Thoughts on The Mechanic (1972)

With the remake coming out soon to theaters, I thought i should revisit the 70's hit man classic, The Mechanic. The Mechanic deals with a lonely and cold hit man (played by Charles Bronson), who meets the son of his boss (played by Jan-Michael Vincent). After being bugged by Vincent and becoming Friends with him, Bronson finally agrees to teach him how to be a hit man.



I have to say that The Mechanic is one of the bleakest hit man movies Ive ever seen. From the first image of Bronson in fog, you can tell this isn't going to be your run of the mill cheap action flick. Every scene in the first 2 acts is brooding and dulled down. All the building are old and falling apart, and the sky has a werid haze to it.To add to the feeling of the film, the scpirt is full of scenes of Bronson talking about how everyone is a killer and everyone kills at some point or way. Everything gives it a nightmarish feel.



Acting wise Bronson is extra emotionless in his part as the master hit man. He rarely speaks and its very different then the roles he would get after Death Wish. The way he plays the hit man reminds me of a rougher take on Alain Delon's Jef Costello from the 1967 french classic Le Samourai (which this movie toke chunks of). Like Jef, Bronson's hit man is a cold perfectionist of a killer. He spends most of his time training or walking around by himself, and when he does have human interaction its either him getting paid or paying a lady friend for sex.



Jan-Michael Vincent on the other hand isn't as great. He comes off as way too cocky. Sure the character is but he pushes it a bit. Also his line readings and acting are just as bad, he sounds badly dubbed Thur out. If i had to pick a weakest link about the movie it would be Vincent.

The Action in the movie is really well handled. All the hits in the first 2 acts are awesome. It kinda goes to far in the 3rd with the motorcycle chase and the near ending shootout. There still well handled just over the top to the rest of the film. The training scenes are great and the how to shoot a shotgun the right way scene is one of Vincent's better moments.



The Mechanic is a great piece of 70's action,with one of Bronson's better roles and a great seance of doom thurout.

NOTE: I have the action 3 pack MGM DVD, which also includes Assassination(1987) and Messenger Of Death(1988) A great buy and you can find it for under 10 dollars.