Early 70s groundbreaker dealing with a mild-mannered architect who undergoes a mental transformation following the disturbing attack on his family. His wife dead and his daughter reduced to a catatonic wreck, Bronson is shipped to Arizona for a business arrangement. His client is a basic modern-day cowboy, a Southern boy with a penchant for big properties, back-slappin' --- and guns.
Bronson is introduced to his first firearm in years. You see, he was a conscientious objecter in the Korean war, another fascinating character trait of Bronson's Kersey. (For you kids out there, a CO was someone opposed to war combat, but still performed other duties, such as Bronson's character being a medic.)
Upon returning to New York, a compulsion comes over Bronson after his sort of "awakening" with the cowboy. In the ensuing days, he takes to the streets at night, grocery bag as a lure, and begins plugging would-be assailants. His nearly-mute daughter unable to identify her attackers, Bronson is left to stalk the streets and make a statement rather than seek revenge, capping whomever approaches him.
Director Michael Winner's result was a timely and culturally pleasing comment on the good guys vs. the bad guys. There's even a somewhat archaic reference to that Old West feel near the end of the film, when a dazed and wounded Bronson asks a modern-day street thug to "draw". Compelling moment. Plus a completely unpredictable reaction aftermath to Bronson's first victim. Charlie's performance overall is abundantly subdued, but he did manage the incredible once-in-a-lifetime feat for an actor: becoming a movie-star sensation in his 50s.
"Death Wish" isn't a perfect film, the set-up dragging listlessly to its middle, and the shooting becoming painfully repetitive (Bronson turns, gun in pocket, blam!, ad naseum). As well as Gardenia's grizzled, store-bought, weezing, sneezing, cigar barking (are we out of cliché's yet??) detective slightly annoying at times. And even for a 1974 film, the initial household attack can still be too much for some to stomach.
We try as best we can not to review an older film in the present day, but it becomes nearly impossible. So it must be said that "Death Wish" hasn't aged horribly, but is a bit outdated in spots. Has that overly crisp, narrow look to it, plus stiff acting in spots, with that annoying "sounds dubbed" dialogue of the early 70s.
But Bronson, in his patented understated fashion, wipes all that nearly out with a legendary debut as Paul Kersey.
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