Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		4.0

Firepower Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 12, 2015

The name’s Fanon. Jerry Fanon.

Actor James Coburn is no stranger to the world of superspy franchises, having worked through the lighthearted Derek Flint pictures of the 1960s. 1979’s “Firepower” has a bit of James Bond envy, with “Death Wish” director Michael Winner working to mount his own take on exotic locations, golden women, and roughhouse men attempting to save the world. A brawny, noisy movie, “Firepower” is a reasonable facsimile of a Roger Moore-era 007 adventure, favoring excessive characters, stunt-heavy action, and a few secret agent tricks. However, Winner isn’t entirely out to replicate, adding his own extremes to the effort, laboring to energize a plot that’s basically a basic bounty hunter story into a towering display of excitement. The feature almost gets there, aided by a few violent chases and escapes, but it’s not the most stimulating endeavor, periodically lost in laborious expositional banter that doesn’t widen the scope of the hunt as profoundly as the production imagines.

Karl Stegner is a billionaire out to control the world through his business interests, yet nobody really knows what he looks like. The U.S. Government wants to nail him for crimes against humanity, suspecting the mystery man of intentionally selling contaminated prescription drugs to the masses, causing cancer rates to skyrocket. Agent Hull (Vincent Gardenia) doesn’t know how to reach Stegner, reaching out to retired spy Sal (Eli Wallach) for help. Agreeing to activate Jerry Fanon (James Coburn) for a king’s ransom, Sal sends the bounty hunter to Antigua with right-hand man Catlett (O.J. Simpson), believing that Jerry is the only one capable of infiltrating Stegner’s protected compound. Along for the ride is Adele (Sophia Loren), the wife of a scientist killed by Stegner’s goons, working with Jerry to exact revenge on the man who ruined her life.

“Firepower” opens appropriately, spending its initial five minutes detailing a letter bombing that kills Adele’s husband, while an assassination is carried out at the man’s funeral. Winner doesn’t waste any time creating scenes of chaos to establish the threat in play, launching the movie forward with incredible speed, promising a rip-roaring revenge picture. To the film’s credit, “Firepower” actually tries to match its boisterous introduction, finding Winner working diligently to put his characters in the line of fire.

Introductions are distinct, greeting Jerry in his garden, where the retired spy spends his days trying to keep out of trouble. Catlett is observed robbing the safety deposit safe at a bank, identifying the man as an enforcer who works beyond lawful interests, loyal only to old friends and big paydays. Of course, explanation plays a key role in “Firepower,” finding Gerald Wilson’s script overflowing with Faces and Places writing, attempting to summon a worldly understanding of Stegner that involves global awareness and magazine covers, which add to his mystique as a faceless commander of monetary forces. While the core idea of “Firepower” is easy to follow (Jerry is out to capture Stegner and return him to America for prosecution), the film is tarted up with superfluous conversations about fringe characters before their identities are established, pumping the brakes on pace as Winner tends to middle-aged men making pained faces while conversing about Stegner’s possible location and island influences.

When dealing with straightforward elements of reconnaissance and pursuit, “Firepower” comes alive, detailing schemes that permit Jerry and Catlett access to Stegner’s compound, with their attention drawn to his private physician, Dr. Felix (Anthony Franciosa), whose specific prescriptions act as clues to the target’s whereabouts. Spy cameras are utilized, tranquilizer darts are deployed (Jerry isn’t entirely a stone-cold killer), and Jerry makes use of a twin to keep Stegner’s henchmen off his scent. And when subtlety fails, Winner amplifies the action, pumping the picture full of explosions and chases. Even Jerry’s method of torture is unique, dipping one goon, covered in blood, into the ocean, trying to extract a confession by luring local sharks. And for those who enjoy prime period trimmings, light racism is scattered around the effort, with Catlett pointing out “honkies” to capture, while Stegner’s men refer to Simpson’s character as “the black.” Music by Gato Barberi also indulges trends of the 1970s, with a wacka-chicka-wacka guitar sound, and some blazing sax to accompany romantic interplay between Jerry and Adele (whose bat-signal for sexy time is the slow removal of her clip-on earrings).

As for Loren, she’s doesn’t have much to do here, kept away from mowing down enemies with weapons or participating in the planning of Stegner’s capture. However, she brings class to the production, gamely playing up Adele’s seductive qualities and her burgeoning feelings for Jerry. At the very least, she’s adds to the dramatic value of “Firepower,” covering for Simpson’s flatness, while keeping Coburn alert.

Firepower Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Looking as fresh as the day it was released, "Firepower" arrives with an encouraging AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation. The viewing experience is sharp and welcoming, exploring a vast array of fine detail, isolating textures on fabrics and faces, while tropical locations are surveyed in full. Even subtle additions of sweat are clearly displayed, adding to tension. Colors show no fade, capturing Loren's golden presence and the various hues of island life, offering blue skies and bold costuming. Skintones are natural. Blacks are mostly secure, losing just a touch of detail during evening sequences, but these are minor moments, finding delineation largely secure. Light debris and faint scratches are present but brief, with the source material in terrific shape, bringing out the original filmic highlights of the picture in full.

Firepower Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Dealing with inherent limitations, the 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix isn't quite as pristine as the visual component. Dialogue exchanges are aggressively dubbed, while natural sound recording tends to echo harshly, losing the potency of performances on occasion. The track does what it can to keep itself on target, but consistency isn't there. Scoring is loud, trying to keep up with tonal changes, and while precise instrumentation is absent, force is felt and mood is established. Hiss is managed quite well. Sound effects, from bombs to gunfire, are identifiable, adding some heaviness to the mix.

Firepower Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:16, SD) is included.

Firepower Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Firepower" offers multiple endings and an island location jump to Curacao that brings in diminutive actor Billy Barty for a brief cameo, also introducing a casino setting so tuxes can be worn and downblouse shots can be achieved with Loren. Winner saves the big guns for the finale, cooking up some frightening stunt work involving horses and helicopters, making sure to leave the audience sufficiently exhausted. While obviously limited in budget, "Firepower" creates an endearing ruckus, playing happily in Bond's shadow as it works out its own franchise dreams with Jerry Fanon, who makes a convincing screen hero in a movie that's eager to launch his special ways with blunt force, sex appeal, and stealth.