Rather than be prosecuted as adults, five juvenile delinquents take part in an experimental program led by a Vietnam veteran, but their former lives and shady ways keep holding them back.
Band of the Hand encompasses the best and worst of 80s like a time capsule, which is not a bad thing. Directed by one half of Starsky and Hutch, Paul Michael Glaser’s crime neo noir film (executively produced by Michael Mann) gives off a Miami Vice vibe with a smudging of Scarface, Lord of the Flies mixed with The Warriors.
Hindsight questionable casting aside, accompanied by a great soundtrack, oozing screen presence actor Stephen Lang leads the band of five, young John Cameron Mitchell, Leon Robinson, Michael Carmine, Al Shannon and memorable Danny Quinn. Lauren Holly is notable. Laurence Fishburne and James Remar play the antagonists. Also cameos Martin Ferrero.
As with the aforementioned TV show and films it is at times a violent fanciful fantasy affair but it’s a journey about growth with a strong story arc. A few deaths offer some clout, the on location feel and set pieces are energetically handled by Glaser who keeps the on occasion caricature shenanigans palatable.
Among the Art Deco, fashion and music, the unsavoury themes, drug use, gangs, prostitution killings and shootouts writers Leo Garen and Jack Baran actually inject a meaningful social commentary. It’s about putting aside bigotry, doing the right thing, working as together as a team and the like. The training in the Everglades as Lang’s Joe put the reluctant gang through their paces pays off in the pacy satisfying last act.
Overall, Band of the Hand while not a perfect film isn’t the poor vigilante movie it’s been labelled as; and possibly should receive more positive recognition as its some of it’s themes are still as relevant as ever. And even if you don’t buy that — it’s worth watching for Lang’s steely intense performance alone.
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