Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		2.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

Machine Gun McCain Blu-ray Movie Review

An under-the radar picture from decades past finally arrives on Blu-ray.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman August 27, 2010

I want a machine gun.

Sort of like the Mob movie answer to the Spaghetti Western, Giuliano Montaldo's Machine Gun McCain was filmed in English with a mix-and-match cast of Italian and American Actors, crafted primarily by an Italian crew, but shot in and around some of the United States' most recognizable locales, namely San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New York. No matter the people, places, or things behind the movie, though, Machine Gun McCain dazzles with a smart and seamless story and exceptional acting; its patchwork roots are never once at all evident, and the film looks and flows better than many others of its kind. Originally titled Gli intoccabili in its overseas markets, Machine Gun McCain is a grossly underestimated and underexposed picture Stateside, but that's all about to change with the film's long-awaited high definition debut, courtesy of cult favorite studio Blue Underground.

Better I reach for my coffee rather than my machine gun. Trust me.

West Coast mob figurehead Charlie Adamo (Peter Falk, "Columbo") wants to expand his sphere of influence beyond what the bosses back East have given him. He sets his sights on the new, luxurious, and profitable Royal Hotel in Las Vegas, and he solicits hotel manager Abe Stilberman (Steffen Zacharias) with a proposition: cut him in or else. Little does Charlie know that the hotel is actually owned by his bosses back East. They're not too thrilled with their West Coast lieutenant, but Charlie's not about to give up so easily. $25,000 is all it takes to win the parole of criminal Hank McCain (John Cassavetes) from a life sentence at San Quentin, and Hank's own son, Jack (Pierluigi Aprà), seems to be behind the release, though secretly with the help and blessing of Charlie Adamo. Jack talks his father into a job that's to net them $2,000,000 from the Royal's vault, but all doesn't go according to plan. Hank discovers who's really behind his release and the shifty plan to pull off the heist, and even when circumstances demand that the robbery be called off, Hank and his new accomplice Irene Tucker (Britt Ekland) continue on with the plan, even if it means everyone with a mob connection from Los Angeles to New York will be on their tail.

Though titled Machine Gun McCain, the film doesn't actually deal with too much gunplay. In fact, Machine Gun McCain is more of a story-driven and drama-oriented picture that allows brief spurts of action -- and even a few sprays of machine gun fire -- to flow from the story rather than the picture simply following the A-to-B-to-C the exploits of a machine-gun toting criminal as he mows down anyone who dares stand in his path. No, Machine Gun McCain is far smarter than that; it's a twisted and complex tale of family, love, betrayal, greed, revenge, loyalties, and kinship all put to the test through the dark under-workings of the mob and the leverage for power, wealth, and prestige that seems constantly pushed to the forefront by the lowest of the unscrupulous bunch that runs the country's most powerful criminal organization. Machine Gun McCain follows its title character as he finds himself entangled in a web of lies, double-crosses, and questioned loyalties; he takes matters into his own hands when things don't work as planned, pulling off the job of a lifetime and setting in motion a series of tragic and fatal events leading to an unthinkably bleak conclusion.

Machine Gun McCain makes up for its lack of action with a surprisingly complex and engaging plot and, more importantly, plenty of emotional depth. Hank McCain is one of the better-realized characters in Mob movie history; he's not a good man, but the script paints him as an anti-hero type who finds favor with the audience even when he's engaged in unspeakable acts of violence, plotting against others, sacrificing lives for his own well-being, or doing any number of things that would normally place a character firmly on the "bad guy" side of the ledger. Machine Gun McCain is a film without heroes and, in a way, without villains. No doubt most of its characters are flawed with criminal backgrounds and nary a hint of morality to their names, but Giuliano Montaldo frames the picture in such a way that he makes his characters real people with genuine concerns and wants, even if those concerns and wants lead to violence and devastation both physical and emotional. Montaldo also paints Hank McCain as something of a sympathetic character even through his checkered past and violent actions; audiences will build a connection with the character and experience both his highs and lows through the energy of the picture and its taught, well-assembled structure.

