The Mechanic
If you’ve never seen the 1970s thriller The Mechanic, it’s worth the time. While a little slow in spots, the movie is notable for its opening — there is no dialogue for the first quarter hour as Charles Bronson’s hit-man character sets up a remarkably elaborate assassination — and for its detailed characters. This isn’t a mindless action film; it’s a subtle and thoughtful drama about an aging hit man who befriends a younger would-be killer (played by a blonde Jan-Michael Vincent, before a life of substance abuse turned him into a wrecked actor-husk).
Bronson shows Vincent the tools of the trade. The two men engage in a hit that involves taking out several live-in bodyguards. This culminates in a fairly exciting dirt bike sequence. Later, chasing down a target abroad, the two are betrayed by their employers. Some bad things happen to badder people.
Along the way, Bronson discovers that Vincent is planning to murder him… possibly. The whole thing is really very interesting, and the ending took me by surprise (even though it should not have).
One notable sequence early on involves Bronson training. He wields a samurai sword during one brief scene. The sensei at Bronson’s dojo is played by famed instructor Tak Kubota.