Sharky's Machine

Tom Sharky is an Atlanta narcotics officer whose undercover operation goes wrong, and a bystander is killed during the shooting that follows. As punishment, he is demoted and sent to the vice squad, a unit widely regarded as the bottom rung of the police department. Working there with a small, unruly team, he takes on surveillance of a high-priced escort named Domino. What begins as routine observation turns into something bigger: evidence of corruption and a network of prostitution reaching up to a powerful organized crime figure and a candidate for governor. Sharky is drawn to the woman he watches from a distance, while his unit works to gather proof against the people behind the scheme.

The film is based on William Diehl's novel and was directed by Burt Reynolds, his third feature as director after Gator and The End, with Gerald Di Pego writing the screenplay and Hank Moonjean producing. Reynolds also stars, supported by Rachel Ward, Henry Silva, Brian Keith, Vittorio Gassman and Charles Durning.

Made for about 18 million dollars and taking roughly twice that worldwide, it performed solidly at the box office. On IMDb it holds 6.3/10 from around 7,300 votes, while on TMDB it sits at 6.2/10 from 118 votes, and a critics' rating of 6.3/10 from 23 reviews puts it close to the audience scores.