Police officer Tom Sharky gets busted back to working vice, where he happens upon a scandalous conspiracy involving a local politician. Sharky's new 'machine' gathers evidence while Sharky falls in love with a woman he has never met.
A tough, principled Atlanta detective, Tom Sharky, is framed and demoted to meter maid duty after he pursues a crime boss's beautiful girlfriend. Unwilling to let the case go, Sharky orchestrates a complex plan to bring down the drug lord and his entire operation, despite being off the force. He assembles a team of unconventional allies to help him get justice.
Sharky's Machine was a box office success and received generally positive reviews, praised for its stylish direction and energetic action sequences. While some critics found the plot somewhat formulaic, Burt Reynolds' performance and the film's gritty atmosphere were widely appreciated.
Google audience: Audience reviews often highlight the film's exciting action, Burt Reynolds' compelling performance as the determined detective, and the satisfying, albeit predictable, narrative arc. Some viewers noted that while the film holds up as an entertaining 80s action flick, it doesn't break much new ground in the genre.
The distinctive visual style of the film, particularly its use of Dutch angles and split diopter lenses, was heavily influenced by director Burt Reynolds' admiration for the work of director Robert Altman.
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