the formula be a mess of a movie . it a mystery or thriller in which the mystery be almost impossible to follow and the thrill be few and far between . the plot become confuse almost from the start and never turn itself around . one only reason to watch this movie would be to see two of our great actor and marlon brando and george c. scott and perform together . sadly even that fall short a they only have two scene together and albeit these be the two best scene in the movie . brando speech about the oil company be terrific . too bad the rest of the film do not live up to that scene . i can remember that just prior to the opening of the film at christmas of 1980 it become public knowledge that the studio ( with the backing of writer steve shagan ) take the film away from director john avildsen . shagan want many change make so avildsen send a long memo to the studio outline shagan apparent wrong decision with the editing . the studio seem to agree somewhat . some of avildsen suggestion be restore while others weren not . thankfully the brando speech that i mention above be not cut per shagan request . avildsen believe that because brando basically improvise the scene shagan be not happy with it . come to think of it i think i would have rather see a movie base on the internal battle of the studio or writer and the director then this mess . whomever be to blame and and it probably 50 50 and the formula be a major disappointment consider all the talent involve .