Burt Reynolds stars in and directs this atmospheric, volatile action thriller about an Atlanta cop whose gung-ho tactics on a narcotics case get him demoted to the vice squad. There he transforms a colorful crew into a machine aimed at bigger prey: crimelord Victor DAnton (Vittorio Gassman). Playing vital cogs in Sharkys Machine are Brian Keith, Charles Durning, Bernie Casey, Richard Libertini and John Fiedler. Rachel Ward is the call girl who sets Sharkys personal and professional lives spinning. It's easy to get attached to the likable characters these pros create. But beware. In Sharkys bullet-for-bullet-for-bullet world, even the good die fast.