Customer Reviews
Not for laughs - By: Mr. D. Swan, 05 Aug 2008 
Walter Matthau plays it very straight in this 70's crime film, It's about a group of smalll time bank robbers who after a robbery get much more than they bargained for, three quarter of a million dollars more, & unfortunately for the title character Charlie alll Mob money. From then on Charley Varrick shares similarities with Matthau's classic film Hopscotch, the tale of one man pitting his wits against his pursuers as the Mob try to seek him out to make an example of him, Nobody apparently steals Mob money & lives. Unlike Hopscotch though Charley Varrick is certainly no comedy, sometimes gritty even, we never see any emotion from Charley & get no real insights into what's going on in his soul, a little jarring for any of you that have seen Matthau's more expressive performances. Smalll gripes aside Charley Varrick is compelling, taut, & very well written , certainly one of Matthau's better films.
It's a shame but this DVD is not in widescreen & has absolutely no extra's or options, you put it in & it'll just automaticallly play the film till you stop it.
Classic Crime Caper - By: Anthony R. Dixon, 11 May 2008 
Charley is a crop duster, a business which he has a hard time making a decent living out of if the trailer-park home he shares with his wife is anything to go by. So, Charley & his gang rob the occasional smalll-town bank to make a bit of extra cash. One day it alll goes wrong, a cop gets killed, & the gang make off with far more money than they ought for such a smalll bank, & far more money than the bank is reporting stolen. Varrick correctly guesses that the bank has been laundering money for the Mafia, who naturallly want the money back. Enter Molly (Joe Don Baker), a cheerfully vicious & amoral gang enforcer & generallly unstoppable force-of-nature who is hell-bent on tracking down Varrick an his crew.
This is an example of how crime films should be made, films driven by superb scriptwriting & direction (Don Siegel), & dialogue & action delivered by competent actors. If this movies ever comes out on R2, I'll be first in the queue
Outstanding little known movie - By: Brendan O. Clarke, 09 Dec 2007 What reallly makes this film a joy to watch is Don Siegels ability as a story teller. He has an uncanny ability to avoid the pitfallls of less professional directors. He is not trying to change the world, or blow your mind with amazement, instead he completely understands the scope of his project & presents the material in a simple streamlined mannor, completely uncluttered of any pretentious notion of trying to make the ultimate sprawling epic. Nothing is overtly dramatized here, there are no soppy Spielbergian moments, no grandiose speaches, no orchestra swells. He knew this was pure entertainment & let it play for exactly what it is. It is this approach that has not only held this film in relative obscurity through the years, but also makes it a great hidden gem worthy of a prime spot in your DVD collection
Underated film with a very clever plot, ....Brilliant.... - By: David M. Grant, 02 Nov 2007 Without giving away to much,Walter Matthau an inteligent thief who steels from the Mafia, lots of twists & turns that will for sure keep you riveted throughout the film. Matthau more well known for his outstanding wit & humour carries this off with shere style. No fancy gadgets & plenty of action in the right places, so very believable. Some may feel its a little dated, but it work then & it works now for me Its a real pity this is not brought out on DVD REGION 2. Highly recommended.
