The Mechanic (2011)

53% of critics liked it
(152 reviews)
52% of users liked it
(52,707 ratings)

Arthur Bishop (Jason Statham) is a 'mechanic' - an elite assassin with a strict code and unique talent for cleanly eliminating targets. It's a job that requires professional perfection and total detachment, and Bishop is the best in the business. But when his mentor and close friend Harry (Donald… More Arthur Bishop (Jason Statham) is a 'mechanic' - an elite assassin with a strict code and unique talent for cleanly eliminating targets. It's a job that requires professional perfection and total detachment, and Bishop is the best in the business. But when his mentor and close friend Harry (Donald Sutherland) is murdered, Bishop is anything but detached. His next assignment is self-imposed - he wants those responsible dead.

His mission grows complicated when Harry's son Steve (Ben Foster) approaches him with the same vengeful goal and a determination to learn Bishop's trade. Bishop has always acted alone but he can't turn his back on Harry's son. A methodical hit man takes an impulsive student deep into his world and a deadly partnership is born. But while in pursuit of their ultimate mark, deceptions threaten to surface and those hired to fix problems become problems themselves. -- (C) CBS films

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Simon West
Written By: Karl Gajdusek
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jan 28, 2011 Wide
On DVD: May 17, 2011
Studio: CBS Films

Critic Reviews

Una LaMarche, New York Observer
The Mechanic is like a Beretta loaded with blanks -- quick and brutal but ultimately empty.
Rafer Guzman, Newsday
Clinging to false heroism and terrified of anything too dark, The Mechanic is a tough-guy movie for wimps.
Bruce Diones, New Yorker
Statham is a model of control; he's steely and graceful in his action scenes, and his interplay with the wiry Foster delivers the goods.
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger
The new stunts are explosive, over-the-top and a sign of the times -- action fans aren't happy these days, it seems, unless at least one scene involves a jackknifing 18-wheeler and a fireball.
Mark Jenkins, NPR
Betrayal, sympathy and regret are central to the story, but there's hardly any room for such feelings amid the clockwork carnage.
Mary F. Pols, TIME Magazine
The interplay between dry Arthur and crazy, caustic Steve is what makes the movie fun.
Leah Rozen, The Wrap
Statham, he of the chiseled physique and sexily receding hairline, holds his own here, doing what he has to in scenes and no more -- which is perfect for a movie like this.
Michael A. Smith, MediaMikes
Statham has slowly become this generations' Bruce Willis, combining a quiet and sly screen persona with the ability to kick major ass when called upon
Matt Neal, The Standard
The Mechanic will be a decent time-killer for Statham fans, but it's another black mark against the name of director Simon West.
Sean Axmaker, MSN.com
... a minor pleasure to see an action film that makes a virtue of lean, mean action stripped to the essence.
R. L. Shaffer, IGN DVD
A passable, but emotionally empty, action film that fails to capitalize on its interesting characters.
Grae Drake, Movies.com
Jason Statham is quickly becoming the 21st century's Bruce Willis -- I am convinced that when the apocalypse comes, the only things left surviving on the planet will be cockroaches and this Derbyshire-born bloke.
Dave White, Movies.com
It never pretends like it's going to be anything more or better than what you expect, and it never gives you anything less than totally entertaining gun blasting, car crashing and face smashing. Lots of it.
Matthew Pejkovic, FILMINK (Australia)
In the end, The Mechanic proves that while revenge is a dish best served cold, revenge movies are best served with fire in the belly.
Luke Ryan, The Vine
If you enjoy senseless and creative slaughter, the sound of gunfire, the sweet embrace of explosions and the well-muscled-testicle-like visage of Jason Statham, then this movie may well be for you.
Anders Wotzke, Moviedex
Statham has my respect for two reasons: 1) he's one of the few remaining action stars who isn't claiming his pension, and 2) he has yet to star in a Disney movie in which he must babysit projectile-vomiting children.
Simon Miraudo, Quickflix
Statham convincingly breaks faces with effortless ease. It's as if he studied at The Lee Strasberg Institute of Badassery. He is the Stanislavski of neck-stomping.
Matthew Pejkovic, Matt's Movie Reviews
Some slack was needed for hard edged thriller The Mechanic to truly blossom into a thing of brutal beauty, rather than the cold action film presented before us.
Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile
It's a boys' movie with a big bang finish
Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile
The assassin gets a conscience in this fast-paced action thriller that offers a few interesting twists between its huge stunts,"

Read all 23 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Chris M

A decent action film that just so happens to be starring Jason Statham. You really cant pick The Mechanic out from a crowd of other cliche action thrillers but it is still an entertaining movie. Though the pacing and editing were a bit poor, the movie still works.
Crash E

Well... I liked the movie, I think it's was entertaining and good in its own way, and decent comparing to the other garbage jason has been in lately.
Lady D

The Mechanic is an Action Thriller with just the right mix of slick, more realistic Action and the more Hollywood explosive Action. The story line is less one-dimensional that a lot of Action movies and the not knowing who is on who's side kept the film exciting throughout.… More
The Mechanic is an Action Thriller with just the right mix of slick, more realistic Action and the more Hollywood explosive Action. The story line is less one-dimensional that a lot of Action movies and the not knowing who is on who's side kept the film exciting throughout. Jason Statham and Ben Foster make an impressive duo and this is certainly my favourite Statham Action flick to date.
Dean !

