STREET LAW

Directed by Enzo G. Castellari
Produced by Mario Cecchi Gori
Written by Massimo De Rita & Dino Maiuri
Music by Guido & Maurizio De Angelis
Cast: Franco Nero, Giancarlo Prete, Barbara Bach, Renzo Palmer, Nazzareno Zamperla, Massimo Vanni & Romano Puppo

1974/103 mins/Color/Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
1.85:1 anamorphic/English/Italy/NTSC Region 0

Review from the Blue Underground DVD

Life is about to change for Carlo Antonelli, an average citizen who finds himself at the wrong place at the wrong time. During a violent robbery gone wrong, Antonelli is held captive and brutally beaten. Much to is displeasure and anger, the police actually drop the case. In typical vigilante poliziotteschi, Antonelli (the always amazing Franco Nero) decides to take revenge by his own hands.

After the huge success of HIGH CRIME, director Enzo G. Castellari was onced again joined by Franco Nero. Nero's character falls deeply into the dangerous world of underworld crime. When he thinks that things can't get any worse, well they do. To eventually get closer, Antonelli blackmail another crook named Tommy (Prete). The final showdown is something that Antonelli will never forget.

Actress Barbara Bach, who would later star in THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, is given very little to do. According to Castellari, she wasn't a great actress but was punctual and beautiful. Franco Nero is doing yet another amazing over the top performance as Carlo Antonelli. There's also many other familiar faces that genre fans will recognise. Guido & Maurizio De Angelis provided the soundtrack but its mostly consisting of the two same songs playing over and over again which gets kinda annoying. The movie was originaly called THE CITIZEN REBELS for its US release and VIGILANTE II for the UK. As expected Enzo G. Castellari delivered yet another must see Italian crime thriller but unlike most I much prefered THE BIG RACKET over this one.

Uncut and uncensored with supposedly around 20 more minutes then the US theatrical release, the movie is presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio and it is anamorphic. The image looks good but there is some grains, edge enhancement and dust. It does get a little annoying but its not alarming. Still this is the best the movie has looked in years. The English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono track is loud and clear. Like most of his movie, this was shot in English but later redubbed. Thankfully, Nero dubbed his own voice. There is no subtitles.

We get an interesting commentary track with director Enzo G. Castellari, his son Andrea Girolami and it is moderated by Blue Underground producer Bill Lustig who directed the masterpiece MANIAC. Among other things, Castellari talks about wanting to remake STREET LAW. 'Laying Down the Law' is an interesting 17 minutes featurette which interview both Castellari and Nero. Its in Italian but features English subs. There's also the theatrical trailer and the American tv spot. The disc features animated menus with music, 23 chapters stop, the usual Blue Underground catalogue and comes in a transparent keep case.

(Original title: Il Cittadino si ribella)

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Review by Kim Dubuisson. All Right Reserved. 2007. ©

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