Taste the Anticipation - Death Sentence: Theatrical Cut (2007)

Director: James Wan

Cast: Kevin Bacon, Kelly Preston, Garrett Hedlund, John Goodman, Aisha Tyler

Country: United States

Rating: R

Run Time: 105 minutes

Taste the Anticipation is a series dedicated to reviewing films in anticipation of a newer up and coming release. Whether it a previous franchise installment, a forgotten film within a director's immense oveure, or a thematically similar venture, anything is fair game as long as it relates to a newer cinematic product of sorts that I am anticipating.

James Wan is a favorite amongst horror buffs for his low budget horror films that blend great scares with an effective atmosphere. His films have also proven to be massive commercial successes, earning millions of dollars over their small production budgets. However, it will be interesting to see Wan make the jump from low budget horror to big budget blockbuster this summer with the newest Fast and Furious installment, Furious 7. In anticipation of Wan's jump to big budget action, I thought I would tackle Wan's only other action film in his horror heavy oeuvre, 2007's Death Sentence.

I read an interview with Wan last year where he explained his attraction to Furious 7 because of its revenge plot. I won't go into spoilers for those not in the know, but Furious 7 is most definitely going to be all about revenge after the events of Fast and Furious 6. In that interview, Wan explained that he is a huge fan of gritty revenge and vigilante films from the 70s. Therefore, he hopes to deliver a gritty revenge film within the vehicular heavy soap opera that is the Fast and Furious franchise. I bring this background up because Wan had previously explored his fascination with the gritty revenge plot in Death Sentence. Unfortunately, I don't think that Wan properly understands what made those classic action and vigilante films of the 70s so great. Even though Death Sentence delivers gratuitous violence and excellent camera work, the film falters due to excessive melodrama and weak character development.

Kevin Bacon becomes a bad ass in one of his only action roles.

Death Sentence is loosely based on Brian Garfield's novel Death Sentence, which was actually a sequel to the novel that inspired Michael Winner's 1974 classic, Death Wish. The Death Wish novel and its sequel novel Death Sentence are both about what happens when an ordinary man is pushed to the brink and has everything taken away from him. In the case of both films and novels, the man in question becomes a vigilante and sets out to enact vengeance on the punks who took his life away from him. Wan loosely adapted the Death Sentence novel into a new plot that tackled the same theme of vigilantism but deviated from the original source material's plot. Elements from the Death Sentence novel were also loosely adapted in the first Death Wish sequel, Death Wish 2.

James Wan's Death Sentence tells the story of Nick Hume (Kevin Bacon), a successful businessman with the perfect family. Hume's eldest son is a star hockey player and he couldn't be more proud of him. One night, the two stop by a gas station to grab some food and gas. Unfortunately, a group of masked robbers burst into the station's store and gun down both the cashier and Hume's eldest son. As the robbers make their escape, Hume tackles one of them and tears off their mask. Hume eventually identifies the robber for the police and agrees to testify in court against him. Upon hearing his son's killer will only get 5 years in jail instead of a life sentence, Hume claims he does not recognize the robber and lets him walk. Hume than sets out to enact vengeance on the robber his own way. However, Hume quickly learns the consequences of his actions as the leader of the gang, Billy (Garrett Hedlund), and the rest of his men come after Hume's family.

Vigilante films usually make for a depressing viewing experience. There's nothing uplifting about watching a character lose their friends or family and set out to kill those who took their life from them. Even though we may get a little enjoyment out of watching the character enact their vengeance, we feel saddened and troubled inside just like the character at the end of their journey. Because in the end, all of the violence still can't make up for the loss of one's family or friends. Wan captures the essence of a vigilante drama by making the viewer determine themselves if the protagonist's actions were morally right or wrong.

Where's Mason Storm to save a liquor store when you need him?

If you think that home videos in a movie are cheesy or annoying, than stay away from this movie! You will never see more footage of a family's home videos in your life. Wan opens the movie with home videos and than continually peppers home video footage throughout the film, right up into the very last frame! The ever abundant family footage in the film is extremely cheesy and phony. Even the banter and affection between Hume and his wife and sons comes off forced. It's a shame that Wan couldn't direct his actors to act in a natural or realistic manner because it majorly hurt my viewing experience.

