becomes a mano-a-mano movie. Some of the acting is less than great, specifically from Linda Cristal as the Migrant lady whom Bronson's Majestyk falls for. But all the way the sense of tongue-in-cheek never becomes too much, as a mob movie crossed with vigilante drama could get. It's just enough to garner some big dumb grins, and mostly it's very professionally shot and scored in a very 70s style too. It's a tough better than average 'guy' action-genre movie, and definitely one of the Bronson vehicles I'd recommend.
7 out of 10 people found the following review useful: Colorful Bronson Actioner, 5 March 2004 Author: Robert J. Maxwell (rmax304823@yahoo.com) from Deming, New Mexico
SPOILERS.The plot, simple. Bronson, a melon farmer, gets mixed up through no fault of his own with a mob hit man and his half-dozen cronies. They set out to kill Bronson, whose chief concern is, as he puts it, "I've gotta get those melons in." After a series of attacks, Bronson fights back and a final shootout at a mountain cabin has predictable results.The photography is okay. The sound is sharp and tinny, like a TV movie. There is no character development to speak of. You don't need a discriminant function analysis to tell the good guys, who are thoroughly good, from the bad guys, who are thoroughly evil, because they come from entirely different populations. None of the major characters change in any way, except perhaps from being alive to being dead.The acting is about what you'd expect from this cast. Bronson is maybe a bit more jocular than in most of his movies. Sometimes he makes jokes or smiles, and he seems to mean it. He gets to perform his Charles Bronson imitation -- "Heyyyy, I don't know yewwwww." The mustache has become more outlandishly Bronsonoid than ever. Bronson grew up poor but managed to get used to being rich. He made lots of demands (for limousines and whatnot) on his later films. On this one, there was an initial delay of a day or two in principal shooting and he complained loudly in front of the crew that what this picture needed was a European crew, somewhat alienating his coworkers.Al Letierri is his usual big bulky brutish thuggish self. We're already familiar with the character from Pekinpah's "The Getaway." His personality is clearly anal expletive. He fumes when an underling "talks s*** to me." And to him everybody is an a******. He cares about nothing but power and "broads."Speaking of the latter, Lee Purcell, as his girlfriend, has the delicacy of an antique Chinese porcelain doll, except for her decidedly sensual lower lip which seems to droop in a perpetual pout. Linda Cristal is a different matter. As a semi-European Argentine beauty she was stunning 15 or 20 years earlier, but now her features have acquired strength and character. You no longer want to photograph her, airbrush her, and use her in a perfume ad. It is now a face (and figure) to paint. She seems to glow on screen.If I had to choose a Charles Bronson movie to watch, this would probably be the one. I don't know why. Maybe it's because Bronson seems to have a genuine occupation in this one. He's a melon farmer having trouble finding a crew to get his melons in on time. I helped out some friends picking melons in Utah for a while. My job was to receive the melons as they were handed to me and flip them up to a guy standing on a flatbed truck. After 20 minutes I couldn't tell whether I was alive or dead. Whatever melon pickers are being paid these days, it is not enough. Where was I? Oh, yes.I actually enjoy this flick. It was shot in Colorado where the air is clean enough to breathe and actually transparent except for a slight cerulean haze of terpines over the distant mountains. It's an attractive place, straw-colored bunch grass punctuated by the dark green of scattered junipers. You can almost smell their pungency. The location is sunny, warm, and pleasant, and invites hiking or at the very least thinking. You have to try kind of hard to keep your thoughts from turning to the suburban strip malls that will soon replace these areas.It's not without its flaws. The performance of Frank Maxwell as Lt. McAllen reminded me somewhat of a piece of driftwood. And Richard Fleischer, the director, had the bad judgment to allow Bronson to throw a stranger a wink under conditions in which winking is the last thing to come to mind. The script also gives Bronson a heroic military background, Army Ranger, POW, silver star, which is completely unnecessary. We know he's brave because he demonstrates it. And one of the most appealing characteristics of the script is that Bronson is NOT a heroic man by nature or by history. He's supposed to be just another low-mimetic guy, like the rest of us, trying to get his melons in.The movie is as straightforward and unpretentious as the novel that it's based on. Neither has a distinctive style. Neither smacks of art in any way. They just tell an interesting and exciting story.
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