By Geno McGahee
I am a huge fan of Charles Bronson. He is one of the best action stars of all time with a record that cannot be questioned. The DEATH WISH franchise, MURPHY’S LAW, 10 TO MIDNIGHT, KINJITE, and so many more established him as the man of the genre. In 1972, a younger Bronson with fantastic hair, starred in THE MECHANIC, and he once again brings his badass approach and screen presence.
Arthur Bishop (Bronson) is a hit man and he does his job in cold and calculated way. He considers himself his own law and he has no emotional connection or baggage concerning his actions. The only thing that got him was a flashback to his dad throwing him into the water as a child and almost letting him drown. Daddy issues. Bronson (Sorry, I’m gonna call him Bronson from this point on) is hired to kill an old family friend, Harry McKenna (Keenan Wynn), and he proceeds with his job. The ending shot of Bronson approaching his dying friend is imposing and dark.
It’s more of the same, but Bronson reconnects with the McKenna family, meeting up with Harry’s son, Steve (Jan-Michael Vincent). Steve has inherited his dad’s money and is making the most of it. He’s throwing parties and having a good time, but his cocky nature and cold side attracts Bronson. When Steve nearly lets a girl kill herself as he sits back and eats a sandwich, Bronson sees a man that he can pass his knowledge onto, and he opts to pass the torch to the new hit man in the making.
Initially, the two hit it off and they become a formidable force. The movie kicks it into high gear with some great chase scenes, especially with Bronson chasing a guy on a motorcycle. The motorcycle guy rides off of a cliff and it looked pretty legit. This is the days before CGI and no stuntman would kill himself for the role. So they did a good job in making the dummy on the bike seem sort of real.
On a trip to Italy, Steve gets the order to kill Bronson and now it is student versus pupil, but they still have to contend with their fair share of goons trying to take them out. Every two or three minutes there was an explosion and goon after goon hitting the ground. Bronson and Steve took no prisoners and used their shotguns to kill off the nameless thugs that were trying to take them out, leaving only the young hit man and the aging hit man to square it at the end.
THE MECHANIC is a very good movie, but it rides the line of drama and action. I really believe that the 1980s was the time for Bronson and he really came into his own later on. There were plenty of good things about this movie but as much as I like Bronson the bad ass, I was sort of disappointed he was a hit man. I would rather have him a good guy. He had heart in this, but I like when he only kills bad people and it’s because he has to. It’s not because there’s a check involved.
I still highly recommend THE MECHANIC. Both Bronson and Jan-Michael Vincent delivered. They worked off each other very well and the contrast in personalities made every scene they were in interesting. This is a great starter Bronson film before you get to his 80’s work.
Rating: 7/10
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