Harry Callahan is called to investigate a series of similar murders, who unbeknownst to him, are being committed by a woman named Jennifer.
Jennifer is hell is bent on revenge on a group of people responsible for a brutal double rape of her and her sister Beth, who is now “awake but comatose” due to the attack.
Direction
First film in the series to be directed by Eastwood himself (having directed a portion of the first film), still has the ‘dark’ finish to it that the previous films in the franchise had.
I loved one section of the film, where harry is escaping the hit-men in the train station. The green lighting of the roof that backs the action was memorable, and visually stunning.
There is some great practical effects used too, like when Harry has a Molotov cocktail thrown at him while driving, and his whole car is on fire.
Cast/Characters
Clint Eastwood of course is back as Callahan. He does feel a little more aged here, being 53 when he made this film.
Sondra Locke (Eastwood’s then real life partner), plays the ‘villain’ – Jennifer.
Albert Popwell, plays Harry’s “right hand man” Horace. Interestingly Popwell played Mustapha, one of Callahan’s antagonists in the previous film entry. He gets some memorable quotes, calling a machine gun a JAMF – a Jive Ass (well you can work out the rest).
Screenplay/Setting/Themes
Starting with a very distinctive 1980s credit intro, it does have a more ‘modern of the time’ feel to it, with certain characters such as Horace. Even the score feels early 80s.
The film also has the usual ‘boss doesn’t listen to the protagonist’ arc, with Harry also being ‘old school’ and refusing to move with the times.
Along with the main antagonists arc – there is tertiary action splice within, which include Harry stopping a bank robbery, and commandeering a senior citizens bus – with all the seniors egging Harry on to catch the bad guy. This added some humor to an otherwise dark narrative main story.
The main arc, which is revealed at the start of the second act, makes you feel quite empathetic towards Jennifer, as up until this point we are not aware why she is going on her killing spree. We want her to succeed, and even after she meets, and romances Harry – for him to help her succeed.
There is a dinner scene between the pair that shows that Eastwood and Locke had clear chemistry between them, which was obviously complemented by their real life relationship.
There is also some severe coarse language, that I was not expecting from a movie made in 1983, which included the use of the ‘c’ word, so this one is not one the kids should watch. There is also some impressive (at times) graphic violence, especially during some of the assassinations. Some of these the audience can’t wait to occur (such as the cartoon-ish Ray who orchestrated the rape.
Unfortunately with the ups come some downs. This does feel the most ‘unrealistic’ of the films to date, with more plot amour worn by Harry than ever before, especially when he is escaping machine gun fire early on.
The final showdown, with some no name villains, who were even more cartoon-ish than Ray; while cinematic at times – felt too Hollywood, and out of place with reality.
Score/Soundtrack
I loved the score, especially the tension moments. This came from Lalo Schifrin, who was famous for his Mission Impossible work. Mr Schifrin sadly passed away this week aged 93.
Overall
I quite enjoyed this one, and was pleasantly surprised that a fourth film in a franchise could still have such solid narrative, acting, and screenplay.
Interestingly this is the film that coined the pop culture phrase ‘Go Ahead, Make my Day’.
That at the time of writing this Mr Eastwood is 95, and “potentially retired” shows that he is one of the greatest artists to come out of Hollywood.
4/5
Ryan's Movie Reviews 