"Shamus" is one of the more obscure movies from Burt Reynolds. Obtaining it on DVD is not an easy task, nor was it available on video for long.
Regardless, this is a good film. The pace is quite tight, there is a sense of style about the production and Burt Reynolds oozes with sexual charisma. He plays a private eye who is employed for a job that pays $10,000. He realises that it's all too good to be true. Sure enough, the bad guys begin appearing and problems soon arise.......
"Shamus" was one of the most violent films at this stage of Reynolds's career. Some of the death scenes leave little to the imagination.
This feels more like an up to date version of some of those 1940s "Film Noir" productions. I'd call it an affectionate tribute.
The script could have been stronger at times, plus the story seems a bit on the confusing side. Stil worth sticking with.