jcohen1

If you are a Bronson fan you will enjoy The Mechanic. Arthur Bishop is seemingly a chess playing Paladin type with thinner mustache, a journeyman plotting and mapping his hits while sipping his wine and living in his estate. Next minute he is in a seedy part of down dressed as Bronson typically dresses and living in a dump.The dump has a pretty good view of his target. The target a guy I could kill in two minutes. Yet the kill is so elaborate you may never drink English breakfast tea again.

We see that Bishop is a mess and is lonely. He relieves his loneliness by visiting a call girl who acts out a sad fantasy. Bronson is vulnerable in this movie like never before.

JMV is great looking and annoying to be the perfect foil. Educated types will tell you this is "the sorcerer's apprentice". I just enjoyed most of the movie and seeing Bronson off his A game. I will see the remake with Jason Statham but I'm not drinking any Italian red.

Any fan of The French Connection and Bullitt would be duty bound to see The Seven Ups. I saw it back in the day and again today. Seven Up only flattens with age. Scheider doesn't have any standout lines and the best I can say is I like his leather jacket. He can't carry a picture like Hackman or McQueen They say his squad is an elite unit but they operate out of a gym locker. This movie is three grades down from The French Connection and Bullitt. Yes the car chase scenes are good but not as impressive as the earlier versions. There are no women in this flick I guess they didn't want to take the #5 uptown. LoBianco is somewhat interesting. This is a movie I wanted to like for all the history it brings and the Bronx locales including Tracy Towers & DeWitt Clinton High School. I graded on a curve for the old neighborhood.

As noted this is Bronson's sole Elmore Leonard title. Too bad, as Bronson is perfectly cast as the toughest farmer since Van Heflin or Alan Ladd. The cap on his head is a nice touch. Majestyk is pitted against an organized crime hit man presumably at the rank of The Mechanic and played by the quirky Al Lettieri. Al had already completed The Godfather and The Getaway. The latter role of Rudy was fine preparation for this one. In the battle of the tough guy killers, Bronson is by far the best. He physically bests Renda in every one on one battle. He also out maneuvers him every time. Renda needs a gang of support to deal with this Viet Nam ranger and ex-con.

This role was the perfect prep for Bronson as he moves from Colorado into Death Wish territory.