Call it a “re-imagining…” Whatever you call it, the remake trend continues this weekend with “The Mechanic.” The original was released back in 1972 and starred tough guy Charles Bronson and Air Wolf to be Jan Michael Vincent. Like most remakes of recent vintage, this version is weaker than its b-movie macho predecessor.
“The Mechanic (2011)” has a great cast with high-energy action star Jason Statham and emerging young star Ben Foster in the lead roles. They play a hitman and his apprentice. Statham is the mechanic Arthur Bishop, a skilled professional killer who works for a shadowy organization run by two competing principals—Dean (Tony Goldwyn) and Harry (Donald Sutherland). Harry and Arthur have a close relationship but when Harry appears to have betrayed the organization, Arthur has to make tough decision. It’s kill or be killed in this world.
After Harry is murdered, Arthur pays Harry’s aimless son, Steve (Ben Foster) a visit and a strained partnership develops. Arthur will teach Steve the trade of contract murder and murder they do.
Exploitive and violent, “The Mechanic” isn’t a very smart film. Instead of exploring the thoughtful and emotional side of the murder business, this is a film that wants you to be entertained by the sheer thrill of the kill. And when people die in this movie they get really dead—heads explode and bullets rip apart victims with reckless abandon. While Arthur might be the cream of the hitmen crop, “The Mechanic” makes him look like a crude operator, who in the real world would likely get arrested with little investigative effort. The jobs in the film get ever more violent and sloppy and seem aimed at setting up over-the-top action sequences catering to the lowest common denominator. And, honestly, that’s okay, most viewers will have low expectations for “The Mechanic” and to be sure, those expectations are met.
There’s a great movie about professional killers, but this 2011 re-imagining of “The Mechanic” isn’t that movie.