"Death Wish 3" (1985)

In movies, it seems cops have the same contentious relationship with vigilantes as mimes do with clowns. They get the same result, but each thinks it’s doing a better job.

Paul Kersey has returned to New York City (or London in this case, as the locales feel…very colonial, even in its dreck). He now goes under an assumed name of Kimball. And this movie wastes no time in having someone Paul knows die. Unfortunately, a mix up of sorts gets Kersey…er…I mean Kimball into the crosshairs of a hardass police captain played by the late great Ed Lauter. As this s a Golan-Globus Cannon Group joint, naturally Ed roughs up Kersey…um…Kimball freely, since he knows of Kersey’s reputation. Not before Kersey (fuck it, it’s Kersey…assholes) gets in his own licks. This act of self defense lands him in a jail cell, which is where we meet Kersey’s nemesis for the film. Now, if you miss the days of when pasty White weirdos were the criminals…boy, is this the movie for you. He reminds me of my friend Tavis from high school. He was a red-neck gangly weirdo. But an interesting overbite. This is the leader of a gang that muscles an apartment complex for money. He's played by Dan O' Herlihy's son...Gavan. By the way, one of his minions is played by Alex Winter. We’re officially gone Edgar Winter up in this bitch.

Well, the city is riddled with crime, which…to be honest, would rate a typical loot job after a Black person got killed by a cop status. In other words, And it’s also silly, since they know the apartment complex these crimes are being taken place in. Not like they have to run down an apartment complex. Because, you know…apartment complexes don’t just up and run away.

Also, times have changed. There’s a scene when a mugger who steals purses and cameras gets a Paul Kersey special. Blasts him out of his sneakers. And…I laugh when I type this…the whole neighborhood cheers. Yes, a guy who steals lady’s purses gets blasted in public and they celebrate. Versus now, when ghetto neighborhoods complain of police brutality when a criminal is blasted. The argument being “a purse isn’t worth someone’s life.” Well, we know this guy won’t be stealing purses anymore. That’s the point.

But Bronson, being Bronson still had time, in his neighborhood watch program to bang his defense attorney (who is like, 30 years younger than him). He's THAT macho that a brief encounter where he blows her off at the courthouse, she tracks him down to get some of his D. I was sorry to hear of the passing of Deborah Raffin, the woman who played this role.

Well, it starts off strong, then turns into a ten minute ending shooting gallery. It's always hilarious when people scream as they fall off a building after being shot.

I digress. This movie is silly. But good to see Martin Balsam tackle a different role than a father figure. You know, these are the types of movies that perfect for you to see the movie from the villain's point of view. I would say, if you belonged in a gang...Paul Kersey would be like...the Boogey Man.