The Mechanic
1972  PG  ACTION  1h 40min
CAST— Charles Bronson, Jan-Michael Vincent
MUSIC— Jerry Fielding  DIRECTOR— Michael Winner

     Tough guy Charles Bronson stars in this thriller featuring exciting action sequences in amongst bland everything else. Bronson plays a trusted mechanic (otherwise known as a hit man) whose trademark is making the assassinations look like natural deaths or accidents. He's hired to take out a trusted associate (Keenan Wynn) who's up to his neck in illegal activities. Wynn's amoral, twenty-something son (Jan-Michael Vincent) soon starts hanging around Bronson, thought to be a loner but actually just lonely. Soon Vincent begins asking about Bronson's profession, prompting Bronson to begin including him in his life, training him in the ways of weapons and espionage. But the know-it-all kid needs to learn patience and respect. Bronson eventually has Vincent accompany him on jobs; the problem is that he does so without the permission of his mysterious employers. When assigned an overseas contract Bronson and Vincent must be sharper than ever, because something is definitely up this time. Starts off great, ends with a bang, with the middle a tedious story of basically two dudes hanging out. The relationship between the two leads wants to have a sort of father/son dynamic, with Bronson mentoring the smarmy Vincent, but there seem to be some vibes of a different nature coming from Vincent. Whatever was intended the film wants to work but fails to be either interesting or entertaining unless Bronson is on the job, kicking bottom and taking names. AKA Killer of Killers.
OUR RATING— **
REMADE AS— The Mechanic (2011)