Machine Gun McCain always seems bigger than it really is; the film looks marvelous, no doubt helped along by its array of exotic locales that always seem like a character in and of themselves and, indeed, often shape the film's direction and purpose. Whether the scenic San Francisco vistas or the bright lights of Las Vegas, Machine Gun McCain never lacks a proper backdrop, and the locations only accentuate the mood, drama, and action found throughout the film. Giuliano Montaldo's picture is also littered with stars who turn in exceptionally good performances. Headlining the list is John Cassavetes' portrayal of the picture's title character. He plays the part with a confidence befitting a man of his character's stature, slyly moving about with a self-assuredness that he's in complete control of every room he enters and everyone with whom he comes into contact. Cassavetes is a natural in the role, completely disappearing into the clothes, mannerisms, actions, and dialect of the character; his is a performance worthy of the quality of the character the story creates. This is easily one of the better efforts of both his career and within the scope of the vast history of Mob pictures. Pierluigi Aprà is also excellent as McCain's son Jack, though the legendary Peter Falk hovers over the picture and bests everyone but Cassavetes as the film's antagonist and the man responsible for the mess that plays out through the film. Falk's turn as the greedy and unlucky Charlie Adamo ignites the screen; though smaller in stature, Falk's character towers over the picture and absorbs every scene he's in. Machine Gun McCain also benefits from the presence of several lovely ladies, including Gena Rowlands and former Bond girl Britt Ekland.

Machine Gun McCain Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Blue Underground's 1080p Blu-ray transfer for Machine Gun McCain exceeds all expectations. Though several shots appear slightly softened and the transfer exhibits a few speckles and static spots alongside a couple of blink-and-miss-them bouts with background blocking, the image fares very well, and consistently so, throughout the picture. Detail is generally strong across the board, whether human faces, worn leather chairs, or the intricate stitching on suits and the texture of era-specific hats. Likewise, the image sports a fair amount of depth and it remains sharp and almost always focused and clean throughout. Colors are strong with every shade seemingly rendered with an accuracy befitting the era in which the film was made. Blacks are stable -- never too heavy and never too bright -- and flesh tones never waver too far from a natural shade. Blue Underground's transfer also retains a layer of film grain that places the finishing touches on one of the studio's best and certainly most consistent transfers to date.

Machine Gun McCain Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Machine Gun McCain shoots up Blu-ray but misses the target with a decent but underwhelming DTS-HD MA 1.0 mono soundtrack. Even considering the lack of action, this is one track that could benefit from a wider soundstage. As it is, Blue Underground has provided what is probably the best presentation available without some sort of phony remix, and the results are good enough, all things considered. This is a no-frills listen that's dialogue-heavy, and while the spoken word generally plays as clean and precise, the track doe stumble in its efforts to cleanly and naturally reproduce some of the louder and harsher screams and shouts heard during the film. Music, too, is generally smooth, though things get somewhat harsh over the opening title sequence and around the high end of the audible spectrum. Many effects sound crunchy and cramped; the movie begs for a wider and more spacious presentation during the casino interior scenes. As it is, the various casino effects sound crunchy and flat, hardly the inviting and invigorating elements such scenes usually demand and command. The picture's few spurts of machine gun fire lack punch and vitality, too. All said, listeners won't be turning to Machine Gun McCain for audio demonstration purposes, but most should be satisfied with Blue Underground's presentation that stays faithful to the track's original elements.

Machine Gun McCain Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Special features for Machine Gun McCain include an enlightening Italian-language and English-subtitled interview with Director Giuliano Montaldo (480p, 22:36) and the film's English (1080p, 3:15) and Italian (1080p, 4:15) trailers.

Machine Gun McCain Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Machine Gun McCain is an entertaining and overlooked Mob movie that's finally seeing the light of day on Blu-ray. Backed by a strong story -- even if it does come up well short on action -- excellent characters, great acting, and gorgeous backdrops, Giuliano Montaldo's picture works in just about every area. Audiences in search of something old yet figuratively new that's as smart as it is handsome and as engaging as it is entertaining should check out Machine Gun McCain. Blue Underground has once again done justice to an old favorite, delivering Machine Gun McCain to Blu-ray with a healthy 1080p transfer, a suitable mono lossless soundtrack, and a few extras. The disc could use some more supplements, but the quality of the movie and the strength of its video transfer nevertheless earn this release a hearty recommendation.