Billion Dollar Brain

While Mike Myers is credited as saying he partially based his character Austin Powers of that of Michael Caine's in ALFIE one can't help but think he was far more influenced by that of Harry Palmer in the Len Deighton trilogy. This is the last of that series, at least for the Sixties as there would be two more a couple of decades later and it at times feels like an Austin Powers film, so much so that when Caine shows up in AUSTIN POWERS IN GOLDMEMBER you think he's just walked straight from the set of this film. It's a yarn for sure but it also happens to be one of the few Ken Russell pictures where he isn't attacking the church or doing screwy things to screaming naked women. Caine of course carries it though we do get a splendid over the top showing from Ed Begley Sr. and some menacing action fro Karl Malden. While BILLION DOLLAR BRAIN certainly shows it's age the story is strong enough to make it rather relevant in modern day and if watched with the proverbial grain of salt will provide a great viewing experience.