A pretty decent action film revolving around a top assassin who gets double crossed. Nothing spectacular, but it has a decent cast and enough action to entertain you until the end.
Anthony L

I'm not sure why anyone would want to remake a Michael Winner film but I haven't seen the original, so I will reserve judgement. I actually quite liked The Mechanic, I didn't expect as much from Simon West but this won me over somewhat. The best thing about it though is… More
I'm not sure why anyone would want to remake a Michael Winner film but I haven't seen the original, so I will reserve judgement. I actually quite liked The Mechanic, I didn't expect as much from Simon West but this won me over somewhat. The best thing about it though is arguably the unpredictable Steve McKenna played by the brilliant Ben Foster. It's The Transporter without the humour and car chases basically, I thought it was quite good.
Matt G

We've seen it before; men blowing shit up to be on the top of the wolfpack. Pretty boring, has some great moments though.
Kalel J

Straight, narrow; 'The Mechanic' is a simple film without deviation. It has a basic core, easy methods of character purpose, and a pacing not equipped with the baggage of backstory, side plot or insights into the lives of its leads. But sometimes straight can be enough, and… More
Straight, narrow; 'The Mechanic' is a simple film without deviation. It has a basic core, easy methods of character purpose, and a pacing not equipped with the baggage of backstory, side plot or insights into the lives of its leads. But sometimes straight can be enough, and with the abled performances of its leads beating their way through scenes - this is one of those films.
Dean M

The first legitimate action film I ever seen. The remake of Michael Winner's 1972 slow-burner, about a hitman who grows a conscience after being contracted to kill a friend. This seems a logical step for Jason Statham, whose perma-frown is a natural successor to Charles… More
The first legitimate action film I ever seen. The remake of Michael Winner's 1972 slow-burner, about a hitman who grows a conscience after being contracted to kill a friend. This seems a logical step for Jason Statham, whose perma-frown is a natural successor to Charles Bronson's inscrutable screen persona. The action is a long-time-coming, and even then it's pretty tame fare after the adrenaline rush of Crank. But with Ben Foster in the role of protégé, a classy supporting turn from a wheelchair-bound Donald Sutherland, and some inspired plot twists, it's a cut above the Eurotrashy Transportersequels. Britain's best action export may have snagged himself a promising new franchises. Director Simon West engineers The Mechanic with the precision of stainless steel instruments... It's a boys' movie with a big bang finish.
Chris W

This movie is filled with sound and fury, but signifies, really, little to nothing. It wouldn't be so bad (just another average, mindless action movie) except for the fact that this is a remake of a great movie. Not only that, but the original was art, and actually tried to be… More
This movie is filled with sound and fury, but signifies, really, little to nothing. It wouldn't be so bad (just another average, mindless action movie) except for the fact that this is a remake of a great movie. Not only that, but the original was art, and actually tried to be something. This has little to no substance, and no real character development that means anything or that anyone cares about. I like chases, gun fights, and explosions, so I was entertained by this movie. However, this film didn't wow me, and, as I said, being a remake, it was hard to focus on this one over the original. I will admit that this is a slick movie that looks decent, but I just couldn't care. I like Statham, Foster, and Sutherland. And I have this odd love for Simon West's Con Air. However (and I can't help but repeat myself), this movie is a pointless, souless remake. It does away with subtlety and trades it in for being 'of the times'. There are a number of elements from the original that are retained, but I just didn't like how they were handled. I liked this a tad more than it seems like I did, but because of my attachment to the original, I can't help but really come down on this one.
Roy G

In the end, The Mechanic proves that while revenge is a dish best served cold, revenge movies are best served with fire in the belly.
Jeff "

I've very picky about remakes. Usually they fail to deliver something entertaining and thrilling. But in the case of the Charles Bronson classic, I thought this was an entertaining film that delivered some awesome action. Although nothing can't beat the original and no one… More
I've very picky about remakes. Usually they fail to deliver something entertaining and thrilling. But in the case of the Charles Bronson classic, I thought this was an entertaining film that delivered some awesome action. Although nothing can't beat the original and no one can touch Charles Bronson, Jason Statham does a good job at filling big shoes. This film is by far one of the most exciting action films of 2011, and despite its few flaws, it offers a non stop roller coaster ride. This is one of Stathams best roles as I find him fairly hit and miss. Though this is a good enough remake, I like everyone else prefer the original. This remake is a good action film for what it is, but like every other remake, it copies the original and there are many scenes that echo the original film. The Mechanic remake is an exhilarating action film that is among the better remakes around, not a perfect film, but good enough to enjoy a solid hour and a half of good entertainment. The Mechanic is explosive entertainment, it's a roller coaster ride of action and thrills. The film overall is a good upgrade to the Charles Bronson classic, but of course nothing beats the original.
Brad W

