Review of Out for Justice (1991) by Lina . — 31 May 2008

This is a gritty and violent action film that spends it's time unequivocally building towards a final confrontation between Gino (Seagal) and Ritchie (Forsythe).

Gino, the plainclothes policeman, and Ritchie the drug-crazed criminal are (mostly) equaling opposing forces. Their activities take place in Brooklyn , the borough where they both grew up. Now, as adults, their incompatible lifestyles must face off, (preferably in the final reel, please).

This film shows Seagal as a kind of "Death Wish" type character, and he is intent on tracking Ritchie down. So much so, that he is leaning on anyone who knows anything about him. These are probably the best scenes in the film - where Gino confronts Ritchie's brother in a great bar fight sequence.

Although the film is a little bit unbalanced in it's pacing, and the criminals are too comic-book-like for my tastes, this film does make use of it's background setting well. We are taken to all sorts of down-market dives, hotels, mob-boss meetings, and brothels. It's a living slice of New York.

Seagal is surprisingly convincing, and his naturalistic style here really does work for the film. Again, like elements of "Marked for Death", there is a slight echo of that "Walking Tall" idea; where a man single-handedly cleans up his own territory - against the odds, and at any cost.