Eighth collaboration between the legendary director Jack Lee Thompson ("The Guns of Navarone", "Cape Fear") and the manly star, Charles Bronson, started with "St.Ives" ('76) and going through the 80's decade in several successful Cannon Group produced movies such as "10 to Midnight" ('83); "The Evil That Men Do" ('84) and "Murphy's Law" ('86) until their last, "Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects" ('89), before Thompson retired, "Messenger of Death", released September, '88, wasn't the most triumphant in box office terms, neither one of the best as a movie itself, but inserted some interesting aspects in their long list of movies together.
First of all, Bronson plays a reporter here, Garret Smith, working for a Denver newspaper, doing a private investigation, and not the usual vigilante in a killing spree or the offbeat cop.
Secondly, the movie enters in the religious territory of the fundamentalist Mormons, and works more as a thriller / whodunit / mystery than a typical Bronson's action vehicle.
Thirdly, the supporting cast is very good, from screen legend John Ireland ("Red River"), who delivered the best performance in the movie, to character actors Jeff Corey and Charles Dierkop, who appeared in many old fashioned westerns, plus Mrs. George C. Scott, Trish Van Devere ("The Changeling", '79); Laurence Luckinbill; Daniel Benzali and even Gene Davis, the psychopath from "10 to Midnight", re-teaming here with Bronson & J.L.Thompson and playing a toned down version of that character.
The cinematography by Gideon Porath wasn't that bad for a low budget Cannon flick, offering astonishing visuals of landscapes, including aerial shots, and some action sequences, such the two trucks trying to smash Bronson's car, are competent in a technical level that a veteran filmmaker like Thompson can direct even without the needed money. The opening sequence is also brilliantly staged & directed and eerie as much as Jack Lee could do.
The main problems are that much of the budget went to shot certain background scenes and in particular, the few action sequences there are in the movie, leaving the rest with a cheaply 'made for TV' look and feel and the writing should have been better in the 2nd half to flesh out the story & characters more. The ending is abrupt and not at all satisfactory.
As for Bronson, he never disappointed his loyal fanbase, he could have played a cop, a vigilante, a fireman, a reporter or even a priest and his on screen persona would ooze machismo, bravery and the old fashioned sense of valours that captivates the viewer into following him in his personal demand.
In short, "Messenger of Death" is less action oriented than what we could expect from an 80's Bronson / Jack Lee flick, but still a watchable entry in their resumes.
I give it a 6.5 !!
First of all, Bronson plays a reporter here, Garret Smith, working for a Denver newspaper, doing a private investigation, and not the usual vigilante in a killing spree or the offbeat cop.
Secondly, the movie enters in the religious territory of the fundamentalist Mormons, and works more as a thriller / whodunit / mystery than a typical Bronson's action vehicle.
Thirdly, the supporting cast is very good, from screen legend John Ireland ("Red River"), who delivered the best performance in the movie, to character actors Jeff Corey and Charles Dierkop, who appeared in many old fashioned westerns, plus Mrs. George C. Scott, Trish Van Devere ("The Changeling", '79); Laurence Luckinbill; Daniel Benzali and even Gene Davis, the psychopath from "10 to Midnight", re-teaming here with Bronson & J.L.Thompson and playing a toned down version of that character.
The cinematography by Gideon Porath wasn't that bad for a low budget Cannon flick, offering astonishing visuals of landscapes, including aerial shots, and some action sequences, such the two trucks trying to smash Bronson's car, are competent in a technical level that a veteran filmmaker like Thompson can direct even without the needed money. The opening sequence is also brilliantly staged & directed and eerie as much as Jack Lee could do.
The main problems are that much of the budget went to shot certain background scenes and in particular, the few action sequences there are in the movie, leaving the rest with a cheaply 'made for TV' look and feel and the writing should have been better in the 2nd half to flesh out the story & characters more. The ending is abrupt and not at all satisfactory.
As for Bronson, he never disappointed his loyal fanbase, he could have played a cop, a vigilante, a fireman, a reporter or even a priest and his on screen persona would ooze machismo, bravery and the old fashioned sense of valours that captivates the viewer into following him in his personal demand.
In short, "Messenger of Death" is less action oriented than what we could expect from an 80's Bronson / Jack Lee flick, but still a watchable entry in their resumes.
I give it a 6.5 !!