ACTS OF VIOLENCE

US, 2018, 86 minutes, Colour.

Bruce Willis, Cole Hauser, Shawn Ashmore, Ashton Holmes, Melissa Bolona, Sean Brosnan, Sophia Bush, Mike Epps.

Directed by Brett Donowho.

Act of Violence is a brief action film, the kind of film that Bruce Willis appeared in in his later years, several every year. This is one of the better films and one of his more persuasive performances even though he is, once again, a chief of police.

Initially, the film focuses on war service and its effect on military after the war, the disturbed lives. Then it moves to violence in Cleveland, thugs, gangs, the abduction of women, sex trafficking.

The focus is on a family, especially three brothers, Cole Hauser portraying the the former soldier, Shawn Ashmore the family man although he had served in the military, and Ashton Holmes as the younger brother about to be married. His fiancee, Melissa below the, on a night out with her friends, is abducted by the sex trafficking gang. The brothers go after her, violent tactics, conflict with the police, meeting Bruce Willis is a very who has been trying to track and get evidence on the trafficking leader, played by Mike Epps.

What follows is what is moral is expected but filmed with action verve, the brothers and action, the escape, but some unanticipated violence, especially at the end with Bruce Willis having up his job taking the law into his own hands.

1.     The title, a violent thriller, backgrounds of war service, arms training, sex trafficking, police investigations, vigil 80 action?

2.     The Cleveland setting, the military background for Declan, the domestic portrait of the family, the engaged couple, happy life? The nightclubs? The girls night out? The abduction, the imprisonment of Mia? The thugs, Max Livingstone and his organisation? The warehouses, the trucks? The police precincts? Atmospheric? The score?

3.     The initial introduction to Declan, the military background, the comment on war service, the effect on the military, after war service? Disturbed?

4.     The family, Brandon and his wife, his military background, more settled, family? Roman, youngest, engaged to Mia? The family gatherings, meals?

5.     Mia, her friends, going to the night club, the thugs, Mia taking her stances? The abduction, her leaving a message, imprisonment with the other women, her attempts to get out, the freeing of the women? Her joining in the attack? Strong woman?

6.     Roman, Brandon that is support, calling in Declan, military garb, arms? The raid on the house, their being arrested, the failure to find anyone? The contact with Avery? His getting off, his promise to find Mia, warning them off? The continuing to act, the raid, the tactics, finding the women, the rescue, Mia involved? Going to Avery, the seeming resolution?

7.     Avery, a Bruce Willis character, human trafficking, Max Livingstone, looking for evidence? The encounter with the brothers, his promises, wanting them off? The arrest, the success?

8.     The brothers back home, the attack on the family, Brandon shot, his wife shot? The shooting of Livingstone, the thugs killed, Livingstone getting away?

9.     Avery, resigning, going up to Livingstone, shooting him? On the scene of the family reunion?

10.  Another chapter in American law and frustration, vigilante films?