Le justicier reprend les armes

Charles Bronson returned once more in the role op Fein in this last episode of Family of Cops. And although it certainly wasn't the best in the series, it meant an improvement on the second installment. And when you watch this, you'll notice something : Bronson is the lead-character and has got so much screen-presence that you will accept that, even when he plays a police-officer, whilst being a 78-years-old actor ! When you watch carefully though you'll notice all other actors are really covering for him, a good sign in a police-flick of course. Bronson hasn't got a lot of script to go through, there's a remarkable absence of action for a cop (he's standing in the kitchen, sitting at a desk, in a car, lying on the couch) in a movie of this kind. But it doesn't matter. The story is good, Joe Penny is excellent. And Charlie constantly gives us this sad smile. He must have known there wouldn't be any more filming after this one.

Watching this last Family Of Cops film I have to wonder whether the Feins are the models for the Reagans of Blue Bloods. Certainly they are the Milwaukee Jewish version of the Irish Catholic Reagans. One also wonders if Charles Bronson would have done a future film where he became Chief of the Milwaukee PD. if bad health hadn't made this his farewell film.

Mayor Art Hindle brought that possibility up with Bronson as Bronson's eldest son Detective Joe Penny is investigating the shooting deaths of a prominent banker and Milwaukee mover and shaker and his wife in the bedroom of their home. Suspicion falls on the son, but then he's killed.

Years earlier Bronson was doing an investigation of the victim's bank for money laundering and was told to stop by the now outgoing Chief of the Milwaukee PD. When Bronson questions the chief they are attacked and the chief dies. Someone is most certainly tying up loose ends. But for the moment the whole Fein family is under a cloud.

No doubt Bronson was showing age and infirmity. Still the patriarchal role fits him well. Family Of Cops: Under Suspicion is not the greatest film to go out on, but hardly a disgrace.

And who knows if it weren't for the Feins we might not be enjoying Tom Selleck and his clan the Reagans.

FAMILY OF COPS III marks the final film of Charles Bronson's career, made just before the onset of Alzheimer's caused him to retire from acting for good. It's something of an ignoble end, not because it's particularly awful, but because it's just so unmemorable. Sadly, Bronson went out with a fizzle rather than a bang.

The story follows on from the last two movies in the trilogy, with head honcho cop Bronson now in line for the role of police chief (isn't he a little long in the tooth?) while assisting his son in hunting for a murderer. Despite a few moments of interest scattered here and there, this is strictly paint-by-numbers film-making, devoid of any real suspense, excitement or thrills.

Bronson is old and frail and barely on screen, and the supporting cast just didn't do enough to gain my interest. The murder mystery storyline is predictable and aside from a decent car stunt there's little here to enjoy. Looks like I'll be remembering Bronson for his glory days in the '70s and '80s rather than for his roles in this safe, family-friendly fare.

The Family of Cops series was given a solid final chapter and screen icon Charles Bronson ended his career on a respectable note in Family of Cops III. If you're reading this you know that the story revolves around the Fein family as they solve crimes and do life together in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My main interest in this series is of course Bronson, but I also thought that Joe Penny excelled in his role as the oldest son. Age has certainly caught up to Bronson, but he still commands the screen even if he doesn't move, look or sound like he did at the pinnacle of his career. This was my personal favorite of the Family of Cops series and I recommend it to anyone who loves Charles Bronson!

The Apollo Movie Guide was right. Since I hadn't seen the first two, I was lost during this one, but Blockbuster still has that "30-Rental's, $30" special running and I saw a title I'd never heard of, saw it starred one of my favorite actors (Bronson), so I picked it up.

Within the first few minutes I realized that this was not the Charles Bronson I knew. I really hope not to insult an icon I highly respect, but all I could think of was how the same thing had happened to Rutger Hauer (in "Tactical Assault"). Where had the lean, athletic, handsome, complex, and versatile man gone? Marlon Brando also came to mind for the same reasons. I know people do get older, but Charles seemed to be struggling to get out each and every line and his movements seemed slow and cautious, like he was afraid he'd fall and break. There wasn't even the slightest bit of the fire that has burned in him in every movie he's done since 1951. It hurt me to see him this way. In the same age group is Clint Eastwood. Now, he is visibly aged, but the edge is still there as evidenced in "Space Cowboys".

What has happened, Charlie? Will this be your last movie? Can you ever be Paul Kersey again? I sincerely hope so.