'Genova A Mano Armata' probably isn't the go-to title for seasoned Euro-crime junkies, and may not be the most refined example of the heady, idiosyncratic insanity of post-Dirty Harry, post French Connection, post-haste Italian poliziotteschi! Wherein dramatic subtlety is disdained no less aggressively than political correctness! Strident Alpha male theatricality dominates with the more indelible examples of the genre created by versatile mavericks like, Sergio Martino, Lucio Fulci, Stelvio Massi, Fernando Di Leo and, of course, Enzo G. Castellari. The consistently grungy 'Genova A Mano Armata' lacks the overall finesse and professional polish of Euro-crime's Grindhouse grandmasters, the vibrant cast consistently deliver solid performances. Lanfranchi's rumbustious, bloody-knuckled, roundhouse-rocking poliziotteschi sure 'aint pretty, but it righteously smashes all the right B-Movie buttons into a joyous pulp! (fiction)
Ostensibly, this is another exploitative riff on Friedkin's masterpiece. In this especially hectic instance, the drug-dealing machinations of, Caleb, energetically played by, Howard Ross, who is on rare form as the machine-gunning thug enforcer working for his vulpine, heart-palpitatingly beautiful paymaster, Marta Mayer (Maude Adams). Tougher than a Teflon truss ex-cop 'The American' (Tony Lo Bianco),stumbles into this heroin-sticky milieu, not only capable of taking a severe beating, but giving out a few himself on his bloody, fist-flying quest to retrieve the missing ransom money he was initially hired to locate! The American's bloody duplicitous trail of teeth-rattling twists, terminal trysts is leavened with his endless beef with the hypertensive Commisario Lo Gallo (Adolfo Celi) who disdains, Lo Bianco's maverick, and frequently uncouth sleuthing methodology!
There is no denying the fact that 'Genova A Mano Armata' is a derivative work. The chaotic, slam-bang action, while plentiful, has little of the bravura style of a Lenzi or Castellari, and yet, Lo Bianco is a an engagingly fiesty lead, with the enigmatic, Adolfo Celi and sublime Maud Adams being no less entertaining to watch. While frequently formulaic, it's a bellicose B-Movie blast, and the wickedly grimy crime-funk score by maestro, Franco Micalizzi is a tarmac-squealing, greasy Wah-funking delight! Kudos for avoiding the J & B ubiquity as twin-fisted law bringer, Lo Bianco, like some exiled Droog favours milk over blended imported booze! 'Genova A Mano Armata' gets 3 busted knuckles out of five!
