Death Wish (1974)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 1974
	Director: Michael Winner (Scorpio, Death Wish 2-3)
	Actors: Charles Bronson (The Magnificent 7), Hope Lange, Vincent Gardenia
	Country: USA
	Genre: Drama, Thriller
	Conditions of visioning: 17.05.2020, Full HD, 14" computer screen
Synopsis: New York City architect Paul Kersey (Bronson) sees his life changing when his home is attacked in his absence. Facing the inefficiency of the Justice system, he will start to take it in his own hands.
Review: I had to watch this classic movie right after discovering the 2018 remake with Bruce Willis. It shocks me that movies from the 70's, probably my favorite decade for Cinema, are now between 40 and 50 years old... like me. When I first saw them they were half that age, and me too. I thought I knew this movie but I learned that there are five in the series and I probably only know the third (from 1986), when he cleans up a whole city from gangs Robocop-style. This Death Wish, adapted from a best-seller novel by Brian Garfield, is much less extravagant but already sets the bases of the series of vigilante movies, in its story and themes but also style: many urban night scenes, rampant unpunished crime, background newscasts, almost post-apocalyptic settings... But it also has many deviations from what one would expect, like for example the trip to Tucson, the relationship with his son-in-law (who calls him Dad, that sounded strange to me), and the choices of his victims. Indeed in this movie he teases random people with his wallet or groceries, to simply execute them when they ask for it. Those are not even gang members or the worst criminals, but some guys who got tempted by easy money. This leaves a strange taste at the end of the movie, and put a different weight in the debate for or against his Vigilante Justice. Also the original crime happens so fast and is so gratuitous, and (spoiler, highlight to read) we never see the offenders again (including a young Jeff Goldblum) that it leaves you insecure at the end of the movie. I do not know if people felt that bad about safety in their cities in the 70's, but such movie doesn't paint a pretty picture of it. I found the acting to be not so good, Bronson plays a bit flat as the others, and the character's reactions are sometimes strange. But it may be normal for a movie from that period. The images however are stunning, from the first shot to the last. Be it beach, urban, interior or countryside, the sets are all beautifully detailed and the framing delicious. I really love that in the 70's and was delighted to see the movie in Full HD and uncompressed, not the soup that Netflix passed for HD. Definitely not a masterpiece, but Death Wish takes a stand that movies don't anymore nowadays, especially not his remake, and that leaves the audience with a strange feeling at the end, something that lingers for some hours. I like when movies do that and they are now all too rare. I am also looking forward to seeing more movies by Michael Winner like Scorpio.
Rating: 7 /10