Defiance Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

Defiance Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 2, 2015

1980’s “Defiance” is a B-movie that doesn’t aspire to be much more than a basic vigilante drama, with New York City its playground as it explores tensions between a neighborhood of decent folks trying to survive against a roving gang of violent thugs. It’s not an especially accomplished film, but director John Flynn (“Rolling Thunder,” “Lock Up”) works hard to create streetwise tension, paying attention to character and motivation to the best of his ability. Not helping the cause is star Jan-Michael Vincent, who sleepwalks through the feature, putting pressure on his charismatic co-stars to deliver some sense of life. Still, the basic ingredients of aggression remain vivid in “Defiance,” helping the movie achieve entertainment value that nears campiness, endeavoring to position Vincent as an urban superhero, taking on the scum of the Earth in this obvious “Death Wish” knockoff.

Tommy (Jan-Michael Vincent) is in love with the open sea, working most of his life on different ships. However, a recent bout of insubordination has cost him his job, suspended for six months in New York City, where he’s forced to find a temporary home. Moving into a sketchy neighborhood, Tommy gradually meets the locals, bonding with ex-tough guy Carmine (Danny Aiello) and romancing Marsha (Theresa Saldana), but he never commits to his surrounding, working to find another ship assignment. Making life difficult for everyone are the Savage Souls, a street gang led by Angel (Rudy Ramos), who specialize in robbery and intimidation, ruling the block with their imposing presence. Pushed too far, Tommy begins to fight back against the Savage Souls, finding himself pulled into a turf war he doesn’t believe in, finding the community looking to his leadership to help reclaim what was lost.

The screenplay for “Defiance” is efficient, wasting no time getting Tommy into his ramshackle apartment. In the opening five minutes of the movie, we learn he’s a noble hothead who doesn’t take gruff from anybody, he’s lost his dream job to anger management issues, and he’s forced to sample life in New York City. Hilariously, the writing maintains Tommy’s disdain for the area, hearing the gruff man openly complain about the filth and the fury that surrounds him, which inspires him to learn Spanish to help secure a quick exit through a job opportunity on a Puerto Rican vessel. However, Tommy isn’t a complete robot, imagined as a teddy bear underneath his hard exterior, with a passion for painting and boating that’s intended to make the character likable, especially when he begins to romance Marsha -- a sensitive single woman who’s instantly attracted to the new man on the block, with their meet cute being a flower-watering accident on an apartment fire escape.

Relationships develop throughout “Defiance,” watching Tommy and Marsha bond while bowling, and there’s local shopkeeper Abe (Art Carney), who’s kindly but frustrated with the way of the world, continually harassed by the Savage Souls, who shoplift and threaten without hesitation. Carmine also plays a prominent role in the story, with the aging tough guy fondly recalling his days as a member of the Sportsmen, a gang that used to rule the area, openly questioning the rising spinelessness of the locals, who’ve allowed Angel to run wild and terrorize everyone. The picture conveniently passes on identifying the irony of one gang member bemoaning the rise of another, but “Defiance” isn’t built for study, it’s meant to be experienced on a gut level, with visceral kicks provided by the Savage Souls and their daily threats, with the highly decorated bruisers smacking around neighbors and even interrupting church bingo night.

Tommy is the reluctant hero, always proclaiming that he’s “just passing through.” Unwilling to get involved in a local power play, Tommy eventually can’t help himself, kicking off a war of intimidation with the Savage Souls, experiencing their wrath, which includes apartment vandalism and cold, icy stares. Fights eventually do break out, but Flynn doesn’t go overboard with violent encounters, leaving the action to some fisticuffs and swinging sticks (gunplay is strangely minimized), with Vincent’s physicality lacking, never achieving authority as a tough guy just waiting for the world to light his fuse.

The screenplay does make an effort to soften Angel to a degree, detailing the gang leader’s concern for a sickly individual who’s never explicitly identified, giving him money and kind words before he’s back to troublemaking. It’s a strange moment of humanization, and a character beat that’s never returned to. Tommy takes most of the goodwill the picture has to offer, palling around a young boy and his mentally challenged friend (in a bizarre attempt at comedy, the kid takes Tommy to see a Spanish porno film to help the newcomer learn the language), and he builds a rooftop garden to help calm Marsha, which, of course, is immediately trashed by the Savage Souls. Despite Vincent’s stone-faced performance, “Defiance” works overtime to make the gruff man approachable, often resorting to pure silliness to pull off the illusion.

Defiance Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation provides a surprisingly clean-ish and inviting viewing experience. While period cinematography and film quality tends to break up consistency, detail is very encouraging, with expressive facial responses and neighborhood particulars, with deep backgrounds and scannable set decoration. Costumes also retain texture. Colors are secure without much fade, finding street signage vivid and skintones natural. Delineation isn't threatened, preserving frame information. Grain isn't managed, with a few surges of chroma noise. Source is in fine shape, with no overt damage.

Defiance Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix does struggle with inherent sound issues, as the production tends to put intelligibility on the back burner when it takes on group activity and fight sequences. A few passages are drowned out by street noise, while others are too fuzzy. Dialogue exchanges aren't the track's highlights, but music is welcoming, finding scoring bold and secure, while soundtrack cuts carry intensity as well. Atmospherics are perceptible, with decent urban commotion and echoed apartment activity. Hiss isn't a concern.

Defiance Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:27, SD) is included.

Defiance Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

What's appealing about "Defiance" is its use of urban pressure, with an impressive command of NYC street attitude that snowballs into outrage by the third act, putting pressure on Tommy and the neighborhood to rise up and do something about the Savage Souls. The payoff is passable, cooking up some decent confrontations and permitting Aiello to ham it up in his own unique manner, putting the idiosyncratic actor in a leather jacket for the final fight. "Defiance" doesn't color outside the lines, setting up a collision between the neighborhood watch and the Savage Souls, playing into formula as much as possible. Still, the elements work, making it easy to root for the heroes and boo the baddies, allowing vigilante justice to look appealing and community alliance enviable. It's not a textured effort, but when "Defiance" checks off a to-do list of exploitative incidents and character quirks, it's perfectly acceptable and periodically exciting.