MovieChat Forums > The Mechanic (1972) Discussion > The Best Hitman In Cinema

The Best Hitman In Cinema

posted 20 years ago by fight_clubbin
17 replies | jump to latest

Charles Bronson plays the best hitman in cinema history. Arthur Bishop is the coldest, meanest, and most uncaring of all the hitmen in cinema, and of course he is the most professional. Not once in this film does Bronson show any kind of compassion to anyone. Even his biggest weakness (the Jan Michael Vincent character) is not shown as a weakness but more of a sidekick. But he does manage to take his revenge on Vincent in the end. This is the best hitman ever! All hail Bronson! The only performance that can come close to The Mechanic, is Edward Fox in The Day Of The Jackal.

After The Day of the Jackal and The Mechanic, only one character has come close to be cool, emotionless and one mean S.O.B. and that is Val Kilmer in Spartan. I hope they have many more characters like this around from now in Hollywood.

[–] tricksofthetrade 20 years ago

I agree completely with your post. There is an interesting thread in the movie 'Collateral' (55 repsonses so far) which I ask people who the best movie hitmen are....Interesting responses..

[–] sjnw20077 20 years ago

aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!
what are u crazy the best hitman is cinema is jean reno [leon] god if u have not seen tis film do it and watch it u must be crazy

[–] MrBigglesworth999 18 years ago

While not exactly a hitman as such, Micheal Cain's portrayal of Carter in "Get Carter" (the original) is cold and callous eg. after making love to a woman he coolly lets the gangsters push her car into a harbour and lets her drown.

[–] kkevinn6 13 years ago

i agree with Leon

[–] craverguy-1 18 years ago

I disagree. The best I've ever seen was Vincent (Tom Cruise) in Collateral, although I'm looking forward to seeing Pierce Brosnan in The Matador. Another good one was Cleve (James Woods) in Best Seller).

Sue me, but I've never seen anything particularly special about this film.

[–] cs009c6964 18 years ago

Don't laugh by the way but Chuck Norris in THE HITMAN. He was pretty good and he seemed to be enjoying the killings in a sick way. Watch it - you will not be disappointed.

[–] Super_Fu_Manchu 18 years ago

I like Alain Delon in Le Samourai, Lee Van Cleef in The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, the hitmen in DiLeo's Manhunt In Milan, John Woo in The Killer and the various psychos in Thursday.

* IMMA STREET WALKIN CHEETAH WITH A HEART FULLA NAPALM! *

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] hegstad9 18 years ago

I'm a huge Charles Bronson fan. I do agree that Arthur Bishop was a professional. But I do not understand the reason why such a professional would take on the young Steve McKenna as his associate. He seemed somewhat disturbed. Also, Bishop knew that McKenna wished to kill him and could easily have prevented it. He didn't.

We saw earlier in the movie that Bishop were sick. Maybe he wished to die ? I may be totally wrong.

But I just don't understand why such a professional would make so many mistakes. Also, you can't just hire a complete stranger into a powerful mafia family, like Bishop did with McKenna.

Don't get me wrong ... I love Bronson and "The Mechanic" ... but it does unfortunately have it's flaws.

But the silent opening is magnificent.

[–] tdf5g 18 years ago

Mckenna wasn't a stranger to the mafia. He was born into it.

[–] ka_t_ia 18 years ago

Bronson wasn´t the best hitman. He was the hitman. Tom Cruise ? Who would respect him as a killer ? I would laugh. That´s what I did when I watched Collateral.

[–] cs009c6964 18 years ago

I know he was too cocky - his performance was good but i didn't like his frantic running and he was too sane and "let's just get the job done" for me

[–] hegstad9 18 years ago

> Mckenna wasn't a stranger to the mafia. He was born into it.

Yes. That's true. He was the son of Keenan Wynn's "Harry McKenna" character, who had previously been a big shot in the family. But I don't believe that Harry McKenna had ever talked to his son about his business. The mafia do not talk about their business.

Steve McKenna was NOT in. He obviously knew about his father, but if his father hadn't talked to him about it, then certainly no other member of the family would have ! I'm certain that Steve was on the outside.

[–] tdf5g 18 years ago

That's right. Steve wasn't "in" the mafia but he was no stranger to it and knew all about it. For example, when Bishop asks him about the term "mechanic" he knew what it meant.

[–] hegstad9 18 years ago

That's right. Steve wasn't "in" the mafia but he was no stranger to it and knew all about it. For example, when Bishop asks him about the term "mechanic" he knew what it meant.

Correct. You got me there ! I remembered it instantly from the movie. Steve McKenna first mentioned "a dealer at tables" - then a "shooter." "A hitman."

Steve McKenna was very intelligent, and obviously didn't have any moral questions about Bishop's business, or killing. I still don't believe that his father - Harry McKenna - ever talked about his business to his son.

But I believe Steve knew how to obtain the information on his own.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]