"The Formula," which came out in 1980, is an elaborate crime and thriller film featuring a large cast, centering around a Los Angeles detective (George C. Scott) who looks into the death of an old friend—a former police officer—and finds himself traveling to Germany as he uncovers a Nazi formula for synthetic fuel that powerful oil companies are determined to keep hidden. Marlon Brando is in the film as a questionable oil magnate, but his screen time amounts to roughly 17 minutes out of its nearly two-hour length. The production values are high; the acting, filming locations and musical score are all excellent. It begins with similarities to a "Dirty Harry" movie, substituting Scott for Eastwood and including an Asian partner, but the story gets complicated and doesn't deliver enough action to satisfy fans of that type of film. The remainder of the movie feels like an episode of “Columbo” combined with Scott’s performance in “Hardcore” (1979), where he goes undercover in Southern California while investigating his daughter’s disappearance. Some of the best parts are the World War II and Nazi aspects, the performances by Scott and Brando, Marthe Keller, the rest of the cast, the filming locations (California, Germany, and Switzerland) and the focus on dialogue over action—which might be a drawback for some viewers. Regarding the Nazi elements, there's a short scene in a European strip club where imagery from that era is used as decoration behind the dancers, which serves to show how quickly past atrocities are forgotten and turned into entertainment. Brando has consistently demonstrated his talent for portraying unusual characters ("The Missouri Breaks," "Apocalypse Now," "The Godfather," and "The Island of Dr. Moreau"), and he attempts it again here in his role as an oil executive inspired by Armand Hammer from Occidental Petroleum, though the result is only so-so. Still, he deserves credit for trying, and Brando is usually entertaining to watch. One significant issue is that the plot becomes overly complex; there are many characters making it difficult to follow what’s happening. Subtitles are recommended to help keep track of things. Another problem is how some character outcomes feel repetitive, which makes them predictable (I won't say more because I don’t want to give anything away). Overall, "The Formula" has its ups and downs, but the positive elements outweigh the negative ones. It's worth seeing if you appreciate the actors involved or if you are looking for a thought-provoking crime/drama/thriller that emphasizes dialogue over excitement. GRADE: B-

Source on TMDB