McClain (Jim Brown) is kicked out for spacing out on his ex-wife Ellie (Diahann Carroll). He attends a Rams game at the Los Angeles Coliseum while planning something with Gladys (Julie Harris). He beats up Bert Clinger (Ernest Borgnine). He gets into a race with car salesman Harry Kifka (Jack Klugman). He locks up Marty Gough (Warren Oates) in a vault. He challenges Dave Negli (Donald Sutherland) to shoot. These are all tests and McClain recruits them in a heist at the Coliseum. Gladys suggests Ellie, the only one without a record, to hold the money. After the heist, Ellie is murdered by her sleazy landlord Herb Sutro (James Whitmore) who steals the loot. Police Detective Lt. Walter Brill (Gene Hackman) investigates.
I usually like a good caper movie. This is fine for the most part. The start confused me a bit with McClain not explaining anything. Jim Brown is not the most compelling of actors. His size is interesting. At least, the testing is something different. The gang is filled with great actors. Everything is fine until the landlord gets into the act. He comes out of nowhere. His actions need setting up. It would have been much better if Ellie simply ran off with the money. I never really believed that the crooks would leave the money to Ellie anyways. There is lots of interesting bits but some of it frustrated me.
I usually like a good caper movie. This is fine for the most part. The start confused me a bit with McClain not explaining anything. Jim Brown is not the most compelling of actors. His size is interesting. At least, the testing is something different. The gang is filled with great actors. Everything is fine until the landlord gets into the act. He comes out of nowhere. His actions need setting up. It would have been much better if Ellie simply ran off with the money. I never really believed that the crooks would leave the money to Ellie anyways. There is lots of interesting bits but some of it frustrated me.