The Mechanic : Simplistic Hi-Octane Action. It's not art, but it's fun to watch

It also helps when lots of things blow up.  Sometimes, us guys need a film like that.

 

That in mind, leave it to Jason Statham to once again, capably step up to the cinematic plate to deliver a healthy dose of wild mayhem and adrenaline-fueled action in the form of his new film, "The Mechanic".

 

This latest film is actually a remake of the 1972 film of the same name, starring then action star Charles Bronson and Jan Michael Vincent.  Whether this remake hews closely to the plot of that largely forgettable predecessor is irrelevant.  "The Mechanic" 2011 edition is great fun running on it's own fast-paced pistons.

 

Jason Statham plays Arthur Bishop, a skilled hit-man or "mechanic" whose forte is efficiently dispatching of his unfortunate targets with meticulous planning and skill. Bishop is so proficient at his craft that often his targets of assassination show no signs of foul play, instead seeming to have died as a result of an unfortunate accident or natural causes.  In the film's opening sequence, a heavily protected Colombian drug lord is taking a leisurely swim in his indoor pool while completely surrounded by bodyguards with automatic weapons.  Yet, Bishop ( no pun intended ) executes a successful plan to kill the drug lord almost in full view of his unsuspecting protectors and easily escapes with clockwork planning.

 

Bishop takes his assignments from a mysterious company that seems to be in the business of killing mostly unsavory characters.  It's not quite clear if this organization is a rogue branch of government or a strictly "for profit" killer for hire venture, not that it matters much, since the main focus is on Statham's character and his relationship with a future protege.

 

When Bishop's friend and handler, Harry ( Donald Sutherland ) is seemingly implicated in a double cross against the organization involving a South African operation gone bad that results in the apparent deaths of several company operatives and some missing millions; Bishop is assigned by the organization to kill his friend despite inner misgivings and doubts.  Still, Bishop is, at heart, a businessman and dutifully lures his ordinarily cautious and well protected friend to a unsecure location, where he ultimately does what he's always been hired to do... and kills on contract, even if the target is a trusted friend.

 

Besides, both Bishop and Harry recognize it's better to have a good friend cleanly enact the deadly deed, rather than have a stranger step in to accomplish the same inevitable endgame.

 

However, when Bishop encounters Harry's estranged and troubled son Steve, ( Ben Foster ) Bishop feels a guilt-driven obligation to help him get his life back on track.   However, Steve has other ideas.  He wants to get into the same killing business as Bishop, because as Steve later explains, he has an almost uncontrollable, simmering anger inside him.

 

Steve's anger and recklessness becomes apparent after Bishop relents and begins training his new student in the lessons of death dealing, and he ultimately gives Steve a seemingly "easy to accomplish" assassination of a rival mechanic.  Steve is tasked with simply and easily poisoning the prey, after a good bit of sexual enticement to lower the rival killer's defenses. However, Steve's pent up viciousness prompts him to ignore Bishop's plan, and embark on a brutal, dangerous and very bloody "mano a mano" fight with the target who is almost twice his size and strength.  The violent scene is one of the film's most riveting and, at times, difficult to watch moments of the film.

 

Somehow, Steve survives and he and Bishop are off to their next mission to kill a pretentious, fat and vulgar faux religious cult leader with a passion for young girls and self medicating.  Along the way, Bishop discovers he was duped by the company into killing his friend Harry, who was actually set up by a shady company superior ( Tony Goldwyn ) for even shadier reasons.

 

Meanwhile, the angry Steve discovers that his new found trainer in the killing arts was personally responsible for his father's death.  From here, "The Mechanic" embarks on a two-pronged mission of revenge.  Bishop planning to take down the company and those responsible for ordering Harry's death; while Steve secretly plots his own revenge on Bishop for killing his father.

 

The ingredients in "The Mechanic" are simple, straight-forward and stripped-down formulaic action film story telling.  This is a pure action flick that intentionally aims no higher than delivering the thrills, car crashes, explosions and bone-crushing fights with brutal effectiveness. Indeed, the body and spilled blood volume count is high in this film and, at times, not for the squeamish.

 

Jason Statham does what his built-in audience expects of him with skill and efficiency.  He's an actor who's stunts and facial stubble are what's made him an enduring contemporary action star and in this film, he delivers the goods once again.

 

Ben Foster is also quite good, displaying the same kind of wound up malevolence and deadly anger that made him so compelling to watch as Russell Crowe's lead henchman in "3:10 to Yuma".  His character is a cunning viper that you know is all too eager to burst into a fit of deadly rage at any moment.  All he's waiting for is the slightest reason to unleash on someone, anyone.

 

The direction by Simon West in "The Mechanic" is fast paced and the editing a bit frenetic, but never truly overdone for this type of genre film.  The story never lets up save for brief moments to catch one's breath with a bit of tough talk between certain characters or a bit of gratuitous macho sex-play between the sheets with a comely barfly for Bishop.  The fight and actions sequences are wonderfully staged with modest production values that still accomplish plenty of bang for the buck on screen.

 

Yes, some cliches abound, such as Statham's hit-man hideaway complete with hidden walls filled with guns and pin-up areas to map out his next mission.  There's even a pivotal music phonograph turntable complete with old vinyl records of classical music in Statham's home, just to demonstrate the outwardly brutish killer has some inner depth and culture. However, these cliches are easily overlooked as little time is spent on them before we get to the real draw in the film, the action itself.

 

"The Mechanic" successfully accomplishes what it's meant to do.  It's another cookie-cutter actioner designed to cater to those who love Jason Statham's brooding appeal and mayhem-inducing skills; as well as those who simply like their action flicks simple and to the point.

 

Shoot first, ask questions later... and blow up lots of stuff in between.  

 

Oscar won't be here for another month, so enjoy a big helping of this explosively action-packed and vapid "mind candy".