fertilecelluloid Review of Street Law

Street Law (1974)

Crime drama weakened considerably by badly written protagonist

[4/10 · 6 April 2006]

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.