Arthur Bishop is a veteran hit man who, owing to his penchant for making his targets' deaths seem like accidents, thinks himself an artist. It's made him very rich, but as he hits middle age, he's so depressed and lonely that he takes on one of his victim's sons, Steve McKenna, as his apprentice. Arthur puts him through a rigorous training period and brings him on several hits. As Steven improves, Arthur worries that he'll discover who killed his father.
Similar titles
You May Also Like
Reviews
Save your money for something good and enjoyable
Memorable, crazy movie
Good concept, poorly executed.
I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.
Coldblooded assassin , Charles Bronson, teams up with protégé, Jan Michael Vincent, performing intricate "jobs" for the mafia. Eventually Bronson becomes expendable and the final third of the film is far more exciting than what precedes it. The first two thirds involves some difficult planning in order to make the contracts appear to be accidents. The movie is immediately dated to the 1970s every time Jan Michael Vincent opens his mouth with "dig it" or "hey man", however"The Mechanic" is so unpredictable that you will stay with it, and the conclusion definitely will not disappoint. I rate this higher than any of Bronson's "Death Wish" films. - MERK
Charles Bronson has a tough imagine, image that I find totally boring now, in everything he does,including the Death Wish Films.He strolls quietly and unassuming through his movies to a degree which I find frustrating, yes he gets his man, and yes he is predictable.The Mechanic served up yet another Michael Winner directed movie. This was no different.In its favour there was a twist in the end which I never saw coming.But ultimately this movie was for me a total bore.I want to like Charles Bronson following his superb performances in the Dirty Dozen, and The Great Escape, where he revealed passion and anger and frustration.But for me, since Dirty Dozen, and The Great Escape, Charles Bronson has put all that away in favour of the formula Death Wish films, which Charles Bronson strolls through as though walking in the park. The Mechanic was no exception to that rule.I apologies to all Charles Bronson fans reading this.
Charles Bronson plays expert professional Hit man Arthur Bishop, who is tiring of the assassin's life, and wants to retire, but finds that it isn't as simple as he would like, not to mention he is befriended by a young man(Jan Michael Vincent) who wants to be his apprentice. Intrigued, Bishop agrees, and shows his apprentice the ropes, and finds that he is surprisingly adept at this profession. Unfortunately, outside forces conspire to tear this partnership apart, leading to an explosive finale...Well acted and directed(Michael Winner) drama is quite interesting and compelling. Though viewer is at arms-length because lead characters are not really likable(they are paid assassins after all!)this doesn't adversely affect the film, because story works so well, leading to a memorable double-twist ending.
If you are a Bronson fan you will enjoy The Mechanic. Arthur Bishop is seemingly a chess playing Paladin type with thinner mustache, a journeyman plotting and mapping his hits while sipping his wine and living in his estate. Next minute he is in a seedy part of down dressed as Bronson typically dresses and living in a dump.The dump has a pretty good view of his target. The target a guy I could kill in two minutes. Yet the kill is so elaborate you may never drink English breakfast tea again.We see that Bishop is a mess and is lonely. He relieves his loneliness by visiting a call girl who acts out a sad fantasy. Bronson is vulnerable in this movie like never before.JMV is great looking and annoying to be the perfect foil. Educated types will tell you this is "the sorcerer's apprentice". I just enjoyed most of the movie and seeing Bronson off his A game. I will see the remake with Jason Statham but I'm not drinking any Italian red.