A bit overrated, but still an amazing film

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Donato and Daughter (1993) ** 1/2 (out of 4)Sgt. Mike Donato (Charles Bronson) and Lt. Dena Donato (Dana Delany), father and daughter, must put their differences to the side and deal with a serial killer stalking L.A. and mutilating and raping nuns.This film was released shortly before the fifth DEATH WISH movie and a series of A FAMILY OF COPS so it's easy to see why it escaped so many Bronson fans. The film was made-for-TV but released straight to video in most locations but since it has yet to receive a DVD or Blu-ray release very few have actually seen it. The film itself certainly isn't a masterpiece or even a good movie but it's at least entertaining if you're a fan of the actor.The film mixes elements of 10 TO MIDNIGHT as well as BAD LIETINENT but obviously the end results aren't anywhere near those two films. I think what works best is the relationship between Bronson and Delany. There's no question that the screenplay is rather routine and doesn't try to do anything too difficult but the actors manage to turn in fine performances and they work off one another extremely well. Xander Berkeley is also effective as the serial killer and there's no question that the film picks up once the back-and-forth between him and the Donato's come into play.The biggest problem with the film is the fact that it simply doesn't try to do anything more than be a cable movie. The film is a bit more violent and contains a darker subject matter than you'd expect to see but there's really no style to be found and the story itself is full of clichés including the big secret that Bronson is hiding, which has caused his character to be distant from his daughter. DONATO AND DAUGHTER will appeal to Bronson fans but it certainly can't compare to his best work.

There's something alluring about Dana Delaney in this and some of her other work. She's really beautiful. But not in a striking way like Elizabeth Taylor, or ethereally like Gene Tierney. Something about her slight chin, dark eyes, dimples, and the way her lower lip folds under its upper counterpart suggests that, though she might be provoked into anger, she would never be spiteful or vicious. This hard-to-define quality is an odd blend of sensuality and nurturance. Any normal man, if distraught, would be tempted to lay his head on her bosom and let himself be comforted and, if things worked out, have her babies.Bronson, at 72, is still Bronson, doing his best to act, apparently having a little trouble slinging bodies downstairs and kicking in doors, but that's okay with me. He should get an award for being able to lift his foot as high as the doorknob.Xander Berkeley as the disdainful nun rapist and murderer is fine. He has the appearance and demeanor of a wealthy and self-satisfied upper-middle-class snob.That may be the chief weakness of the story. It's a routine serial killer movie -- told almost exclusively from the point of view of the father/daughter team of Bronson and Delaney. It was filmed in Los Angeles and, like the city itself, it looks like the ordinary, soulless, uninspired, smog-ridden spiritual void that it is.There is virtually no local color, even granted that it's hard to find in the first place. It was reassuring, though, to see the Bradley Building put to use as a location once again. The first time I remember seeing it was in "Double Indemnity" (1943).But none of the character seem to be FROM anyplace. Bronson is a Lithuanian from some small coal-mining town in Pennsylvania, but you wouldn't know it. Neither would you guess that Xander Berkeley was born in Brooklyn or that Dana Delaney, born in New York City, attended Philips Andover or had any history at all. The characters are "blanks", like the body that King Donovan finds on his pool table in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." It makes one long for The Dead End Kids, almost.

CONTAINS SPOILERS!!! Does Bronson pack a punch in this. Throwing that guy down the stairs, i don't know how any one can say he can't act. Morons who say that don't know he was once the post important action and film star in the world at the same time as Clint. Highest paid star, and even in the 80's he's film was still making money, books and magazines i see from the 80's still have his name on them. Well anyway Bronson really shows he can act in this one, at the end is cool. He comes slamming down the door with that great action tone he as, Pointing the gun at the mad man who as he's daughter. "Hey, take it easy no, don't do anything stupid". It's just great, this should have been a proper film, but who cares it still work for me. Well the story line is about a cop (Mike Donato, Bronson, the father) and daughter (Dana Delana) not getting along since he's son died. Because he doesn't want her to end up dead. Put she don't care what he thinks. So when they have to team together to stop a nun murderer, yeah i know nuns. This is especially why i like it when Bronson nails him, Taking things out on nuns. Saw anyway Bronson and his daughter look for clues get into some action, and go to a mans apartment room where he decides to run,(Idiot). He kills one of the cop woman, and Bronson cathes him and shucks him all the way down the steps. After this they go to the right aprtment getting closer to the Murderer, they even meet him as a suspect but not sure if it's him, but the murderer takes a liking to Bronson's daughter. Then after this she starts getting horrible calls from the murderer and Bronson's getting worried for her safety,(This is where u'd think he'll take to law into his own hands. Wrong). He goes by the books, things are happening, He's daughter want to know what really happened to her brother and towards the end he finely tells her the punk he pulled in after he's death is becuse this punk was selling his son drugs, whicj killed him. And Bronson didn't just want him in jail. so he rearanged he's face. After all this they get close together and then back together as a team on the case honding the man they suspect as the killer. The killer goes home fnding he's wife looking at his gear he used to kill the nuns with. So he killers her. Bronson's daughter comes round trying to pretend they have catched the killer, so he the idiot tries to come on the her while he just stabbed his wife, then she hears his wife scream, pulls out a gun. But he put a knife to her throat. This is where Bronson come in slamming the door down. Things go up stairs on top of the roof, Bronson goes to he's wife and calls for back up,(This woman that's laying the floor at the end is Bronson real life wife.) but always say "Here's what i want you to do". He goes on top the roof with he's gun facing the floor. Then as he gets up he's sees he's daughter with a knife to her throat. Face to face they are looking at each other as he's daughter and the murderer are close to the edge Bronson as that look on he's face. Then suddenly an helicopter comes up, she's wacks him in the stomach and he's knifes her arm and bronson just shoots him, "With a BANG BANG look on he's face". He's runs to he's daughter and always well ends well. As they walk the credits just come roaling on. This was an absulutely great film for me as i am an absolute Bronson fan.10/10

The title of my comments is a phrase that I have heard in the movie, coming from the mouth of little Cal. And I think that is an awful phrase to come from a little kid... It reflects perfectly the quality of the present movie, which can not decide if it wants to be a police adventure or a family drama. The fact is that it does not work as either of them. I have not read the book, but the script is really terrible, full of stereotypes and vacuums. In my opinion Charles Bronson's movies are getting worse and worse as he gets older.