If you’re a fan of action flicks, you’ll like “The Mechanic,” a remake of the 1972 Charles Bronson original. Just be aware that it’s also graphically violent. Jason Statham is Arthur Bishop, a professional hit man, working for a mysterious ‘Company.’ Arthur isn’t one for showing his emotions so this is a perfect role for the stoic Statham, but neither does the script challenge Statham to dig a little deeper into his character. Bishop’s mentor and handler is Harry (an effective Donald Sutherland). Things get complicated when their boss, Dean Sanderson (Tony Goldwyn), sharing suspicions that Harry leaked sensitive documents, orders Bishop to kill Harry. Bishop reluctantly complies and out of guilt, takes on Steve (Ben Foster), Harry’s troubled son, as a protégé. Steve proves to be an adept pupil and soon accompanies Bishop on assignments even though the Company hasn’t sanctioned his involvement. Predictably, Bishop discovers Harry’s innocence and he and Steve set out to get Sanderson.
Director Simon West has created a satisfactory action movie although he seems to relish graphic violence, especially the assignment Steve handles on his own; blood flies and bone splinters as Steve is awash in red. And West doesn’t address the ethics of murder for hire although it seems he takes great pains to demonstrate that Arthur’s targets are nasty villains, deserving of death. “The Mechanic” is a vehicle for Jason Statham and to that end, it serves it purpose. It could have been more, but the movie would have lost its mass-audience appeal. 1/30/11
1 comment:
At amy given time moviedom seems to need a very violent hero with "Robin Hood" tendancies who can sell movie tickets. Jason Stratham seems to have assumed that role at least for now. His monotone vocal delivery and buff appearance makes Him the heir to the Arnold S. and Charles B. in films these days. not a bad film if you can stand the death and mayhem.
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