AN ENIGMATIC BRONSON IN FULL FORCE

Mr Majestyk in one of Bronson's lesser know but more sympathetic and humorous characters, a humble melon farmer that finds himself having to deal with local redneck hoodlums, corrupt police, a vengeful mafia hitman and bringing in the harvest. Certainly not as ruthlessly violent as some of his later films, Mr Majestyk, with its funky opening credits and Shifrin-esque film score, is a superb and very watachble seventies action/crime/thriller. The kind of late night movie BBC 2 used to show before everyone became obsessed with celebrities ice skating, ballrooom dancing and eating their own heads. It is very seventies with most of the tough guys looking like darts champions, but the plot moves at a decent pace and Bronson is great. it may not be the most faithful adaptation of an Elmore Leonard novel, but it's certainly not the worst. A great soundtrack, Charles Bronson, Elmore Leonard, lots of melons and the creator of Soylent Green behind the camera, what's not to like? An enjoyable old school thriller that thoroughly deserves its cult status.