Fluentiama Perfect cast and a good story

Actuakers One of my all time favorites.

Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

moonspinner55 At some point in Michael Ritchie's "Prime Cut", you have to stop looking (or hoping) for logic and just accept the film on its elements: visual flair to spare--and silver-haired Lee Marvin holding the screen with smooth, somewhat sheepish panache. Marvin plays a modern-day enforcer for the Mob in Chicago who travels with his honchos to Kansas City to collect a debt from racketeer "Mary Ann" (Gene Hackman), who is using a meat-packing plant as a cover for human slaughter. Ritchie, working from a reedy screenplay by Robert Dillon, and cinematographer Gene Polito manage to spike the often ridiculous proceedings with over-the-top action and an excitable camera. This works for awhile, until you realize the picture isn't going to amount to anything except a few bravura sequences (such as one where a reaper devours a car in a wheat field). The females in the cast (including a very green Sissy Spacek, in her acting debut) are served up to be ogled, and in this case one cannot separate the filmmakers from the slimy exploiters on the screen. ** from ****

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.

lost-in-limbo How to cut it? Watch as two very big personalities with bad tempers go at it and chew up the scenery. Very different in styles too. One hardened and lean, quietly going about his business which suited Lee Marvin, while Gene Hackman was all show, arrogant and aggressive in getting what he wants. So when these two come to blows, the confrontations are a sight to see. The story follows that of an underworld enforcer Nick Devlin sent to Kansas City by the Chicago mafia to collect money owned from a mobster Mary Ann who has no intention of paying, as those who have tried have met an untimely end (opening credits is an ingenious touch that won't have you looking at sausages in the same way again). So they hire the best in Devlin. A meat-packing plant fronts for Ann's other business dealings involving drugs and prostitution. "Prime Cut" is a hard-hitting 70s gangster joint, which can be brutal in its melodramatics and excessive in its details. It's a rough and tumble, if drawn out cat and mouse chase exercise with a pinch noir, as no one wants to step down from their stance. The script is unassuming, but vigorous when it has to be. Some moments do have a dark underbelly, like how the prostitutes are treated like live-stock. Drugged, paraded and demoralised. "Cow flesh. Girl flesh. All the same to me. " Throughout there are symbolic images, like when Marvin and his crew are riding into a storm, which mirrors what's to come in its climatic payoff. These moments stand out more, because it does feel aimless and maybe too simple in its automatic, if minimalistic narrative drive made up of hidden agendas. Director Michael Ritchie's hasty styling is comfortable, especially in constructing pockets of tense set-pieces (wheat tractor chase) and the picturesque backdrop adds genuine flavour. While it's the two leads that steal the show, making her film debut is the impressive Sissy Spacek, who's doll-face appearance simply sticks with you. Gregory Walcott also leaves a mark. Odd, but a conventionally engaging and unflinching action thriller. "Anyway it cuts."