Machine Gun McCain

Machine Gun McCain
1969-96min-Euroatlantica
d.Giuliano Montaldo














Charlie Adamo (Peter Falk) runs the west coast for the mob, but has been told to stay out of Las Vegas. Charlie wants in anyway and he has a plan that involves specialist Hank McCain (John Cassavetes). Hank has plans of his own and they involve knocking over a casino. Will either man see their plans come to fruition before the bosses from back east take them down?

Giuliano Montaldo made the classic Grand Slam in 1967, but McCain doesn't quite meet those high standards. It mainly suffers from a confusion over who's story this is, Adamo's or McCain's. Check it out for the heist, the score by Ennio Morricone, and great performances by Falk, Cassavetes and Gena Rowland in a small part.

+1 star for Peter Falk channeling his inner Cagney/Bogart/Robinson
+1 star for wild eyed Cassavetes
+1 star for robbing a casino sans crew
-1 star for minimal machine gunning
Bottom line
2 stars