Rating: ***
Alternate Title: No Way Out
Review Date: 6/18/18
Cast: Alain Delon, Richard Conte, Carla Gravina, Anton Diffring
Tony Arzenta (Alain Delon) is an assassin working for a Sicilian crime syndicate. He wants to retire for the sake of his young son, but the crime bosses won't let that happen. When Tony's family is killed in an explosion meant for him, revenge is right around the corner.
It's a raw and gritty film with a shocking, but appropriately downbeat ending. The violent gun action is extremely effective, and the out of control car chases are very exciting to watch. The story and set-up are so predictable and cliché that it's laughable, but I wonder how fresh it was back in the 70's? Alain Delon gives a solid performance as a lone wolf assassin with a strong moral code, and Carla Gravina makes a beautiful accomplice. The cinematography and camera work are impressive, although the film could have definitely benefited from some Steadicam work (which hadn't been invented yet). Although it's just a straight forward revenge flick, I enjoyed it quite a bit and it makes me want to seek out other Italian crime dramas.