Wan clearly wanted Death Sentence to be reminiscent of the gritty 70s revenge and vigilante thrillers that he loves so much. This is apparent by Death Sentence's extreme violence and gritty tone. However, Wan fails to capture the subtlety, nuanced nature, and slow pace of those 70s thrillers. This is where Wan fails to understand how to recapture the genre that he loves so much. The drama and emotions in Death Sentence are so heavy handed, that the film collapses under its own phoniness. You know a film's dialog and emotions are on the nose when a character hears about the death of the robber who killed Hume's son and replies, "Wow, I guess there is justice." Wan's greatest mistake is that he depicts Lifetime television melodrama over compelling drama. Death Sentence also features a terrible soundtrack of songs that serve to underscore any sad scene in order to let the audience know that the characters are sad (you know, just in case you couldn't figure it out for yourself when you see Kevin Bacon crying in the shower or Kelly Preston sobbing on the ground).

In all honesty, I was surprised to see Kevin Bacon come off as such a bad ass here. I mean, this is the same guy who has appeared in fun films like Footloose and Animal House. And yet, here he is with a shaved head a-la Taxi Driver's Travis Bickle blasting the hell out of goons left and right. Bacon does a good job portraying an ordinary man who makes an extreme decision only to regret it immediately after. His turn from a kind businessman into a hardened vigilante is mostly believable because the turn doesn't come until the final 30 minutes of the film. Like I said, Hume's transformation would have been more affective if it were more subtle and not as heavy handed as Wan directs it to be. Still, action fans will find a side of Bacon previously unexplored before once they see him pick up a double barreled shotgun and blow a man's leg clean off.

Hedlund plays a captivating and fearsome gang leader.

Garrett Hedlund (Troy, Tron: Legacy) turns in the film's best performance as Billy, the main antagonist and leader of the gang who is responsible for the death of Hume's son. Billy and his fellow gang members feel like they were picked out of any sleezy Death Wish film from the 70s or 80s with their exaggerated emotions and irrational actions. Hedlund is so vile and malicious in this film that you will forget that he is the same actor who played the boy scout-like Sam Flynn in Tron: Legacy. Hedlund's dedication to play the slimiest of scumbags in recent memory makes his performance all the more memorable. John Goodman also shows up for three scenes as Billy's father, a large gun dealer with an odd sense of honor and morality. Still, I'll take three scenes of John Goodman spouting expletives over no John Goodman.

Even though it is clear that Wan failed to convey the film's drama in an affective and believable manner, I can whole heartedly say that the man did a fantastic job in the action department. The few action scenes in the film are incredibly well shot, edited, framed, and choreographed. Director of photography John R. Leonetti incorporates a lengthy tracking shot during a chase scene in a parking garage that makes for one of the film's most thrilling sequences. When Billy and his gang attack Hume in public, Hume runs for his life through an alley, a restaurant, and eventually into a parking garage. With no weapon in hand, Hume has to use his wits and knowledge in order to outrun the gang members and their guns. It's a fantastic sequence made all the better by Leonetti's impressive tracking shot that gives the viewer a perfect sense of the scene's setting.

There is no denying that Death Sentence's best piece of action is its final gory gun battle in Billy's hideout. After loosing everything, Hume buzzes his hair off, straps on a leather jacket, and buys a bag full of guns. Hume goes full vigilante in the film's final 15 minutes as he rams his car into Billy's hideout and engages in an extremely bloody shootout with Billy's men. The sound editing is especially excellent in this sequence. Every gun shot and shot gun blast carries a weight to it that the viewer can feel. It is clear that Wan is a horror filmmaker because all of the film's kills are exceptionally bloody. Gory highlights include Hume blasting a goon's leg clean off and Hume blowing a character's fingers clean off. I haven't seen a shotgun to the leg scene that gory since 91's Out for Justice, it is that bloody. Even though I did a fair amount of bashing on Wan in this review, I can say nothing but great things about the man's attention to detail in the action department. His action scenes are nothing but fluid, bloody, and exciting.

That shotgun really ties the outfit together dude.

It's a shame that Wan's direction of Death Sentence's emotional moments and heavy handed drama hurts it so bad. If Wan had gone the nuanced route and allowed his film to be subtle, than it may have been far better. At least the action scenes and Garrett Hedlund's villain are first rate. Horror fans might actually enjoy this film for its extreme gore and simply because it is directed by James Wan, a director so beloved and revered in the horror community. I recommend this film as a rental though to any die hard vigilante action fan. Even though the drama is hard to get through, the few action scenes that are there are enough to wet any action fan's palette. If you are looking for a more compelling, realistic, and contemporary vigilante drama, than check out the British film, Harry Brown, starring Michael Caine. If gore and excess are more your thing though, than Death Sentence is for you.

