L'esecuzione... una storia vera

Bronson a union leader?! Yep, he's running for the job as president of the United Mines Union, due to the poor state of the party's image. But he finds it's not going to be easy, as president Tony Boyle (a larger than life Wilford Brimley) will pull out all punches (all) to rid them of the honorable union organizer Jock Yablonski who has the safety of his workers on mind, than say money.

This Bronson outing (made-for-TV) is far away from what he was constantly working in through the 80s, and stemming from this inspired true story (set in 1969) is a confronting drama defying the odds being fuelled by intense confrontations, inner conflict, devious interests, embezzlement and cold-blooded murder. Its power comes from Bronson's hearty turn, an admirable Ellen Burstyn and a credibly concise script. It remains captivating throughout, holding an agreeable amount of momentum in suspense and intrigue through the campaign, although it won't hold much surprises and the conclusion feels a little short-changed after the stinging climax.

The sub-plot involving the hired assassins (Robert Schenkkan leading the way) feels at times clumsy and drawn out (mainly due to these people not being professionals), but there's something unnerving lurking underneath it all. Plus Keanu Reeves shows up as one of the killers, and is actually rather good in a minor part.

Director John MacKenzie lets the story unfold slowly, but manages a tight and focused grip in a conservative style. Plain for some, but well measured for others. Nothing truly stands out (film-making wise from the music to cinematography), but it works in with the tactically stern frame it went for.

Committed handling throughout.

ACT OF VENGEANCE is a 1986 TV movie, based on the true story of a man who stood up to a coal miner's union in 1969, accusing them of corruption and becoming the new president in the process. Unfortunately, his stand against his former colleagues made him plenty of enemies, some of whom decided to have him eliminated.

For the most part, this film plays out exactly as you'd expected a television movie to. It's not an action film at all - Bronson is more of a political figure than a hero here - but it doesn't really cut it as a thriller or drama either. I appreciate that it's a true story - that's the only thing it has going for it - but as a film it's pretty much a failure, with the story particularly lacking interest.

The story starts out well but around the halfway mark it really starts to plod. There's way too much of the drawn-out, back-and-forth scenes of the would-be assassins attempting to complete their job. Such moments are quickly tiresome as is the unusual way that some of the scenes involving these murky murderers are played for laughs. The worst parts of the movie are a couple of ill-advised and excruciating sex scenes between a youthful Ellen Barkin and the guy playing her husband. The producers do well to cast recognisable and reliable faces in supporting roles (including Wilford Brimley, Ellen Burstyn, Hoyt Axton, Maury Chaykin, and a young Keanu Reeves) but this is nevertheless one of Bronson's worst.

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

In 1969, Joseph 'Jock' Yablonski (Charles Bronson) is finally tipped over the edge when a coal mine disaster is brushed over by the corrupt United Coal Miners Union he firmly believed in. Deciding to run against head man Tony Boyle (Wilford Brimley) for president of the Union, Yablonski soon becomes the target of a sinister murder plot.

It's a TV movie so it hardly has the production value to really do this "based on a true story" movie complete justice. However, with Bronson and Brimley giving very committed performances, and who in turn are backed up by the excellent Ellen Burstyn as Yablonski's loyal wife, there's humanistic qualities here that make this more than a time filler.

The murky political intrigue ticks away nicely, the characterisations of the assassins is afforded relative time, and the culmination of the picture strikes both the heart and the head. Yes it is hardly high end film making, and those turned off by dialogue heavy political posturing should probably stay away, but this is a story well worth knowing.

It got me to read up on the Boyle/Yablonski case, such was the interest born out by this HBO production. Proof positive that TV movies once had something viable to offer the mature film watching public. 7/10

First of all this, yes this TV films was more like a genuine Bronson film with 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 here considering 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 complete of all 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 on video.. Why isn't this film and all the 80's and most of the early 70's bronson films on DVD like The Mechanic. Come on people that film needs to be on DVD with a Death Wish box set aswell...

This film really does work, and as a kid i always wouldn't who that guy was without 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's but without the tash it wasn't really the guy, but still tough.(Like schwarzenegger's crown was his hair like in commando and Clint with his 44 Magnum).

People watch this great film, this is superb and fantastic action drama film...