No Way Out

.. Delon? That's something that I reckon is more true of other movies, but since he is involved in this one too, let's just say it for this too. You may know him from other bigger roles and movies, but this little movie that can is also one to watch out for.

There is nudity and a lot of violence. Some you may feel is too much (especially when it comes to hurting females), but you always have to see this as a movie of the time. While certain things are being hinted at and you may disagree with priorities the hero sets out ... it is what it is. He still is a "good" one ...

Alain Delon is great as usual in the genre that fits him like a glove. Tony Arzenta, a Euro-crime action thriller is directed in style and in a manner of a true craftsmen. This is the first Duccio Tessari film I had a chance to watch, and I was mostly drawn to it by knowing what Delon plays best and that is Le Samourai type character, a professional in his emotionless job. In this one he is attached and detached and drives the story to the conclusion that wouldn't stand a New York minute in Hollywood factory of dreams. That's why I love him and Franco/Italian crime films. Highly recommended to all the fans of this genre. You'll enjoy it, no doubt.

The Eurocrime subgenre was quite popular in the late 60s & early 70s. But in all honesty most of them are cheap and badly made films. Tony Arzenta (Big Guns) is, despite its terrible title, a positive exception. And that is for three reasons: a cool Delon performance, a superb soundtrack and a great 70s atmosphere. The action is not bad, the story is the most standard story out there (former hitman takes revenge on his old employers for killing his family) and the acting is wooden at its best. But there is something about this film that makes it better than most of its fellow Eurocrime flicks.

Hit man revenge film.

A hit man wants out of the mob. The mob double crosses him. He gets some revenge by killing most of those involved.

This film has some strong action scenes. Some good chases. Lots of shooting. It's all done rather well. The acting better than average across the board here.

However, I was not a fan of the ending. I won't spoil it here. You'll either love it or hate it or ...not care either way. I didn't like it. A better ending, and this one could have been something special.

The Italian crime genre owes a lot of its trademarks to Don Siegel's landmark cop flick Dirty Harry, but Big Guns appears to be cashing in more on the success of Francis Ford Coppola's landmark mafia flick The Godfather. Considering this film is called 'Big Guns', there isn't a great deal of gunplay; and unfortunately, a lot of the film is taken up by talking, which didn't really go down very well with me. This type of film is famous for its entertaining set-pieces, which often include car chases, gunfights and fist fights. There are plenty of car chases in this film, and many of them are very well filmed. The plot is not exactly original or groundbreaking, and simply focuses on a hit-man named Tony Arzenta, a man who had had enough of his mob life and decides that he wants to leave their employ. However, as anyone who has seen a mob film will know; these guys don't like people walking out on them, and the mob takes it upon themselves to ensure that Tony doesn't leave their employ alive. Naturally, this leads to a cacophony of violence.

The film features a few faces that will be familiar to fans of Italian movies. Alain Delon is good in the lead role, and receives good support from the likes of Richard Conte (who starred in some of the best Italian crime films, including Martino's Violent Professionals), cult film veteran Anton Diffring, and one of my personal favourite actresses Rosalba Neri; who unfortunately doesn't appear for very long. The plot does feel a little tired, and while I mostly enjoyed this movie; it has to be said that there's better examples of the Italian crime film out there. I'm rather surprised that this film has received mostly positive reviews across the board as, generally speaking; the average vote for an Italian film is a few grades lower than mine! Still, while I can't say that I rate this film among the best of the Italian output - it's well directed and while I wasn't blown away; at least it isn't boring. Overall, Lenzi's crime films; as well as a choice few others such as Street Law, The Heroin Busters and The Violent Professionals, come recommended over this one; but Big Guns is at least worth watching.