DEATH WISH 3
US, 1985, 100 minutes, Colour.
Charles Bronson, Martin Balsam, Deborah Raffin, Ed Lauter, Alex Winter.
Directed by Michael Winner.
Death Wish 3 is better than Death Wish 2. However, the films don't have the impact of the original. Charles Bronson and director Michael Winner team for the third time. However, the focus on the vigilante who is able to attack and kill street gang members (here with the blessing of the Police Chief) seems to work merely on the surface rather than any depth of characterisation. In fact, the battle between the gangs, the old people in East New York and Paul Kersy seems far too contrived. However, the screenplay plays on the emotions of those who are apprehensive about the prevalence of violence in the city streets, the inability of the police to do anything effective (even wasting their time on petty charges for old people with unlicensed pets etc) and the need for some kind of action. Martin Balsam gives solid support as an angry old citizen. Deborah Raffin is charming as the obviously intended victim of the thugs.
Since Death Wish was released in the mid-70s, the urban problems of New York and other cities have escalated - and there was much audience sympathy for the vigilante type. There were many derivatives of Death Wish from the mid-'70s on.
1. The impact of the film? As entertainment? Social comment? Emotional response to urban problems?
2. New York locations, the atmosphere of East New York and its old buildings, slum area, the gang atmosphere, police precincts and jails? Special effects and stunts? Musical score?
3. The title - reference to whom? To New York City? The police and their inability to cope? The gangs and their seemingly suicidal involvement in terrorising people and incurring the wrath of the law and of vigilantes?
4. New York and the gangs, the Bronx, the murders, terrorising the old people, the Hispanic people? The lifestyle of ordinary citizens? The barricades against attack, against invasion? The punk style of the gangs? The drugs? The ammunition?
5. The film's focus on the people of the area: Charlie, Bennett, the elderly Jewish couple, the Hispanic couple, the people in the apartment block, the people with the shops? Trying to live their ordinary life? Barricaded in their homes? Their angry reaction against ,the gangs? The delight in the warfare and the death of the gang members?
6. The gangs, the leader in prison, violence, drugs, mob loyalty, calling on the other gangs to invade, the area as a battle zone?
7. Charles Bronson as Paul Kersey: arrival on the bus, going to see Charlie, being arrested and charged with murder, the harassment in the prison cells, the Police Chief and his knowing his identity, hitting him, provoking him? The leader of the gang and his city? The fights in the cells? Kersey and his agreement to get rid of the gang members? The meeting with Bennett, his friendship? The encounter with Katherine, friendship, visit, not suing the Department, the brief affair, her death? Curzy and his provoking the gang members, buying the car, shooting the two during the meal, the ice cream-eating and the shooting? His attitude towards getting rid of these people? The tactics, barricading windows and injuring invaders? His being taken into custody? His visiting Bennett in hospital? His return, the war in the streets, the little boy admiring him? His life being saved by the Police Chief? His moving on? The credibility of the vigilante type, the man with no-name? Echoes of the 19th century and the West?
8. The police and their treatment of Kersey, the Police Academy style, ineffectual treatment of citizens, their participating in the street battles?
9. Bennett and his life in the neighbourhood, his friendship with Charlie, the weapons, his being harassed, the explosions in his shop, his being thrown out the window, his resilience? His glee at the massacre? The elderly couple? The people in the street? The shops? The Hispanic couple, the rape of the wife, the man helping Kersey? The citizens happy at the downfall of the gang members?
10. The leader of the gang and his manic style? Vengeance? The members and their loyalty?
11. Themes of justice? The emotional response? The vigilante mentality? The need for law and order - and the possibility of handling chaotic situations?
