Ex-cop! Ex-CIA! Ex-plosive! Screen legend Burt Reynolds (White Lightning, Stick, Heat) is back as Richard Malone, an ex-CIA agent looking to leave his past behind him and start a new life in the Pacific Northwest. But his dreams of living the quiet life soon goes up in smoke when he stumbles onto a military conspiracy led by a local millionaire and rightwing zealot, played to sinister perfection by Cliff Robertson (Three Days of the Condor). Add Lauren Hutton (Gator) as Malone’s ex-partner and lover… her next CIA assignment is to snuff Malone. Harley Cokliss (Battletruck, Black Moon Rising) wonderfully directs the fast-paced adventure yarn filled with suspense and thrills. The stellar cast includes Cynthia Gibb (Modern Girls), Kenneth McMillan (Dune), Tracey Walter (The Hunter) and Scott Wilson (In Cold Blood).

For thoughts on Malone, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/LyoMrkNRyV4?si=hpLPdiuUbBUz12RF&t=1155]

Video Quality

This new Blu-Ray from Kino Classics gives Malone an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 that holds up pretty well. The film was released on Blu-Ray back in 2015 by the label, although it appears to have been out of print for a little bit. The new disc is derived from the same master, but this release utilizes a new BD-50 disc instead of the more compressed BD-25 from before. We do not have that disc to compare the two transfers, but this looks pleasing despite being from an older source. Nevertheless, this new release makes you long for a fresh master to allow this one to look its best. There is obvious room for improvement which could add some real vitality to the picture.

The transfer does show some fine detail in clothing, production design, and landscapes. The setting allows for a colorful image with hues properly saturated. Black levels could be more robust, but they provide some depth to the image even with signs of crush present. There is no major indication of damage to be found in this presentation, but there are some specks throughout. The feature has a passable grain structure that maintains the filmic look of the picture, but some of the grain can shift into digital noise. Kino Classics has brought this back onto the scene, but a new master would have been preferable.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a passable DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that does not fumble its sonic ambition even without a refresh. Dialogue comes through clearly and balances well with background noises and other competing elements. This track comes with fleeting moments of age-related wear and tear. A few elements verge on distortion and the score is not as full as it should be, but this holds up well enough. The score from David Newman maintains fair fidelity and does not overwhelm the dialogue or other important information. The audio track could use a remaster if they ever get around to the video in the future. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Film Historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson provide an informative commentary track in which they discuss the production of the film, how the script evolved into a more traditional action film, the background of the performers, the direction of Harley Cokliss, the critical reception, and more that is worth exploring.

Trailers: The two-minute trailer for Malone is provided here. There are trailers for Fuzz, Hustle, Gator, Stick, Heat and Rent-A-Cop.

Final Thoughts

Malone is not a terribly complex action-thriller from Burt Reynolds, but it serves its purpose for action fans looking for some passable fun. Reynolds wields his movie star charisma in every role, and he remains a magnetic presence throughout. The ensemble does a fine job with what they are given, most notably Scott Wilson. It is a highlight for no one, but it is still worth a watch. Kino Classics has delivered a Blu-Ray release that shows off an acceptable A/V presentation and a welcome commentary track. Burt Reynolds fans should take note. Recommended

Malone (Special Edition) is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.