Odd film. Part drama about the rise of a vigilante force - Italian-Americans in the city, dealing with blacks and politicians and crooks and mafia. Which is a potentially great story. But it also tries to be middle aged white man payback story, with Tom Skerritt attacked by black pimps, and crims, and smacking people around. It doesn't work.
Big reason is Skerritt, an accomplished actor who is simply miscast. I don't buy him as a frustrated Italian American or a secret hero. If they couldn't get Charles Bronson they needed some tubby middle age guy full of rage - Ben Gazzara, or someone.
Michael Sarrazin is Skerrit's cop friend. Patti Lupone is Skerrit's wife! Yaphet Kotto, who probably should've played the lead, steals the film as another vigilante fighter running a theatre workshopp.
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