Tonight on TV: When Bruce Willis thinks he’s Charles Bronson

In 1974, Michael Wiener brought to the screen the novel “death wish” By Brian Garfield. Titled A vigilante in the city, its adaptation spawned a film franchise that includes five opus directed by comedian Charles Bronson. Blessed in Europe by Sergio Leone and René Clementi, the latter thus found success in the United States for Paul Kearse, a businessman whose dream life is upended when his wife is murdered in a robbery and his daughter is found stranded. Coma.

Since 2006, Sylvester Stallone has mentioned the remake project, which he wanted to play the main role. The actor is particularly keen to play the hero as a respectable cop who faces a moral dilemma on how to take revenge. Still, Sly turned down the project, which resurfaced in 2012 with Joe Carnahan in production, as well as Liam Neeson and Frank Grillo in the cast. But the director abandons ship due to a disagreement with Paramount, who wants to hire Bruce Willis. The actor is then part of a short list that includes Russell Crowe, Matt Damon, Will Smith or even Brad Pitt.

In 2016, Eli Roth, author of the thriller Knock Knock, was finally chosen to direct Death Wish. And indeed, Bruce Willis lends his qualities to Paul Kersey, now an emergency surgeon, in the middle of the hunt. The film thus allows the actor to shine in the register of thrillers and action, a few years before announcing the end of his career due to his aphasia (a language disorder caused by brain damage).

Eli Roth’s Death Wish with Bruce Willis, Vincent D’Onofrio, Elizabeth Shue…

from the age of 12

tonight on TFX at 9:05 p.m.