Mr. Majestyk Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

Mr. Majestyk Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 18, 2014

Only a week before Charles Bronson took America by storm with the vigilante saga “Death Wish,” “Mr. Majestyk” slipped into theaters, looking to cash in on a heartland hero trend boosted by the success of “Billy Jack” and “Walking Tall.” While it has the benefit of Bronson’s icy glare and a supporting cast skilled at playing ghouls, the film isn’t exactly the man-against-the-machine event the movie’s initial scenes hint at. More of slow-burn game of intimidation, “Mr. Majestyk” (my spell-check just killed itself) would rather explore the honor of a good rural fight, tossing cops, the mob, and a melon farmer into the ring, with screenwriter Elmore Leonard works out the details of the escalating aggression. While it’s not a swiftly paced picture, it’s a likable blend of bravado and villainy, with Bronson submitting his traditional thespian offering of deep squints, cynical chuckles, and reluctant heroism, utilized quite well by director Richard Fleischer, who embraces the star’s dependably creased charms.

Vince Majestyk (Charles Bronson) is a reserved man with a haunted past. The owner of a 160 acre farm that specializes in watermelons, Vince hopes to attract enough day laborers to help him harvest the enormous crop, believing in a fair wage and honest work. Blocking his path is town goon Lundy (Taylor Lacher), who demands he use weak men to complete the job, benefiting his own financial standing. Refusing to bow to this intimidation, which escalates when Lundy brandishes a shotgun, Vince is sent to jail, where he clashes with mafia assassin, Frank (Al Lettieri). When his underworld compatriots arrive to bust him out during a bus transfer, Frank is instead captured by Vince, who’s hoping to clear his name by helping the local cops with this debacle. Instead of aid, Vince is turned into bait, and when Frank swears revenge on the man who prevented his escape, he’ll stop at nothing to hurt the farmer, threatening his crop, his newfound lover, labor organizer Nancy (Linda Cristal), and the innocent souls he employs.

In one of his earliest Hollywood efforts, Leonard doesn’t fit Vince for a cape and tights in “Mr. Majestyk.” The character is a broken man for reasons not immediately understood, keeping to the rhythm of melon farming (which requires a precise harvest period before rot sets in), trying to spread jobs around the area by bringing in hearty immigrants for hearty work. He’s steely, focused on his routine, and intolerant of those who go out of their way to humiliate others. In an early scene, we watch Vince confront a gas station attendant who’s under orders not to let the day laborers use the facilities, disgusted with such obvious mistreatment, while beguiled by the presence of Nancy, who quickly deduces the farmer’s innate sense of fairness. Still, even with such pronounced definition on the personalities, the production keeps Vince low to the ground, who only puts up a fight when he notices something out of order.

“Mr. Majestyk” is a little baffling when it comes time to find a reason to toss Vince into jail, offering a confrontation with Lundy where the farmer is clearly defending himself from a determined aggressor. The legality behind his temporary incarceration is vague, but the film needs something to pair up Vince and Frank, a contentious couple quickly taking top priority in Leonard’s script. There are highlights involving the cons, including the assault on the prison bus, where Frank’s brothers in arms team up to massacre local cops and spring the hit man, only to collide with Vince’s ingenuity. Fleischer orders up explosions and heavy gunplay, giving “Mr. Majestyk” an unexpected hardness that’s not sustained throughout the picture, but makes a few key appearances. Frank’s lust for revenge takes command of the story, working through planning stages and meetings with fellow thugs, while scenes of intimidation are common, including a doozy that has the villains breaking the legs of Vince’s loyal friend. Geeze, all the guy wanted to do was make a watermelon delivery, and then he’s bedridden for months. The broad strokes of bullying help motivate Vince into action, and they also provide the feature with pockets of violence to help alleviate its semi-talky downtime and a flubbed pass at bringing the impassive farmer and Nancy together in a sexual relationship.

Performances are generally cartoonish, with western-style black hat/white hat identification employed to make sure the audience understands what side to root for. It’s difficult to criticize such obviousness, and Fleischer appears to encourage it, but a little of Lettieri goes a long way, with his repetitive threats losing their meaning toward the end of the movie. Cristal’s work as Nancy is an early pass at a feminist viewpoint in an all-male game of survival, defiant and ready to aid Vince’s efforts of retaliation, but the actress doesn’t wear brawn naturally, creating a confusing character who doesn’t add the punch of support she’s intended to bring. As for Bronson, he’s reliably agitated in a physical performance, trying to keep hair out of his eyes (with Justin Bieber-esque head shakes) as he engages the enemy. There’s isn’t enough grit to Vince to truly bring out the best in the actor, but Bronson articulates the farmer’s game of self-preservation and resignation quite well.

Mr. Majestyk Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation doesn't carry the full power of an HD event, looking like a moderate upgrade over past DVD releases. Cinematography is limited to begin with, but fine detail isn't a priority, with only a few close-ups bringing out impressive textures. The image looks a tad fatigued, with colors on the muted side, rarely offering confidence, while skintones look a little bloodless. Grain remains without spilling into a noisy mess, and the print doesn't trigger concern, showing little pronounced damage. Black levels are perhaps most disappointing, with solidification issues popping up on occasion, especially during low-lit sequences and with dense hairstyles.

Mr. Majestyk Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD sound mix doesn't offer many sonic surprises, but it does present a steady listening experience that doesn't encounter troubling extremes. Dialogue is natural and clear, registering threats and banter with balance. Atmospherics are adequate, with a fine sense of outdoor activity, and violence retains a little punch, finding gunfire and fisticuffs as rough as creatively intended. Scoring is confident, with satisfactory instrumentation, never stepping on the drama. Overt damage wasn't detected.

Mr. Majestyk Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (1:33, HD) is included.

Mr. Majestyk Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Mr. Majestyk" is serviceable revenge genre fare with a few unique detours, finding the watermelon farming angle supplying an interesting opportunity for Frank and his men to hit Vince where it hurts the most. The tempo isn't consistent, but stunt work is bruising, threats are chewy, and Bronson is agreeably Bronson-esque, keeping "Mr. Majestyk" engaging enough to charm.