Fighting Back

Fighting Back

I have this film on VHS, and a dubbed DVD, when I received a like on Facebook from Tom Skerritt on a comment from a birthday message a year earlier, it made me think about this film and seeing if there's been an official release since the last time I looked. I was surprised that Arrow Video released it on Blu-Ray. I always loved this film, and thought it was a good print. The only thing keeping me from a perfect 10 rating, was the ending, I recall it having a message on their saying what happened to DeAngelo, and how crime continues to decline in his district. I don't know why this was omitted from the print. Any answers welcomed. Also the racism element is blown out of proportion, has several of the criminals they went after were non-black. Like the bar they introduced themselves in, the school drug dealer, and the arsonists. The Yaphet Kotto character blew it out of proportion. The movie seems to relate to current events.

Straight from the start anyone who doesn't have their heads up their Keesters can see the obvious Racism written by white people. The robbery of the pharmacy both robbers wore gloves and ski mask, and Tom Skerritt's character wasn't in the store. Yet he claims that the perpetrators were African Americans. And a pimp wouldn't cause undue attention by chasing someone across town because his wife threw so ice on him. But I figured that these other reviews are written by people in denial of the Racism that exists here in America. FYI, criminals come in all shades, colors and ethnicity. But apparently dino de Laurent is oblivious of this bit of factual data. Pure unadulterated Garbage coming from the usual suspects.

Oh here we go again, another low-budget vigilante feature of someone trying to make a difference. Actually I enjoy these types of features, no matter how well-worn or rancid they can be. However "Fighting Back" was a surprisingly effective if mildly realistic piece (up until a point), while not always fulfilling it did provoke some harsh and lasting set-pieces with a barnstorming performance by Tom Skerritt. It kind of crosses paths with films such as; "Death Wish" (1974), "Boardwalk" (1979) and "Vigilante" (1983). While scathingly violent and exploitative, its messages are obvious (especially the use of Yaphet Kotto's pointless character) and ambitiously put across with a multi-facet bunch of central characters that are thoroughly illustrated and this helps make the situations deliver on the impact. There's a lot more food for thought here, but it kind of over does towards the end. After an incident involving a pimp and his elderly mother ending up injured in a hold up, John D'Angelo finally has had enough of the crime suffocating his community. With the support of friends and neighbours he organises the People's Neighbourhood Patrol to protect their lifestyles. Dressed up in uniforms (caps, bubble vests and wooden bats) and their own patrol car ("Ghostbusters" anyone?). The only way to do it is to fight fire with fire, but still staying in the boundaries of the law. This gets on the nerves of the local police, upsets worried politicians and only aggravates the street gangs, especially the pimp he crossed paths with. What starts off basic, than moves away into political territory and the problems that face the D'Angelo character (things getting out of hand). Where soon he becomes self-obsessed and pinned-down with his campaign, where judgements are clouded, hot-headed confrontations erupt and his wife's (Patti LuPone) well-being for her family is discarded. Skerritt's character is not particularly sympathetic either, as from what he's doing he becomes news --- popularity sky rockets --- a people's hero --- why not run for office. So he does. Michael Sarrazin is excellent in the role as D'Angelo's friend, who just happens to be a cop. Sarrazin's character is much more agreeable in his motives. Director Lewis Teague ("Alligator (1980)", "Cujo (1983)") does a respectably stark and gritty job capturing the urban decay and crime-riddled environment. There's a tit for tat structure to the group doing their rounds, but the constant beatings are excitingly gripping ""Nobody laughs at my momma!". There's one sequence where a fast food outlet owner just happens to have a battle axe(!?) stored away, when D'Angelo comes a knocking. The pacing is rapid and some scenes are highly charged, although the ending (D'Angelo and the Pimp) does feel so anti-climatic. "Fighting Back" has its feet in both camps; exploitative but also contemplative.

Fighting Back was unknown to me until recently. I just grabbed the Blu Ray from Arrow Films. This differs greatly from the Death Wish movies(especially past the second movie). This looks at vigilantism in a realistic and intelligent way. This is also more blue collar/working class. An Italian American deli owner (Tom Skeritt) gets fed up with the rampant crime wave that is ruining his neighborhood. He gets a neighborhood group together and they start cracking heads. Their critics accuse them of racism as the majority of the people they go after are black. This is not a shoot em up action piece, most of the violence are brawls and are very gritty and realistic in their depiction. He ends up getting media attention and is drawn into politics. Skerit's neighborhood action group often goes beyond the law and this film looks at how a man changes from the beginning of the movie, to the end. The film has a lot to say about politics and American society at this time. I thought Fighting Back was a very good movie and it was well scripted, acted and directed.

