Street Law (1976)

Not the worst macaroni mafia movie, but very far from the best, which is surprising since it's directed by the durable Enzo G. Castellari. In what is essentially a rift on DEATH WISH (though apparently filmed prior to that Charles Bronson classic), businessman Franco Nero, after being kidnapped by a group of goons robbing a post office, decides to take the law into his own hands. The muddled script never makes clear how he's going to go about doing this. Eventually, the bad guys are found and Nero becomes a vigilante. Soon most of the underworld is arrested...There are some really goofy scenes of Nero being beaten and abused and frankly he overacts to the point of looking very silly. Barbara Bach plays "Barbara," but really has little to do. Giancarlo Prete plays Nero's only ally & Renzo Palmer is a bull-headed police inspector. Not Castellari's finest by any stretch. The mostly misplaced music score by Guido & Maurizio De Angelis adds little.

The primary problem with Enzo Castellari's contemporary revenge drama, "Street Law", is the blatant idiocy of its protagonist Carlo Antonelli (Franco Nero). He begins walking the road to revenge after he is taken hostage by a trio of thieves and left for dead. He concocts a brainless scheme to get closer to the group with the help of Tommy (Giancarlo Prete), a dull lowlife, and acts like a total fool in his pursuit. He's supposed to be discreet, but he conducts his mission in public view and ends up having the tables turned on him on several occasions. I never thought I'd say it because I love the guy, but Nero's character is so naive and amateurish it's embarrassing to watch him. Castellari, who directed the brilliant "Keoma", which starred Nero, constructs a few good, bloody action sequences, but none of them are very believable or interesting. I'm surprised this film has been described as "taut" because it is anything but. The script is illogical and unbelievable, and the various subplots go nowhere. There is a gratuitous "Keoma"-like scene in which Nero is dragged by the legs through muddy water. Castellarti attempts to mythologize Nero's character is this scene by employing slow motion and focusing on his Christ-like suffering, but because our hero is so poorly written and pathetic, Castellari's intentions come across as misguided and heavy-handed. Disappointing.

Taut and cynical thriller with a good pace, throbbing soundtrack, decent cinematography and not a little bloody violence. Very much of the times this is a somewhat depressing tale of ruthless criminal activity and police corruption.The not so pretty side of 70's Italy brought vividly to the screen with a workmanlike performance from Franco Nero and little more than sweet innocent looks from Barbara Bach.In fact a little more involvement from the ladies would have made this that much more enjoyable but if it's non stop chasing and shooting done with some style you are after this is certainly your number.

Shot in the same year of the american "Deathwish" with Charles Bronson, has a similar plot but it results much more realistic and exciting. The great Franco Nero's performance and the brilliant music by the De Angelis brothers make of this an "absolutely must see" for all the fans of this kind of movies !