"Brotherhood of Justice" was an ABC Sunday Night Movie televised on May 18, 1986. Keanu was just 21 years old, playing the lead role in a 90 minute drama and a pilot for a proposed television series. The plot was based on a true incident in March, 1985, involving high school vigilantes in Fort Worth, Texas, who achieved notoriety as the "Legion of Doom." The Executive Producers were Jon Peters and Peter Gruber, who would later achieve fame from the 1989 "Batman" film. It was written by Jeffrey Bloom (Columbo episodes) and directed by Charles Braverman (Beverly Hills 90210 and others). It co-starred Kiefer Sutherland as the voice of reason (Victor), Lori Loughlin, as the love interest (Christie), and Billy Zane, as the voice of mob rule. It was filmed at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk (the carousel) and Aptos High School in California.

I have a pet-peeve with movies that are morality tales that show authority figures as incompetent, clueless plot devices, and Brotherhood of Justice does just that. The principal, played by Joe Spano (Hillstreet Blues), responds to the inept police chief's concerns about school safety by calling a special assembly for the senior class and challenging them to "take back the school." Later, at a second assembly, he would claim he was misunderstood by the students, and declare "vigilantism is criminal." But his first speech is in the best Rambo and Chuck Norris tradition (both of whom are mentioned later by students), especially when he ends it with "The wolves are at our front door...we can run or we can fight." Sounds like a clarion call to me. The wolves, by the way, were the drug dealers and the vandals. So six guys on the football team (Keanu plays the quarterback- watch out Shane Falco!) take up the challenge, and we the viewers watch them go from moral righteousness to moral ambiguity to moral corruption.

The L.A. Times concluded that Brotherhood of Justice "hardly makes for compelling viewing" and called it "a routine drama." Two Keanu biographers had dissimilar reactions, one claiming that Keanu "delivered an extremely promising performance" (David Bassom), and the other calling Brotherhood of Justice an "undistinguished early project...calling mainly for [Keanu] to register anxiety and confusion" (Sheila Johnson). Keanu's not too fond of the movie either, later stating "I was bad in that." In the first half-hour, I would agree with him. Keanu as Senior Class Representative? Living in a five bedroom house as the son of a prosperous car dealership owner, with a servant? Quarterback, admired by all? I was used to Keanu, the outsider, the misunderstood, the misfit, the aliennated teen. It wasn't a natural fit. But by the middle of the movie, I was hooked. It started when Victor stood up to the gang to protect one of the "marked," who didn't seem to deserve his fate. I was suddenly absorbed in Derick's (Keanu) struggle to hold on to his relationship with Christie, and hold on to his leadership role with his team, as they increasingly turn more violent.

Although the production values seem dated, Brotherhood of Justice themes are still relevant today (it was still being shown on Lifetime television as late as 1994). I know I felt proud of Derick when he finally does the right thing at the end of the movie and faces jail time. It sure beats Keanu's next project, Babes in Toyland (July, 1986). Remember how he spent his jail time in that one?
The balcony is now open.