Diagonaldi Very well executed

Merolliv I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Tayyab Torres Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Zandra The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

jrpa I was not going to write a review for this movie but this might be the best place for an opinion......... In particular, there is a scene where Marvin takes Spacek to a hotel/motel dining room and her gown is completely diaphanous -- i.e., transparent -- from top to bottom with some strategically placed ruffles front and back at and below the waist. Actually, with her character's apparent upbringing to become a sex-slave of a high bidder, she could be excused for not realizing how inappropriate the gown was for a public dining room. But Marvin can't use the same excuse. Also, Marvin's apparent unease that a man at a nearby table is staring and Marvin's stare-down of the man is pretty ridiculous. The waiters act as if everyone comes to dinner virtually naked.I enjoyed the movie, though. Everyone put in a good performance -- even the cannon fodder.....

Michael_Elliott Prime Cut (1972) *** (out of 4) Fun crime picture has a Chicago enforcer (Lee Marvin) heading to Kansas City where an evil cattle baron (Gene Hackman) owes the big boys some money but he doesn't plan on cutting them in on his business. PRIME CUT is a film that not too many people know, which is pretty surprising when you consider how popular these type of crime films are. Not to mention the film is probably the only one in history to feature three Oscar winners as well as a man who appeared in PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE. Overall director Michael Ritchie does a very good job at keeping the picture running very smoothly and while the picture certainly has some flaws, it's still a highly entertaining and at times sleazy picture. One of the highlights come early on when Marvin and his men show up at a "cattle" auction only to discover that Hackman has a major business of selling off women. The women, all in cages like cattle, serve up quite the image. The film also manages to have some great violence, although none of it really goes over-the-top or gets too graphic. There's a terrific sequence during a fair as well as another in a sunflower field. I'm not going to ruin either sequences but they contain some nice suspense. Of course, one of the greatest aspects is the terrific cast. While each cast member has been better in other movies, there's no doubt that it's still very fun to see them all together. Marvin and Hackman really appear to be having fun in their roles and we also get Angel Tompkins in a brief role as the woman who was with both of them. Sissy Spacek appears in a pretty thankless role but it's still fun seeing her. Gregory Walcott, a veteran of Edward D. Wood, Jr., appears as one of the major bad guys. As I said, there are certainly some flaws including the entire relationship between Marvin and Spacek but fans of 70's crime pictures will still want to check this out.

Scott LeBrun An interesting item on the resume of Michael Ritchie, the late director whose other credits include "Downhill Racer", "The Candidate", and "Fletch", the fast-paced and tongue-in-cheek crime drama "Prime Cut" succeeds at being an amusing piece of work. It's just sleazy and off kilter enough to make it a good if not memorable entertainment. It's well worth viewing for fans of the cast, establishing its tone early on when the mob in Chicago learn of the fate of one of their hired guns. Ritchie mines the rural settings for lots of atmosphere and uses the 2.35:1 aspect ratio to his advantage. There are also some real highlights in terms of action: a chase and a climactic shootout, both of which happen in fields. Enhancing all of it is a wonderful score by Lalo Schifrin.Star Lee Marvin doesn't exactly have to stretch himself here, exuding that trademark cool as Nick Devlin, a mob enforcer assigned the task of collecting a debt from a Kansas rancher, played by Gene Hackman. (Another indication of this movie's tone is the fact that Hackman's character has a female name, Mary Ann!) Mary Ann doesn't want to pay his debt because he has no respect for the Chicago mafia. So Nick and a few others travel to Kansas City to pay Mary Ann a visit. Naturally, Mary Ann makes full use of his slaughterhouse, turning all of his enemies into cuts of meat! Nick also learns that his quarry is depraved enough to sell young girls as sex slaves, and rescues one of these girls, Poppy, played by the endearing Sissy Spacek.Hackman's performance is great fun, and also appearing on screen are the delectable Angel Tompkins as Nick's former flame Clarabelle, Gregory Walcott as Mary Ann's thuggish brother "Weenie", Janit Baldwin as Poppy's friend Violet, and legendary police officer Eddie Egan as mob boss Jake. They all make this movie a pleasing diversion, one that, as previously mentioned, injects some trashy elements but never dwells too much on the darkness in the story. The big confrontation at the end is very moody and well done overall, and there's a satisfying wrap-up at the end.Seven out of 10.

chow913 Grindhouse Meets Hollywood What happens when you mix a plot so depraved and risky it could only be grindhouse, with Hollywood stars and production. You get this lost gem.First off this film is surprisingly depraved in human suffering and contains a shocking amount of debauchery for 1972. The scene where drugged naked girls are being auctioned in cattle stalls is unforgettable. They also throw in lesbianism, Irish mom running a cathouse, Sissy Spacek nude, orphan girls being sold by their orphanage, and a gangbang. Again, shocking for 1972.The plot: Yes there is one. The setup is strong. Nick (Lee Marvin) is in a Chicago bar when he is hired to collect a $500,000 debt from Kansas a given 4 "good Irish boys" to lend a hand "anyway it cuts." The setup is strong because they never state their intentions and business are never stated. We just know they're gangsters.While the farms of Kansas don't sound all that scary, Gene Hackman has made them his own private kingdom where he reigns supreme.'Prime Cut' features plenty of great acting, action scenes, and production quality.It does fall victim to a few Hollywood claques such as the hero falling in love with the hooker with a heart of gold and a hard luck story. The hero's romance with the mobster's wife that everyone fought over, and old tuff guy talk.But these predictabilities can't hold back 'Prime Cut' from being a lost gem of hardcore action.