Two stars. Rated R, for profanity, dramatic intensity, strong violence and gore
By Derrick Bang
If director Eli Roth is hoping
for mainstream respectability, this isn’t the right path.
The original Charles Bronson Death Wish was a cultural flashpoint
back in 1974 (its four progressively tawdry sequels, not so much). The
political divide was incendiary, with mounting raucous protests ultimately
helping to force a corrupt president from office; big-city crime and street
violence were out of control; the older generation was dismayed by a younger
generation that seemed not to care about much of anything.
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| While working his way up the bad guy food chain in pursuit of the creep who orchestrated the invasion of his home, Paul Kersey (Bruce Willis, right) employs rather unsual tactics to extract information from a thug. |
Half the country viewed Bronson’s
film as a fascist nightmare; the other half thought his character’s actions
fell under the heading of Damn Well About Time.
Things change ... not so much.
There’s no question that Roth and
scripter Joe Carnahan’s updated remake is well-timed, but — sadly — reaction to
this film is likely to be even more polarized. Half the audience will regard it
as an irresponsible NRA recruitment tool; the other half, once again, will
smile in satisfaction and think, Hey, that’s a good way to solve some problems.
The third half, based on
Wednesday evening’s preview screening, will chortle gleefully each time Bruce
Willis dispatches a baddie. And that’s perhaps even more disturbing.
Granted, this updated Death Wish has some mild laugh lines;
most, however, derive from the verbal skirmishes between Paul Kersey (Willis)
and investigating detectives Kevin Raines (Dean Norris) and Leonore Jackson
(Kimberly Elise).
I fail to see how watching some
guy’s eyes pop out of his graphically crushed head warrants a chuckle, let
alone rip-snortin’ peals of laughter. But that’s to be expected from Roth’s
core fan base, which — let us recall — laps up the torture-porn trash for which
he is best known: Cabin Fever, The Green Inferno, the Hostel series and others I’ve blissfully
forgotten.
Roth may have attracted a solid
cast for this outing, and the film may benefit from whatever name-brand
recognition its predecessor still delivers ... but as the (original) saying
goes, a hog in a silk waistcoat is still a hog.
The core story hasn’t changed
much. Dedicated Chicago surgeon Paul Kersey has it all: a hospital practice at
which he excels; a loving wife (Elisabeth Shue, as Lucy); a devoted daughter
(Camila Morrone, as Jordan), who just got into the college of her choice; and a
gorgeous home in an upscale neighborhood.
No sign of a dog. Seems like they
should have a dog.
