Family of Cops III: Under Suspicion

This may be the best of the 3 Family of Cops movies. The story is very good, and Charles Bronson shows a sense of humor. I wish that Angela Featherstone would have returned as his daughter, but that is a minor complaint. I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes a solid mystery.

The Apollo Movie Guide was right. Since I hadn't seen the first two, I was lost during this one, but Blockbuster still has that "30-Rental's, $30" special running and I saw a title I'd never heard of, saw it starred one of my favorite actors (Bronson), so I picked it up.

Within the first few minutes I realized that this was not the Charles Bronson I knew. I really hope not to insult an icon I highly respect, but all I could think of was how the same thing had happened to Rutger Hauer (in "Tactical Assault"). Where had the lean, athletic, handsome, complex, and versatile man gone? Marlon Brando also came to mind for the same reasons. I know people do get older, but Charles seemed to be struggling to get out each and every line and his movements seemed slow and cautious, like he was afraid he'd fall and break. There wasn't even the slightest bit of the fire that has burned in him in every movie he's done since 1951. It hurt me to see him this way. In the same age group is Clint Eastwood. Now, he is visibly aged, but the edge is still there as evidenced in "Space Cowboys".

What has happened, Charlie? Will this be your last movie? Can you ever be Paul Kersey again? I sincerely hope so.

Watching this last Family Of Cops film I have to wonder whether the Feins are the models for the Reagans of Blue Bloods. Certainly they are the Milwaukee Jewish version of the Irish Catholic Reagans. One also wonders if Charles Bronson would have done a future film where he became Chief of the Milwaukee PD. if bad health hadn't made this his farewell film.

Mayor Art Hindle brought that possibility up with Bronson as Bronson's eldest son Detective Joe Penny is investigating the shooting deaths of a prominent banker and Milwaukee mover and shaker and his wife in the bedroom of their home. Suspicion falls on the son, but then he's killed.

Years earlier Bronson was doing an investigation of the victim's bank for money laundering and was told to stop by the now outgoing Chief of the Milwaukee PD. When Bronson questions the chief they are attacked and the chief dies. Someone is most certainly tying up loose ends. But for the moment the whole Fein family is under a cloud.

No doubt Bronson was showing age and infirmity. Still the patriarchal role fits him well. Family Of Cops: Under Suspicion is not the greatest film to go out on, but hardly a disgrace.

And who knows if it weren't for the Feins we might not be enjoying Tom Selleck and his clan the Reagans.

Charles Bronson returned once more in the role op Fein in this last episode of Family of Cops. And although it certainly wasn't the best in the series, it meant an improvement on the second installment. And when you watch this, you'll notice something : Bronson is the lead-character and has got so much screen-presence that you will accept that, even when he plays a police-officer, whilst being a 78-years-old actor ! When you watch carefully though you'll notice all other actors are really covering for him, a good sign in a police-flick of course. Bronson hasn't got a lot of script to go through, there's a remarkable absence of action for a cop (he's standing in the kitchen, sitting at a desk, in a car, lying on the couch) in a movie of this kind. But it doesn't matter. The story is good, Joe Penny is excellent. And Charlie constantly gives us this sad smile. He must have known there wouldn't be any more filming after this one.

Right why is people saying "Bronson can't move like he used to, Clint can and he's the same age". Well first of all he's 78 when doing this, and Clint Eastwood whom i'm a big fan of also is 69 or 70 at the time this was made. I'm saying this because someone said he can't move like Clint and they are in the same age group. Well 9 years is a big difference when you get in your 70's. I mean look at Bronson in Kinjite, Death Wish 5. He's knocking on and he still moves great and fast for he's age, the same as Clint. So i hope i've made my point on that one. As for this film, it's is great to see Bronson ending a great career with some good acting. I mean come on he's acting great there, what wrong with it. Nothing... But this is only a film for the Bronson fans to watch, But they might be some millions of people who will like too. And it's also horrible knowing it's he's last film. But still he's made a lot of films to watch the keep us happy. I hoped that he'd apear in a film with Arnold and Sly but looks like theres no chance now. But any way enough of everyone slagging it off, it's a great detective film.

CHARLIE YOU'VE HAD A GREAT CAREER AND YOU'VE MADE MILLIONS AT THE BOX OFFICE.

8/10