it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Blistering performances.

Charles Bronson, mired in crappy B action flicks in the 1980's, decided to take this made-for-HBO flick to stretch his acting chops. He should have just made another "Death Wish" movie, instead. Based on a true story set in 1969, Bronson plays United Mine Workers union official Jock Yablonski. He fawns over union president Tony Boyle (Wilford Brimley), who is made out to be a ruthless crook immediately. As Jock and his wife Margaret (Ellen Burstyn) coast through life, a mine accident claims the lives of eighty people. Boyle arrives in the grieving West Virginia town and defends the coal company over the miners.Yablonski is almost run out of town, and decides he has had enough. He announces his candidacy for the union presidency, and begins campaigning. Boyle then orders a hit on his former friend.The film shifts gears and introduces us to Paul (Robert Schenkkan), a house painter with a lot of guns and a huge ego. Paul is married to the oversexed Annette (Ellen Barkin), who is probably carrying on behind Paul's back. Annette's father Silous (Hoyt Axton) comes to Paul with a job- kill Yablonski and collect ten thousand dollars. Annette uses her feminine wiles to convince Paul, and he hires local petty criminal Claude (Maury Chaykin) to help.With the campaign in full swing, both sides are confident about victory. Boyle's side is more confident since he has stuffed the ballot box, winning in a landslide. Yablonski decides to challenge the election, and his death becomes more important to Boyle and his gang. Paul hires another killer Buddy (Keanu Reeves), and the trio decide to carry out their plan.With a good cast and confident direction, this film really should have hit its mark. Unfortunately, it never seems to get momentum going, as the central plot about the campaign takes a back seat to the killers' subplot.The staged campaign speeches are, well, stagey. The crowd scenes never move, and Boyle is so evil right away, the election's outcome is never in doubt. Bronson tries, but his dramatic scenes are just like other action films he has done, except he does not pull out a gun. Burstyn is wasted in the dutiful wife role, I have a feeling stronger writing would have bolstered her part.The best performance here? Writer/actor Robert Schenkkan as Paul. He turns Paul into such a desperate loser, he would be pitiful if his actions were not so despicable. One creepy scene has him humping a sleeping Annette to calm his urges, and Annette obviously knows what a little oral sex will do to better her station in life.Claude and Buddy are also disgusting creatures, there are plenty of opportunities to kill Yablonski but Claude chickens out. Claude and Paul make the trip to the Yablonski's country house so often, they know where to stop for gas.Claude, Paul, and Buddy eventually cross over into "funny" territory, and that is where the film finally lost me. The final violent scenes show the trio bumbling like the unfunny "I Love You to Death," but the humor is completely wrong here. Barely an hour and a half, "Act of Vengeance," a generic name that could serve as a "Death Wish" subtitle, never grabs its audience and proves to be an exercise in predictability, despite the excellent work of Robert Schenkkan. (* *) out of five stars.

I can only imagine how perplexed fans of Charles Bronson were, after seeing at their video store the title of this movie and the box cover art, and discovering when bringing the movie home that the movie is far from an action movie. It's instead a serious drama based on a true story, with Bronson playing a determined (and non violent) man struggling to bring change. And Bronson does pretty well in this serious role - you can believe that this person really cares and is passionate about his quest to bring change. His performance compensates for the fact that the role isn't quite fully written - the character of Jack Yablonski isn't given quite enough time to explain his feelings or motivations. But the movie is well crafted in other areas. The period detail is fine, Wilford Brimley makes for a slimy (but believable) Tony Boyle, and there isn't a boring or tedious moment anywhere in the movie. Though I suspect a book telling of this true life incident would be a lot more informative, the movie is acceptable for those who have a mild interest in the United Mine Workers' Union going-ons in the 1960s.

Bronson a union leader?! Yep, he's running for the job as president of the United Mines Union, due to the poor state of the party's image. But he finds it's not going to be easy, as president Tony Boyle (a larger than life Wilford Brimley) will pull out all punches (all) to rid them of the honorable union organizer Jock Yablonski who has the safety of his workers on mind, than say money.This Bronson outing (made-for-TV) is far away from what he was constantly working in through the 80s, and stemming from this inspired true story (set in 1969) is a confronting drama defying the odds being fuelled by intense confrontations, inner conflict, devious interests, embezzlement and cold-blooded murder. Its power comes from Bronson's hearty turn, an admirable Ellen Burstyn and a credibly concise script. It remains captivating throughout, holding an agreeable amount of momentum in suspense and intrigue through the campaign, although it won't hold much surprises and the conclusion feels a little short-changed after the stinging climax.The sub-plot involving the hired assassins (Robert Schenkkan leading the way) feels at times clumsy and drawn out (mainly due to these people not being professionals), but there's something unnerving lurking underneath it all. Plus Keanu Reeves shows up as one of the killers, and is actually rather good in a minor part.Director John MacKenzie lets the story unfold slowly, but manages a tight and focused grip in a conservative style. Plain for some, but well measured for others. Nothing truly stands out (film-making wise from the music to cinematography), but it works in with the tactically stern frame it went for.Committed handling throughout.

First of all this, yes this TV films was more like a genuine Bronson film with a great performance. This is one to watch for everybody. I'm 17 and live in the UK and don't get many Bronson films over here considering he made his great career over in before he did in the great US. The only way i can get Bronson films is one Ebay, and i'm nerely complete of all his films, i have all the great 80's films he did apart from this one. (soon hopefully) And i'll have most of all the 70's ones aswell, on dvd on video.. Why isn't this film and all the 80's and most of the early 70's bronson films on DVD like The Mechanic. Come on people that film needs to be on DVD with a Death Wish box set aswell...This film really does work, and as a kid i always wouldn't who that guy was without his mustash, it was the guy nerely unrecognisible. I mean i can tell Bronson in his other 70's films without THE GREAT TASH. Like Hard Times... But in the 80's that was his crown, well and the 70's but without the tash it wasn't really the guy, but still tough.(Like schwarzenegger's crown was his hair like in commando and Clint with his 44 Magnum).People watch this great film, this is superb and fantastic action drama film...