Rating: 5/10 - Stupendous action scenes and first rate camera work can't save this dull and heavy handed vigilante drama. 

Death Wish (1974) - Review

Series: Death Wish (1/5)

Director: Michael Winner

Starring: Charles Bronson, Vincent Gardenia, Hope Lange, William Redfield, Jeff Goldblum

Country: U.S.

It's hard to believe that this little film would go on to spawn a whole franchise of gun-toting vigilantism. But here is the little film that could, Death Wish, kicking butt and taking names. It's the original vigilante film, and arguably the all time finest one ever made.

Now that's what you call a title card.

The film's protagonist, Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson), is an architect with a wife and an older daughter. While he is at work one day, some punks follow his wife home and break in. The punks rape his daughter and murder his wife, leaving Bronson with a deceased loved one and an emotionally scarred one as well. Kersey becomes sickened with the crime in the city, realizing that the police do hardly anything about it. Kersey than takes a trip to Arizona to meet a client of his, Ames Jainchill (Stuart Margolin in a very memorable performance). Jainchill reminds Kersey what it is like to hold a gun and that protecting oneself is an essential skill to know. After his enlightening trip and successful business deal, Kersey receives a gift from Jainchill. Upon arriving home, Kersey opens up his gift to find that he is now the proud owner of a revolver. He than decides to wander the streets late at night, becoming a notorious night time vigilante in the process.

One Flew Over the Badass Architect

Death Wish is a gritty, raw, and realistic action film. The film's stock is very grainy and grimey looking. The action comes quick and violently. The film's director, Michael Winner, opts for shock and suspense over grandiose action hero antics and silliness with these action scenes (but wait until you see their Death Wish 3 collaboration, oh boy). All of the scenes usually involve Charles Bronson coming across some punks. Either they come to him or Bronson baits the thugs in a way. When they come near him, Bronson blasts the punks and walks off like a beast. These scenes give off a very realistic vibe because they are short and sweet. There is no need for full blown gunfights here. A vigilante does what they need to do and doesn't think twice about it.

Death Wish benefits from being both an awesome action film and a good drama as well. This was one of the first films to ever tackle vigilantism in a very violent and serious way. The rape scene that sets off the plot is pretty disturbing. It's not exploitative (you can be the judge of that) but is still pretty graphic.

"That, that's chaos theory."

After this happens, Paul Kersey retreats to himself. He keeps a lot of his emotions tucked in and never full blown cries. It is after a while that he takes up vigilantism as a way to cope with things. I find this interesting because it also really reflects the actor Charles Bronson. He was a known loner, choosing to rather sit in a trailer alone instead of talking amongst everyone else. And he liked being a loner, he wasn't just acting that way and not admitting it. So, I really love that his personality heavily reflects on the character as well. Bronson pulls off being the every man so well. You believe everything he does and say so well. His rugged face and everyday job as an architect really humanizes him.

"Now I have to buy a new newspaper!"

As serious as Death Wish sounds, there is at least some fun to be had in viewing it.  A really great character is that of Vincent Gardenia's, a sniffling cop named Frank. I don't know why the guy is so sick but it's kind of hilarious. He spends the whole movie hunting down Kersey and blowing his nose into a tissue as well. I don't know if they were trying to give the film some comedic relief but I love this guy. Christopher Guest also has a pop up as a cop who found Kersey's gun. Guest just cranked this movie's rating from a 10 to an 11. That's right. Denzel Washington also has a small appearance as one of the thugs that gets gunned down by Bronson. But, the one notable role that is impossible to miss is that of the punk character played by Jeff Goldblum. He's a terrible slime ball and the one who who rapes Bronson's daughter! It's a shame Bronson never finds him, because I would've loved to see him get blasted.

Vigilante - city style. Judge, jury, and executioner. 

This film has some great aesthetics as well. The squibs are nice and bloody. It gives the film a nice horror vibe too. The score by Herbie Hancock is also awesome. It has a great '70's vibe to it complete with sweet synthesized lines of music. The editing of the gun fights are nice and simple. No crappy shaky cam here folks. These were the days when you could actually view the action going on.

Death Wish is just great. Michael Winner and Charles Bronson are at the top of their game here. They started an action franchise that is a legendary one for the books. They kickstarted the vigilante sub-genre, cemented Bronson's status as a star, and became forever immortalized as action Gods.

"I'll see you next time...in the sequel!"

