Dan Kyle
I agree with a couple of the other reviews: a 'sleeper', and I was also lucky to find an old VHS copy in the sale bin at a video store a while back. Given the fairly high profile of the "Simon & Simon" TV stars, certainly at the time this was made, it is somewhat surprising that it went absolutely below the radar. Compared to big name movies with similar subject matter (like "The Border"), this film does a very good job of treating the issue of illegal border crossings from Mexico with a lot of depth, and I would say that in some ways it is even superior in drawing you into the characters situations - a sense of reality that is often missing from more polished or fast paced movies. I strongly recommend viewing if you like any of the actors, or are interested in this sort of story.
Comeuppance Reviews
Joe Case (Lucarelli) is a man from California who comes to visit a small Arizona border community. As an out-of-towner, he witnesses violence, corruption and murder at the hands of the local cops and sheriff. The main antagonist is Jake Wheeler (McRaney), a belligerent racist who has no problem dealing with the Mexican border-crossers...one way or another. Sheriff Mitchell (Brimley) also has an uneasy relationship with Wheeler, a loose cannon. Joe teams up with Dave Buchanon (Parker), one of the good cops, in an attempt to right the situation and bring Jake to justice. But will it be American JUSTICE? Plenty of movies in the 80's dealt with the subject of the U.S./Mexico border - even on this site alone we have Border Cop (1979), Border Heat (1990) (AKA Deadly Stranger) and now American Justice. THIS particular border movie isn't really an action movie per se, it's more of a downbeat, serious drama with some violence/thriller elements. The movie's attempt at seriousness isn't a bad thing at all, but the storyline is simplistic, and not a lot happens around it. The movie is almost airy, if that makes any sense. The odd, slow pace isn't conducive to anything cohesive that will stick in your mind, and the movie becomes forgettable.Except for a few violent bits, it feels like a TV movie, which isn't surprising, as that's the medium director Gary Grillo spent most of his career in. Add to that the presences of McRaney and Parker, known for the show Simon and Simon. Of course, McRaney is also known as "TV's Major Dad" as well. McRaney is well cast here and acquits himself well, and Wilford Brimley is a bright spot, adding what meat he possibly can to his small role, but there should have been MORE. More plot, more character development, more action, more suspense, more twists, more SOMETHING.While the VHS in the U.S. was released on one of our favorite labels, Lightning, the tagline used, "Justice from the barrel of a gun", is sadly not lived up to. It makes you think a bigger, grander movie is forthcoming. Additionally, the box states the running time at 79 minutes, but it's really 92. Why they did this is unknown. Did they think video store patrons might rent it because it's not a big drain on their time? If so, it may have backfired, as people want to get as much for their money as they can, and they may have thought a meager 79 minutes is not worth the investment of a video rental. These are the things that keep you up at night. Or at least us.While not a BAD movie by any means, American Justice isn't a great one either. File this one under "missed opportunity".for more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com
helfeleather
SPOILER!!!!!! I can't believe it . Rick shoots A.J. dead. I know Jameson Parker is an annoying goody-goody, but that's a bit rough isn't it?
Ah well, with so many long-leggged blokes in blue jeans and cowboy boots, and Gerald McRaney playing a very sexy and very nasty villain, A.J.'s death isn't such a bad thing.
prattrich
This one is a real sleeper. If it hadn't been dissed by one of its stars prior to release, it might have been a hit. The character, Connie, in particular reminded me of someone you might meet in a Tijuana back alley on a dark night. He played his part perfectly.
