Death Wish 3 (1985)

 Second viewing; previously viewed on July 16, 2009

My previous synopsis is sufficiently good: "An aging man with a past as a vigilante resumes that role in a fight to dismantle the rule of a gang in a New York neighborhood."

I raised this film's rating a few notches, though I still find it rather nondescript and formulaic; perhaps one could point out as its distinctive feature the tendency to exaggerate the implausibilities which normally inhabit this genre. Watching this middle-aged protagonist perform a task which would be nearly impossible even for a man in his prime gives the film a definitely unreal feel. The apotheosis consisting in all interested parties (vigilante, police, population) joining forces against the criminals intensifies that feel to the verge of oneirism. Here's my previous assessment, wherein I foolishly took the trouble of pointing out one of the numerous implausibilities: "Rather dismal sequel, with practically nothing besides scenes of shootouts in a severely deficient plotline (one thing I could not understand is how the protagonist could buy heavy artillery at a mall whilst the police enforced a strict limitation on firearm possession). Balsam's stupendous performance in a small role is so contrasting with the film's inanity that it becomes a sort of aesthetical oddity." Of course dullness, not implausibility, is this film's main problem.

Rating: 34 (up from 31)