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The Formula (1980)

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 2

audience

26

liked it
Average Rating: 2.8/5
User Ratings: 952

My Rating

Movie Info

With George C. Scott and Marlon Brando heading the cast, The Formula should have been far better than it is. Adapted by Steve Shagan from his own best-selling novel, the film is predicated on the concept that a formula for synthetic fuel had been developed by the Nazis during WW II. In the intervening 35 years since the war's end, the formula has disappeared and several people connected with it have died under mysterious circumstances. Also during this period, oil magnate Adam Steiffel (Marlon

R, 1 hr. 57 min.

Mystery & Suspense, Drama

Nov 7, 2006

Cast

All Critics (11) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (3) | Rotten (7) | DVD (1)

its completely muddled plot is a disaster: There can be no joy in unraveling a plot that is a mystery even to itself.

October 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | Comment
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The murder scene is littered with so many red herrings it might as well be a delicatessen.

August 30, 2004 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment (1)
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

plays like a tedious checklist of murders without a score card.

January 25, 2009 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | Comment
Filmcritic.com

Only Marlon Brando in a small role as a daffy oil tycoon gives the film some spark.

August 30, 2008 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Laborious

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

The Formula is an intriguing thriller that raises many questions about business ethics and the moral bankruptcy of the very rich.

January 29, 2004 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | Comment
Spirituality and Practice

A potentially fascinating subject is torpedoed by an overplotted and overloaded script, and opaque direction.

May 24, 2003 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Formula

This started out as a WWII Film and I was just sitting down and getting ready to enjoy what looked to be a somewhat promising war movie, when all of a sudden we were throw forward by a number of years. That was the first surprise. Anyway George C Scott plays a LA Cop who uncovers a plot involving a Nazi Formula for

September 18, 2009
bbcfloridabound
Bruce Bruce

Super Reviewer

Even though he's being fed his lines through a visible hearing aid, Marlon Brando still pulls off an excellent performance that serves as the highlight of this flop. George C. Scott fights to pull a compelling character out of an essentially hollow protagonist, and he does a pretty good job overall. The film itself is

November 4, 2006
michaelcorleone

Super Reviewer

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