I can only imagine how perplexed fans of Charles Bronson were, after seeing at their video store the title of this movie and the box cover art, and discovering when bringing the movie home that the movie is far from an action movie. It's instead a serious drama based on a true story, with Bronson playing a determined (and non violent) man struggling to bring change. And Bronson does pretty well in this serious role - you can believe that this person really cares and is passionate about his quest to bring change. His performance compensates for the fact that the role isn't quite fully written - the character of Jack Yablonski isn't given quite enough time to explain his feelings or motivations. But the movie is well crafted in other areas. The period detail is fine, Wilford Brimley makes for a slimy (but believable) Tony Boyle, and there isn't a boring or tedious moment anywhere in the movie. Though I suspect a book telling of this true life incident would be a lot more informative, the movie is acceptable for those who have a mild interest in the United Mine Workers' Union going-ons in the 1960s.

In 1969, Joseph 'Jock' Yablonski (Charles Bronson) is finally tipped over the edge when a coal mine disaster is brushed over by the corrupt United Coal Miners Union he firmly believed in. Deciding to run against head man Tony Boyle (Wilford Brimley) for president of the Union, Yablonski soon becomes the target of a sinister murder plot.It's a TV movie so it hardly has the production value to really do this "based on a true story" movie complete justice. However, with Bronson and Brimley giving very committed performances, and who in turn are backed up by the excellent Ellen Burstyn as Yablonski's loyal wife, there's humanistic qualities here that make this more than a time filler.The murky political intrigue ticks away nicely, the characterisations of the assassins is afforded relative time, and the culmination of the picture strikes both the heart and the head. Yes it is hardly high end film making, and those turned off by dialogue heavy political posturing should probably stay away, but this is a story well worth knowing.It got me to read up on the Boyle/Yablonski case, such was the interest born out by this HBO production. Proof positive that TV movies once had something viable to offer the mature film watching public. 7/10

This is based on real events and follows the story of the union for coal miners and the politics, greed, and dishonesty involved. When a mine explodes in West Virginia and many miners are killed the president of the union goes down and makes a speech about how it wasn't the unions fault. One of his men gets fed up with his lack of humanity for the miners and he runs against him for president so he can once again give the union back to the workers. The president of course is crooked and hires a young man to kill him. The young man hires a couple of thugs and goes out to complete his mission, and the politics of the game all come back and catch up with these crooks in the end.I really love Charles Bronson and had never seen this movie before. It is a different style of acting for Bronson and there is no gun in his hand. He is actually a sweet innocent man in this film. This movie had a great story based on real events. It is hard to pull such a movie off and most times they are never perfect to watch. You cant really add juicy events that didn't happen and you can never tell the whole story and do it justice. This story and the truths behind these events are great and this movie couldn't pack in all the details into a feature film. They did a great job none the less.I must say I loved the cast which featured heavyweights Bronson, Wilford Brimley (playing a bad guy - the crooked union president), Ellen Burnstyn as Bronsons wife and Hoyt Anxton and Ellen Barkin playing smaller roles and also a very young Keanu Reeves in one of his earliest roles, perhaps his first I am not sure.I hated the song the movie started out with, that was one of the worst things, and I admit it was hard to accept the ending, even though it was based on real events, it still wasn't the ending I wanted. It was one of those movies that spends the last five minutes making you read what happened to everyone, and you kind of wanted to see some of it happen.I liked the film quite a bit, its a good little drama...I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

In 1985, in the city of Toronto Canada, I was a movie extra in "Act of Vengeance". Although the weather was very hot,Charles Bronson and Wilfred Brimley did an outstanding acting job in this HBO film. I watched as both Wilfred and Charles concentrated on their lines while the director made ready the scenes they were to act in. There were very little retakes as the words flowed out of their mouths with no mistakes. Both were very professional actors. I was honoured, while on the set by Mr. Bronson for doing a good job as an extra. He picked up a poster used as a backdrop in one of the scenes and signed his name to it and handed it to me. It was a black and white picture of Charles with the words "For Democracy...Vote Yablonski". I still treasure it in my home. I viewed the film after it came out and found it sad that such an act could have been committed in the USA. The story told here happened in real life, so I was told while on the set of this film. I found that all who were in this film did an outstanding job making it come to life on the big screen, showing the evil lurking and hidden behind politics of those who hold high positions and just how hard the little man must fight for recognition and what he or she needs to be safe in the common work place. Since my first viewing I have watched it many times and will watch it many more. It's a superb film in my eyes, and yes, I have seen myself in the film and am proud to be part of it. I might also add, that part of this film was also filmed in a small town called Waterdown Ontario, Located between Hamilton, and Toronto. It was while in Waterdown filming, that Charles signed my backdrop picture.