The movie is based on the book, Act of Vengeance by Trevor Armbrister, a fact-based story about the corruption that occurred during the United Mine Workers' presidential elections in 1969.[2] The film also portrayed the murder of Joseph "Jock" Yablonski.[3]
Keanu Reeves as Buddy Martin (credited as Keannu Reeves)
Casting Charles Bronson
For the HBO television film, Bronson acted against type and said "it's a complete departure for me, I'm not wearing a moustache, and I'm not carrying a gun. I don't perform any violence in this film."[4] He also explained since he didn't act for television in a long time, he had to think a lot about it before accepting which he did partly because of his background in mining.[5] For his commitment on this project, Bronson dropped out of a lead role in The Delta Force (1986).[6]
Greg Burliuk of the Kingston Whig-Standard said it is "a crackling good thriller". Furthermore he praised the actors and the direction.[11]
Robert DiMatteo of The Advocate-Messenger praised Bronson acting against type. He felt that Mackenzie's direction was especially good when handling the antagonists by saying "he brings out a disturbing comic cretenism in his villains".[12]
Michael Walch of The Province felt that the movie didn't have a good balance between the Yablonski and Paul Gilly's story and was out of focus. He thought Bronson was miscast, and characters that surround Paul Gilly reduced the quality of the performance of actor Robert Schenkkan.[13]
Joel Pisetzner of The Record said "it is not a bad movie, merely an incredible underachiever." He felt that Mackenzie made Yablonski too much of a Saint instead of a man hence his story is less interesting than the one of his killer Paul Gilly. While praising the acting, especially of Barkin and Brimley, he also felt many elements of the story were unexplored.[14]
