Burt Reynolds was one of those actors whose name I knew growing up because he was a huge star, a household name you might say. But I never saw very many of his films. I think I actually knew him more from that old gameshow he developed Win, Lose, Or Draw than any of his movies.

I think I first really noticed him in a film while watching Boogie Nights the P.T. Anderson film about the porn industry. He was great in that and it became something of a comeback film for the aging star. But over the last few years, I’ve been catching up with his films from the 1970s and 1980s. What has surprised me is that Reynolds is actually a very good actor. I’d always figured he was just an attractive sex symbol who made silly little action/comedies. I mean he was an attractive actor who made a lot of silly little action/comedies, but he had some chops, too.

Anyway, I watched and reviewed White Lightning and its sequel Gator a few weeks back. They are fun little Southern actioners with more heart than you’d expect. You can read my full reviews by clicking on the links.