Known as Death Vengeance in the UK, this Philadelphia-set crime thriller starts with a news story about the increase in violence since JFK's assassination in 1963. With the increase in crime, Philadelphia is becoming unsafe. Proud Italian-American John D'Angelo (Tom Skeritt) runs a deli with his wife Lisa (Patti LuPone). One night, they see a pimp named Eldorado (Pete Richardson ) beating one of his girls. She yells at him to stop and he chases their car, ramming it, and causes the death of their unborn child. Not long after, John's mother Vera (Gina DeAngelis) is attacked and the crooks take her wedding ring. Enough is enough. John and his best friend Vince Morelli (Michael Sarrazin) start The People's Neighborhood Patrol (PNP), with their own uniforms of blue hats and vests that have a PNP logo on them, headquarters to take phone calls and even vehicles. With Vince's help, the police allow the PNP to patrol the neighborhood. The problem is the PNP does whatever it wants, like going into a nuisance bar and attacking everyone in it. John does what he wants even as his acts are seen as racial discrimination by a small portion of the African-American community like Ivanhoe Washington (Yaphet Kotto), the leader of a black vigilante group. He actually finds the two men who stole the wedding ring from John's mother and gives them over to him. John only attacks the black one, which proves the point. John runs for councilman in the upcoming election but Vince is killed by Eldorado. To get back at him, he organizes a full-scale attack on crime in a local park that even gets the cops involved. Eldorado gets away and John is arrested, but told where his enemy lives. The cops say they are "too busy" and ask him to take care of it; a favor will be asked for later. John has effectively sold out, but it feels good dropping a grenade on the pimp and getting rid of him forever. John wins the election and celebrates inside his deli. The neighborhood is all cleaned up and kids are playing in the park. Is this a happy ending? It's based on Anthony Imperiale, who advocated armed white self-defense. During the 1967 Newark riots, he formed the North Ward First Aid Squad to escort Italian-Americans through racially troubled neighborhoods. When he was accused of being a vigilante, he said, "When the Black Panther comes, the white hunter will be waiting." He had a long career in politics, then founded a volunteer ambulance company in Newark. He was praised by his former political rivals for his generosity, sense of humor and commitment to equal treatment. Of course, both his kids went to jail for shooting people after arguments, but there you go. Fighting Back is a weird movie in that it feels like it's so right wing yet I wonder if all the newsreel footage and in your face moments are supposed to swing you the other direction. Maybe it's just an exploitation movie.

Excellent movie with a very good cast. Tom Skerrit Patti Lupone, Yaphet Kotto, Joseph Ragno a great collection of believable actors making this a credible story. This movie is based upon true stories of out of control street crime corrupt official apathetic judges. Out of total desperation 2nd generation store owner John De Angelo rallies his neighbors to start a private patrol force of volunteers to rid the streets of thugs punks and thieves. This is not a typical shoot em up vengeance film without merit but a look at reality in the big cities where the citizens and cops have been out numbered and out gunned for a very long time. Worth the watch if you can find this film. There are racial situations and language in this film, but no animals were hurt during the making of this film, just scum bags.

After his mother is brutally mugged in his own neighborhood and the Philadelphia police are unable to resolve the increasing rate of crime there, a delicatessen owner by the name of "John D'Angelo" (Tom Skerritt) decides to do something about it. So, to that effect, he manages to convince a number of his neighbors to help him form a neighborhood watch group to alert the local police whenever they see something suspicious or illegal taking place. What he doesn't count on, however, is the resistance to their group by, not only the criminals, but the local politicians as well. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that I saw this movie when it first came out and I was as impressed by it then as I am with it today. And, although the main character was a bit too hot-headed at times, I still thought Tom Skerritt's added just the right amount of anger and passion to make this movie seem pretty realistic and I have rated it accordingly. Above average.

A relatively intelligent vigilante film about the extremely tricky situation, that is: the clearance of "punks", as they call them in the movie, and how to handle it. The film doesnt produced a clear answer, but proposes numerous methods on the matter. Highlighting, of course, the protagonist's way. Blending the perennial quest for justice, supposed racism and political power in a true and thoughtprovoking manner. Showing concern and arguments from both sides of the spectrum, reflecting the though and Injust reality extraordinarly well. "Fighting Back" might seem muddled or chaotic but so is the question its tackeling, so any othe result would just not be staying true to the situation. The outcome is, in my opinion, a great all-over-the-place, wild and haphazardus natured crime-action flic with a, perhaps, too ambiguous but truthfull intention. And maybe a little bit clichéd too. But it doesnt matter when the goal is to offer an enjoyable, dramatic action-packed movie experience. With a charismatic yet brutal Tim Skerritt in the lead role.

Set in an Italian neighborhood of Philadelphia "Fighting Back" tells the story of a storekeeper(Tom Skerritt),who is outraged by an incident on the streets that results in his pregnant wife losing the baby and by a robbery in which his mother's ring finger is cut off.He organizes the local people into a security patrol.The patrol does wipe out crime but operates beyond the law with our vigilante carrying on more of a personal vendetta than a campaign to establish law and order."Fighting Back" by Lewis Teague is a taut and exciting revenge thriller obviously influenced by "Death Wish" movies.The film is well-acted and looks surprisingly authentic.There is not much violence on display,however if you are a fan of thought-provoking cinema you can't miss this gritty flick.8 out of 10.