Rating: 9/10 - The original vigilante film that defined how a gritty urban action film was supposed to be made. Death Wish is essential action viewing! Highly recommended.

The Extras:
Best Kill: Without a doubt, it goes to the death of the dang punk who slices up Bronson's newspaper. You do not mess with a man's newspaper!
Best Line/Exchange: As Bronson talks with his daughter's annoying husband, he asks him who people are that don't fight back against crime. His son in law replies, "Ordinary citizens?" This is a great line that says a lot about society's fear in the film and in our world as well.
Best Action Scene: While the action is very short and sweet all throughout the film, I would give it to the final scene where Paul is jumped by three punks on a flight of stairs. I think this scene features the most intense editing and gun fire in the entire film.

Also Check Out:
Death Wish 2 (1982): The film's first sequel is a pretty solid action film that amps up both its action (alright!) and its rape (ehh). Worth checking out for fans of this film and '80's action in general.

The Punisher (2004): Thomas Jane stars in this Marvel comic book adaptation that has many similarities to the character of Paul Kersey. Each are vigilantes who never take no for an answer and gun down their enemies with no remorse. It's a solid film and reminds me of Death Wish in the sense that it is a blend of heavy drama and light action.

The Mechanic (1973): If you want another Winner/Bronson team up from the glorious '70's, than check out this very awesome assassin thriller from the two. It came before Death Wish and was the film that got the studio's attention when it came time to find a director for the film.

Death Wish 3 (1985) - Review

Series: Death Wish (3/5)

Director: Michael Winner

Starring: Charles Bronson, Deborah Raffin, Ed Lauter, Gavin O'Herlihy

Country: U.S.

Note: As of Oct. '13, the review format changed. Some reviews like this one have the old format.

Short and Sweet: 

Paul Kersey becomes a full blown killing machine as he racks up the kills like nobody's business in this silly and bland sequel.

Screening Source:

I viewed the MGM Region 1 DVD copy of the film. 

Note: Death Wish 2 was also referred to as Death Wish II. I read that the reason the third film did not use a roman numeral is because Cannon Films, the production company, did a survey that concluded that 50% of people didn't understand roman numerals. Wow. Even though this film does not have an alternate title, that information was too good not to share.

This title card is 3 times more awesome thanks to Jimmy Page.

Plot:

Paul Kersey returns to New York City to visit an old friend. However, like all of the people that Kersey cares for in life, his friend is mugged and murdered by a bunch of punks. Kersey finds that the area of New York City that his friend lived in is quite a crazy place. In fact, its filled with a whole army of crazy punks that were probably denied entry into The Warriors. Therefore, he decides to stick around and help clean up the place Death Wish style! That means you run around with a freakin' Browning machine gun and hold the steaming hot barrel in yours hands and blasts the crap out of your enemies.

Unlike Death Wish 2, Death Wish 3 does not directly duplicate its first film. Instead, it places Kersey in a neighborhood that becomes inspired by his vigilantism. The film has a very bland plot that barely can maintain your attention. Some choice moments are badass, but the rest of it is all pretty boring. That is up until the film's final action scene where all hell breaks loose. It's a basic action movie plot, so any idiot can follow it. I give Michael Winner kudos for not doing the exact same thing all over again. However, he just needed to make things more interesting up until the film's final battle. There just isn't enough going on to keep me interested.

This image pretty much sums it all up.

Notable Performances:

Charles Bronson as Paul Kersey - Third time is the charm right? Well, not really. Kersey has gone from your everyday vigilantist to a one many army! The action junkie in me loves those kill scenes, but all of the other dramatic scenes just don't play the same as they should be. In Death Wish and Death Wish 2, Bronson had actual drama to deal with (i.e. the death of his family, trying to keep a secret from his loved ones, confronting the consequences of vigilantism). In this film, Bronson just goes with the flow of the film's events. It doesn't matter if a girl is raped or gunned down, he acts the same the whole way through. Still, you would be hard pressed to find such a bad ass action hero at Bronson's age, so we need to give Bronson slack there. Something about this film just rubbed me the wrong way when it came to Kersey. Oh well, I've got two more Death Wish films left, maybe Bronson will prove me wrong.

Deborah Raffin as Kathryn Davis - I want to yell to this chick, "Run!" If you are a female and you fall in love with Paul Kersey, just direct yourself to the first two Death Wish films. You are guaranteed to get raped, shot, emotionally scarred, or murdered. Otherwise, she's a cute girlfriend for the guy.

