Act of Vengeance *** (1986, Charles Bronson, Ellen Burstyn, Wilford Brimley, Hoyt Axton, Robert Schenkkan, Ellen Barkin, Maury Chaykin, Keanu Reeves – Classic Movie Review 13,884

Keanu Reeves in a Charles Bronson movie?

Director John Mackenzie’s 1986 Canadian HBO TV movie Act of Vengeance stars Charles Bronson, Ellen Burstyn, and Wilford Brimley, along with Hoyt Axton, Robert Schenkkan, Ellen Barkin, Maury Chaykin, and Keanu Reeves.

In between Death Wish 3 (1985) and Death Wish 4 (1987), Charles Bronson, aged 64 and without his moustache, makes an unexpected and honourable TV movie appearance, acting against type in the true-life drama of Joseph ‘Jock’ Yablonski, the United Mine Workers of America official who risked his life by challenging its corrupt president.

An outstanding cast gives it the fire and credibility that are sometimes lacking in Scott Spencer’s conscientious and honourable script, based on the book by Trevor Armbrister about the corruption in the United Mine Workers’ presidential elections in 1969. John Mackenzie’s direction is concentrated and intense. Bronson, Burstyn, and Brimley are excellent, strong and committed.

Bronson said: ‘It’s a complete departure for me, I’m not wearing a moustache, and I’m not carrying a gun. I don’t perform any violence in this film.’ 

Bronson dropped out of The Delta Force (1986) to do it, probably infuriating its maker, Menahem Golan of Cannon Films. Lee Marvin stepped in.

Bronson (Charles Buchinsky) was keen to do it because of his background in mining. He was born on 3 November 1921 in extreme poverty in Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania, a coal mining town in the Allegheny Mountains. He was the 11th of 15 children of a Roman Catholic family of Lithuanian descent. Bronson’s miner father died when Bronson was young. Bronson worked in the mines until joining the US Army Air Forces in 1943 to fight in World War Two.

Act of Vengeance premiered on April 20, 1986 on HBO and was released on VHS by HBO/ Cannon Video.

Keanu Reeves, who plays Buddy Martin, was credited as Keannu Reeves.

The cast: Charles Bronson, Ellen Burstyn, Wilford Brimley, Hoyt Axton, Robert Schenkkan, Ellen Barkin, Maury Chaykin, Caroline Kava, Peg Murray, William Newman, Alan North, Raynor Scheine, Gordon Woolvett, Alf Humphreys, Joseph Kell, Ken Pogue, Keanu Reeves.

 © Derek Winnert 2026 – Classic Movie Review 13,884

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