Act of Vengeance

2) I'm a big Ellen Burstyn fan, so I'll see anything with her. But Ididn't have high expectations for this based on the title (sounds likea Steven Seagal actioner) and the cover artwork (looks like a pulpyB-movie, with Ellen's mug thrown in as an afterthought).

Nonetheless, I was pleasantly surprised. Ellen was excellent as always,but Charles Bronson was also terrific, as was a young Keanu (spelledKeannu in the credits) Reeves. But the real revelation here is WilfordBrimley as the union boss. What a great bad-ass! For those used toseeing Wilford harp about cholesterol and diabetes, check this one out.You'll realize how much he's wasting his talent by doing thosecommercials.

This is a moving human drama with fine performances, captivatingdirection and a compelling, if occasionally clichéd, script. It's anact of triumph. Eight out of 10 stars.

3) I grew up in Pennsylvania, and although we were far from coal country,some news was so big, it got around. The Yablonski killings were allover the western end of the state when they happened, but we didn'treally understand what was happening behind them. I'm sure someliberties were taken in collapsing events, but this film does a greatjob of putting the times, the relationships between Big Unions and BigBusiness in context, and the power of the common man to make, or try tomake, things better. The cinematography really caught the gritty worldof coal mining, and the areas in which is happens. This was one of thefirst roles I saw Charles Bronson in, and I thought he was terrific,probably bringing a much deeper sensibility to the part as a formercoal miner and, as I understand, a card-carrying member of the UnitedMine Workers throughout his life. His campaign stops even had some veryfunny one liners you wouldn't think would work coming out of Il Bruto.I actually checked out some of his other films after seeing this one.The gang that couldn't shoot straight, but obviously eventually did,were such complete idiots you were surprised they managed not to shootthemselves, and were able to kill Yablonski only with Keanu Reeves'help. This film is probably only available at a library, or maybe avideo store that doesn't clear out stock once a year. But it'sdefinitely worth watching.

4) The world of politics can be a dangerous place, and no one knows this morethan real life union-activist Jock Yablonski (Charles Bronson). Aftersuccessfully defeating the long-standing president of the United MineWorkers in a 1969 election, Yablonski and two of his immediate familymembers were murdered at night while they slept. Rather than focus on themurders themselves, director Mackenzie tells the story of everyone involvedwith the crime in three separate, but intertwining stories. We follow thecampaign trail of Yablonski, the desperation of Tony Boyle and his cronies,and the hired assassins, getting an eagle eye’s view into their lives. Doneeffectively, this is a very powerful tool in helping the audience associatewith the characters, and the situations they find themselves in. Whether itwas because of the confines of a made for TV movie or just bad direction I’mnot sure, but Mackenzie was not successful in representing all sides evenly,and it was glaringly apparent where his biases lie. All of the acting wassolid, with Bronson and Ellen Burstyn playing a very convincing marriedcouple. Wilford Brimley turned in another great performance as the racist,corrupt, and all around dirty president of the Mine Workers’ Union, andKeanu acted just as Keanu does, albeit without much screen time. If you’refiercely interested in American politics I would say it’s worth checkingout. If not, don’t bother: go outside and take a walk, or learn how to makea new dish, this is not worth your time. Rating: 21/40

5) What a wonderful surprise, Charles Bronsonn actually acts a little in thisfine HBO film as union rebel Jock Yablonski whose wish to change the UMWcost him his life. Ellen Burstyn is wonderful as his doomed wife andWilfordBrimley is sinister as corrupt union President Tony Boyle. The guys whokilled Yablonski and his family were first class idiots who wereimmediatelyarrested. They were the dumbest assassins you can imagine.

6) First of all this, yes this TV films was more like a genuine Bronson filmwith a great performance.This is one to watch for everybody.I’m 17 and live in the UK and don’t get many Bronson films over hereconsidering he made his great career over in before he did in the great US.The only way i can get Bronson films is one Ebay, and i’m nerely completeofall his films, i have all the great 80’s films he did apart from this one.(soon hopefully)And i’ll have most of all the 70’s ones aswell, on dvd onvideo..Why isn’t this film and all the 80’s and most of the early 70’s bronsonfilms on DVD like The Mechanic. Come on people that film needs to be on DVDwith a Death Wish box set aswell…

This film really does work, and as a kid i always wouldn’t who that guy waswithout his mustash, it was the guy nerely unrecognisible.I mean i can tell Bronson in his other 70’s films without THE GREAT TASH.Like Hard Times… But in the 80’s that was his crown, well and the 70’sbut without the tash it wasn’t really the guy, but still tough.(Likeschwarzenegger’s crown was his hair like in commando and Clint with his 44Magnum).

People watch this great film, this is superb and fantastic action dramafilm…