Malarek (1988) User Reviews

Spotlight

[sol- · 6/10 · 13 July 2017]

Based on true events, this Canadian movie chronicles a novice newspaper journalist's attempts to expose covered-up abuse at a juvenile detention centre in the early 1970s. As the movie progresses, we gradually find out that he survived an institution himself, which explains why he is so passionate about the case, and a young Elias Koteas is electrifying in the lead role. The structure of the movie leaves a little to be desired though with frequent flashbacks to his childhood/adolescence breaking the tension of the present day action. Some of the flashbacks are memorable (especially what one warden does when he complains about soiled bed sheets) but most just show familiar scenes of drunken fathers, crying mothers and so forth. The other major setback here is a maudlin music score that renders the denouement too sentimental for its own good. When focused on Koteas hitting brick walls and pleading with his sources to go on the record though, the film hits the right notes. The supporting cast come to task very well in this regard with Michael Sarrazin nicely bringing to mind Michael Keaton in 'Spotlight' as the newspaper's chief editor. Koteas though is the biggest attraction here, adding a welcome balance of humour to his often angry character; "they were at the end of his arms" he exclaims when asked where a juvenile delinquent's hands were during shooting.

A great performance is reason enough to see this.

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 28 March 2022]

The performance of Elias Koteas as real life Montreal reporter Victor Malarek is a star making part that would probably be more remembered had the script of the film not been often very confusing with the structural issues. He's a tough mail room clerk whose desire to become a journalist has him ending up a witness to a brutal shooting of an escapee from the same juvenile detention center that he was once incarcerated in. The unjust shooting of the teen (who didn't have a weapon on him) has Malarek out to expose corruption in the legal system, something that gets him into a lot of trouble, and ultimately a media superstar.

Had the structure of the film been a bit more coherent and less trapped in a non-linear way, this film really could have beeb a masterpiece. This is brutally violent in spots, starting with the shooting and continuing with abuse from Malarek's father towards his mother. He takes in one of the surviving escapees, which leads to more violence, shockingly so, and it's obvious that there is great corruption revealed here about the legal system, including juveniles which needed to be overhauled. Koteas is magnetic on screen, his rage volcanic in nature, yet bringing on much empathy for his situation. A very good supporting cast and excellent production values keeps the viewer interested even if the script is off the map as far as how it all flows.

a must for Koteas fans

[qttroassi · 19 February 2002]

This is the story of Victor Malarek a man who becomes a reporter inspite of his troubled childhood and attempts to expose the problems of a juvenile facility.

If you are a fan of Elias Koteas, you MUST see this film. Koteas gives a tremendous performance in one of the only films where he is the main character. The soundtrack is OK and Michael Sarrazin is also pretty good as "Moorcraft" although he seems tired in the role. The only real flaw in the movie is that Koteas was approximatley 27 years old during during production playing a 23 year old combined with him also playing flashbacks of the characters teen years (you could clearly tell that Koteas is much older) however, his performance by far makes up for this.