Donato and Daughter (1993)

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Donato and Daughter (1993) ** 1/2 (out of 4)Sgt. Mike Donato (Charles Bronson) and Lt. Dena Donato (Dana Delany), father and daughter, must put their differences to the side and deal with a serial killer stalking L.A. and mutilating and raping nuns.This film was released shortly before the fifth DEATH WISH movie and a series of A FAMILY OF COPS so it's easy to see why it escaped so many Bronson fans. The film was made-for-TV but released straight to video in most locations but since it has yet to receive a DVD or Blu-ray release very few have actually seen it. The film itself certainly isn't a masterpiece or even a good movie but it's at least entertaining if you're a fan of the actor.The film mixes elements of 10 TO MIDNIGHT as well as BAD LIETINENT but obviously the end results aren't anywhere near those two films. I think what works best is the relationship between Bronson and Delany. There's no question that the screenplay is rather routine and doesn't try to do anything too difficult but the actors manage to turn in fine performances and they work off one another extremely well. Xander Berkeley is also effective as the serial killer and there's no question that the film picks up once the back-and-forth between him and the Donato's come into play.The biggest problem with the film is the fact that it simply doesn't try to do anything more than be a cable movie. The film is a bit more violent and contains a darker subject matter than you'd expect to see but there's really no style to be found and the story itself is full of clichés including the big secret that Bronson is hiding, which has caused his character to be distant from his daughter. DONATO AND DAUGHTER will appeal to Bronson fans but it certainly can't compare to his best work.

****SPOILERS**** In one of his last movies the 72 year old and puffy faced Charles Bronson plays tough L.A detective Sgt.Mike Donato who's assigned with his daughter, also a member of the LAPD, Dena- Dana Dena what's the difference- played by Dana Deleny to track down a serial killer, dubbed the "Fingers Man",who's been murdering catholic nuns and cutting off their ring fingers as a souvenir.There's also a side plot here about Sgt. Donato's son Tommy, also a member of the LAPD, who was killed under very bizarre circumstances that he's been keeping from Dena that has her feel that he may have been responsible for his death! As it soon turns out, no big surprise here, that the "Fingers Killer" has been involved in a string of murders of women, mostly catholic nuns, in three different states for over some 15 years that he skillfully covered up from the local police. It's here in L.A that he gets a bit careless in his obsession with Let.Dena Donato whom he, in how pretty she is besides being catholic, developed the hots for.****SPOILERS*** Even though age slowed him down and he shows early signs of Alzheimer's Disease, which in fact killed him ten years later, Bronson dose a fairly good job as the tough and no holds bar L.A detective Mike Donato. It's just in the close ups and in his speech pattern, that at times seems slurred, that Bronson shows his age. With his daughter ending up getting kidnapped by the killer Sgt. Donato has no choice but to give into her kidnappers demand. Only to have the helicopter that's supposed to take him out of the country with Dena as his hostage going up instead of down, that startled him, to take or fly him out of harms way. Thus finally giving the frustrated Sgt. Donato a window of opportunity to blast him!

Bronson copped it by the critics during the 80s for his work with cannon, but his fans stuck with him and while I wouldn't call them masterpieces they were still entertaining. Then into the nineties he was mainly involved in TV productions, but again these were a lot better than I expected. And I mean a lot. For a standard made-for-TV presentation; "Relative Danger" was an engrossingly glum crime drama, even with the routine scenarios and blaring stereotypes. This can be attributed to Charles Bronson's steadfast performance, along with his convincing chemistry alongside a hearty Dana Delany (playing his on- screen daughter). In Los Angeles nuns are being brutally raped and murdered. This sees the pairing up of father and daughter, Mike and Dina Donato. Meaning they must work pass their past differences and frosty relationship, as they plan to tempt the killer out of hiding and into an elaborate trap they've set. However this killer goes about trying to twist it back onto the detectives, while getting somewhat personal.Adapted off the novel of Jack Early, the script is heavy on family drama (giving it much needed weight) while at the same time balancing the disquieting serial killer framework with the investigative groundwork. What makes it work is because everything is kept grounded and the toying cat-and-mouse element between the Donatos and the serial killer (a perfectly neurotic Xander Berkeley) thrillingly punches away. You do get to see Bronson hand out some psychical punishment… vintage Bronson too. Rod Holcomb is competent in his direction letting the action and drama smoothly unfold with some sweeping camera-work capping it off. There's quite solid cast in support; Jenette Goldstein, Marc Alaimo, Tom Verica, Robert Gossett, Michael Cavanaugh and Bonnie Bartlett."Where was her god when this happened?!"

CONTAINS SPOILERS!!! Does Bronson pack a punch in this. Throwing that guy down the stairs, i don't know how any one can say he can't act. Morons who say that don't know he was once the post important action and film star in the world at the same time as Clint. Highest paid star, and even in the 80's he's film was still making money, books and magazines i see from the 80's still have his name on them. Well anyway Bronson really shows he can act in this one, at the end is cool. He comes slamming down the door with that great action tone he as, Pointing the gun at the mad man who as he's daughter. "Hey, take it easy no, don't do anything stupid". It's just great, this should have been a proper film, but who cares it still work for me. Well the story line is about a cop (Mike Donato, Bronson, the father) and daughter (Dana Delana) not getting along since he's son died. Because he doesn't want her to end up dead. Put she don't care what he thinks. So when they have to team together to stop a nun murderer, yeah i know nuns. This is especially why i like it when Bronson nails him, Taking things out on nuns. Saw anyway Bronson and his daughter look for clues get into some action, and go to a mans apartment room where he decides to run,(Idiot). He kills one of the cop woman, and Bronson cathes him and shucks him all the way down the steps. After this they go to the right aprtment getting closer to the Murderer, they even meet him as a suspect but not sure if it's him, but the murderer takes a liking to Bronson's daughter. Then after this she starts getting horrible calls from the murderer and Bronson's getting worried for her safety,(This is where u'd think he'll take to law into his own hands. Wrong). He goes by the books, things are happening, He's daughter want to know what really happened to her brother and towards the end he finely tells her the punk he pulled in after he's death is becuse this punk was selling his son drugs, whicj killed him. And Bronson didn't just want him in jail. so he rearanged he's face. After all this they get close together and then back together as a team on the case honding the man they suspect as the killer. The killer goes home fnding he's wife looking at his gear he used to kill the nuns with. So he killers her. Bronson's daughter comes round trying to pretend they have catched the killer, so he the idiot tries to come on the her while he just stabbed his wife, then she hears his wife scream, pulls out a gun. But he put a knife to her throat. This is where Bronson come in slamming the door down. Things go up stairs on top of the roof, Bronson goes to he's wife and calls for back up,(This woman that's laying the floor at the end is Bronson real life wife.) but always say "Here's what i want you to do". He goes on top the roof with he's gun facing the floor. Then as he gets up he's sees he's daughter with a knife to her throat. Face to face they are looking at each other as he's daughter and the murderer are close to the edge Bronson as that look on he's face. Then suddenly an helicopter comes up, she's wacks him in the stomach and he's knifes her arm and bronson just shoots him, "With a BANG BANG look on he's face". He's runs to he's daughter and always well ends well. As they walk the credits just come roaling on. This was an absulutely great film for me as i am an absolute Bronson fan.10/10