Tubi Thursday: The Mechanic (1972)

 After doing so many Remakes, I thought it might be fun to flip the script a bit and do an original Film that GOT a Remake.

More Bronson Films too- bonus!

In a very '70s opening, a Hitman- Bronson- watches a man, takes notes, sets up an event and then executes it.

It being the man.
He blows up a guy and we get no dialog until after this happens, a full 16 minutes into the Film.

He is hired by Keenan Wynn to help him with some business, since he worked with Bronson's Dad.

He meets up with a woman- his Wife Jill Ireland- who he apparently hires to act like a sad, left-behind girlfriend...but she's actually a Prostitute.

Does this count as roleplaying for the pair IRL?

Shock twist- Bronson actually is hired to kill Wynn and does so.

He attends the funeral and forms a weird bond with the guy's adult son- Jan-Michael Vincent.

He finds that the guy is callous and, naturally, makes him his protege.

The work a hit and things don't go well.

I mean, they go well for the audience, as WE get to see a big fight, a motorcycle chase and an explosion.

Bronson's boss tells him that he broke the rules bringing in Vincent and sends him to Italy on a mission.

Before he leaves, Bronson sees that he is now a target!

They go on the mission anyways and try to kill a guy on a boat.

Things don't go well.  

To find out how badly, stream the Film now.  You've got 10 days.

A good Film- no question.  Just know that, again, this is a VERY '70s Film.

If you don't know what that means, you'll find out.
If you do know, you'll be sure whether or not to watch this.

Bronson does a really good job here, with a Script that doesn't need him to emote all that much.  That's good, since, you know, Bronson.  Joking aside, you get a sense of pathos, loss and possible redemption from the guy.

Vincent is also good here, especially when the Film asks him to do the kind of subtle emotions and expressions that Bronson can't.  I can see why someone remade this (not arguing that they should have, mind you).

You get some weird filler here meant to characterize Bronson- including a bit where he watches two guys fight- but it otherwise works well.

Let's have a compare-contrast, shall we?

A good Film that is definitely of its time.  That said, lots of the Film is timeless and great.