Ed Lauter as Richard Shriker - Shriker is like an antagonizing police chief for Kersey along the lines of who Harry Callahan has to deal with in each of his films. He's a pretty silly character, disliking Kersey one moment and needing him the next. However, he pops up along side Kersey during the film's final action scene. It is like Player 2 just popped in their controller and joined in on the fun with Player 1. 

Gavin O'Herlihy as Manny Fraker - It ain't Death Wish unless there is some crazy punk killing and raping women. And Manny Fraker is that punk. He's the leader of the villainous punks in this film. Their costume design is so uninspired, all they did was paint a few black and red lines on their face. But hey, it's Cannon Films. This guy is a complete psycho and a great villain for Kersey to combat. He's the first villain of the series to be labeled specifically as the main villain from start to finish. I can't spoil his final confrontation with Kersey, but it is so ridiculous and crazy. Overall, he's a good crazy villain that you'll despise all the way through the film.

"I'm gonna kill an old lady because of you."

The Rundown:

The film is also what I like to call a "build up film". A "build up film" is a film that places all of its action and dramatic revelations in its last third of the film. This means that the first two thirds of the film are going to be slow and have little to no action whatsoever. Therefore, the filmmakers believe that their big final epic showdown is going to make the film work. Some examples of this include all of the Transformers films, Man of Steel, and Commando. The problem with this is that everything leading up to the finale has to be either extremely interesting or very dramatically compelling. In Death Wish 3's case, it does not keep things interesting and does not make the wait worth it. I think the final shootout is great on its own, but not worth the bland hour wait that it takes to get to it. Kersey is more interesting when he is on a mission, like in the first two films. He simply wanders around in this film until the crap hits the fan.

In order to enjoy this film, you have to let go of the fact that this will no longer be serious along the lines of the first two films (even though Death Wish 2 is in the crazy territory of Death Wish 3, it has both of its feet planted in realism and absurdity). Once you have done that, there are some fun things to enjoy. For example, Jimmy Page is back again as the film's composer. He's as awesome as ever. The film also has a huge weapon variety. Kersey uses a revolver, a Wildey Magnum pistol, a Browning machine gun, and even a freakin Bazooka! He even buys the Bazooka in the mail and it comes wrapped in brown paper! I would love to know who his seller is because that is one easy to obtain Bazooka.

This is also the last Death Wish film that Michael Winner directed. It's pretty interesting to see Bronson and Winner turn this franchise completely upside down from one extreme to the other. I feel that Winner did a fine job with the first sequel, but went a little too far with this second sequel.

No more small guns for Kersey.

Action:

It's hard to find an actual action scene up until the final war. There are small moments of violence, but nothing that amounts up to a full blown action scene. So, take my word for it when I say you really do have to wait until the finale to get the action you came for.

Finale - The biggest action scene in the entire Death Wish franchise. And what a crazy one at that. Kersey finally says screw the bad guys, let's bring the fight to them. With his Wildey Magnum, a WW2 Browning machinge gun, and the help of the entire neighborhood and police force, an all out war breaks out in New York. Kersey guns down more punks in this scene alone than in any of the other movies. It's an all out massacre and the reason to see the film.

That guy's plunger vs. Bronson's Browning Machine Gun.

Best Bits:

Favorite Kill:

A thug uses a crowbar to pry open a door. As the door opens, a plank of wood swings up and stabs him in the face with a knife. The thug stumbles backwards and falls off of the railings and to his death! This isn't even a Bronson kill and its easily the most memorable death.

Favorite Line/Exchange:

Bronson - "It's my car."

Thug 1 - "Now you gonna die!" *whips out knife*

Bronson - BANG!

Favorite Action Scene:

The only one.

Favorite Supporting Character:

I loved Manny Fraker, the leader of the evil gang. This guy kills an old lady just because Bronson wronged him while in jail! He also meets quite the explosive death.

"Fight the power!"

Conclusion:

Death Wish 3 is a mixed bag. It's an exercise in absurdity and ridiculousness. It kicks tons of butt and delivers an eye popping shootout for the ages. In doing so, the film ridicules what Death Wish started out as and turns Paul Kersey into an Arnold Schwarzenegger-esque hero. You can make your own opinion based on that information. I for one feel it is a step in the wrong direction. Regardless of how you feel about this film, I feel that it would be best enjoyed with a bunch of friends who love ridiculous action movies. Everytime Bronson caps a punk everyone can go, "Ohhh!" However, I still recommend this film. It's a lot better than some other action sequels out there.