Cinema Egzotik: The Night of Charles Bronson
He struggled for years as a B actor and rose to stardom as the taciturn harmonica player in Once Upon a Time in the West. Egzotik presents two films starring Bronson at his archetypal best: as assassin in The Mechanic and as a tough street fighter in Hard Times. Time for some serious fighting, time to settle scores.
Egzotik programmer Martin Koolhoven explains: “The loss hits you when you see Clooney slogging through The American. Wouldn”t Charles Bronson have played that part to perfection? Charles Dennis Buchinsky (as was his real name) excelled at doing nothing and being charismatic about it. Who could have played the harmonica better than he did in Once Upon a Time in the West? This evening we”re presenting Bronson as assassin in The Mechanic, followed by a fairly forgotten film by Egzotik hero Walter Hill.”
The MechanicMichael Winner (United States 1972) 100”Bronson in one of his most characteristic roles as the taciturn hitman. Arthur Bishop is in his fifties, high time to pass on his expertise to the young enthusiast Steve. What follows is an avalanche of explosions, fights, chases and non-gratuitous sex. Bishop: “You always have to be dead sure. Dead sure or dead.”
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Hard Times Walter Hill (United States 1975) 93”The man who lets his fists do the talking and the smooth operator, “the muscle and the mouth”. Take two diametrically opposed characters, leave them no room to escape from each other and roll the camera – it”s the surefire recipe of director Walter Hill (48 Hrs.). James Coburn is Speed, the slippery promotor of street fights, Bronson is Chaney, a bare knuckle fighter. The two team up and face the Great Depression amidst the fighting and the gambling in New Orleans” grubby alleys.
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