The Mechanic is your average stealth action flick, and I liked it. I loved the stealth scenes, they were well thought and originally done. The plot was good too, it had my attention but there were very cliche moments. Having Jason Staham is just setting yourself up for disaster at… More
The Mechanic is your average stealth action flick, and I liked it. I loved the stealth scenes, they were well thought and originally done. The plot was good too, it had my attention but there were very cliche moments. Having Jason Staham is just setting yourself up for disaster at the box office, he can be good or bad, but either way he has a box office curse. In the end the casting was dumb, the plot is good but cliche, the stealth scenes are great, and you will leave the theatre pondering the ending (in a bad way).
Derek A

The Mechanic (also known as Transporter 4) is "cool" but still is a rehashed character/story under a new alias. Been there done that... but still slightly entertaining.
Justin Y

The Mechanic, from director Simon West, is everything as expected, and that isn't much.For a film about hit-men, the 90 minute plot does have potential, but in the end it never delivers to that level. Some of the backdrops and locations are pretty… More
The Mechanic, from director Simon West, is everything as expected, and that isn't much.For a film about hit-men, the 90 minute plot does have potential, but in the end it never delivers to that level. Some of the backdrops and locations are pretty good; however everything else comes across as bland and lifeless. The characters aren't interesting and even the predictable story twists don't do a whole lot for this picture.The action is violent, bloody, and there is a decent enough dosage of it. Unfortunately, that's all that it has going for it. The sequences themselves aren't entertaining enough to warrant a recommendation.Jason Statham does have the persona to play a character of this nature, but he only does so much with it. The other elements of the film need to rise up and help him out. They don't here and that's a problem. Ben Foster, while delivering a more lively performance, suffers from an unlikable character. The rest of the cast are completely forgettable.In the end, The Mechanic doesn't do the fixing. It needs the fixing.
Fernando Rafael Q

The Mechanic, Simon West's 2011 remake of the 1972 film starring Charles Bronson, has style and grit and violence to spare. Starting off with a bang, this hit man flick is surprisingly emotional and stunningly well-photographed. With decent writing, fantastically over-the-top… More
The Mechanic, Simon West's 2011 remake of the 1972 film starring Charles Bronson, has style and grit and violence to spare. Starting off with a bang, this hit man flick is surprisingly emotional and stunningly well-photographed. With decent writing, fantastically over-the-top fight sequences and more interior design porn than a Nancy Meyers movie, The Mechanic places itself just a notch above the actioners we're accustomed to. Jason Statham plays 'Bishop' as a cross between concerned parent and cold-blooded killer, while Ben Foster, as usual, steals the movie. But, despite the wildly exaggerated violence and frenetic pace, the last act of this film is very weak. Here, the film takes an inexplicable leap, where a rookie (Foster) becomes an expert cleaner in the blink of an eye. The choppy, clumsy editing doesn't help, either. From there, it's all downhill for The Mechanic, culminating in a thoroughly unsatisfying (and stupid) fashion.
Film C

Well i don't normally complain about Jason Statham movies bcause i always like his movies, you will always know hs type of movies normally action packed, amusing and often he gets his shirt off and the storylines are bearable. However this movie extremely disappoints, the… More
Well i don't normally complain about Jason Statham movies bcause i always like his movies, you will always know hs type of movies normally action packed, amusing and often he gets his shirt off and the storylines are bearable. However this movie extremely disappoints, the storyline is absolutely ludicris that its just absolutely ridiculas. There is enough action but because the storyline is truly that bad it just ruins the rest of the movie. I strongly wouldn't recommend this movie even if you just wanted to see Statham take his shirt off you'd be strongly disappointed.!
Conner R

In my opinion, this a lot better than the Charles Bronson original. It takes the same basic scenario and improves upon the characters, action sequences and plot. Jason Statham practically IS the Charles Bronson of his time, so it's no surprise that he works so well as Arthur… More
In my opinion, this a lot better than the Charles Bronson original. It takes the same basic scenario and improves upon the characters, action sequences and plot. Jason Statham practically IS the Charles Bronson of his time, so it's no surprise that he works so well as Arthur Bishop: the man without compromise. Ben Foster delivers his gold standard here; an effectively unhinged character that seems like he'll snap at any moment from shear rage. Simon West has made an extremely good looking action movie that almost feels like it belongs in the 70s due to it's classy cinematography and set design. People will either enjoy The Mechanic for what it is or just write it off as another throwaway action movie. I thought it was extremely well mapped out and just ridiculously cool. Jason Statham lays down his trademark killing techniques served with a snide quip and karate kick to the face. Anyone who's seen the original will know that they improved just about everything here and should be pleasantly surprised.
Cynthia S

Extra points for casting Jason Statham....I don't remember much about the first movie. From what I am told, though, the script is very much the same, and this was just as good. I liked this. A good action film with your typical well placed, and well done, fights, car crashes, and… More
Extra points for casting Jason Statham....I don't remember much about the first movie. From what I am told, though, the script is very much the same, and this was just as good. I liked this. A good action film with your typical well placed, and well done, fights, car crashes, and explosions. I was also told that the ending was changed from the first movie, and I am SO SO glad! :)
♥˩ƳИИ &

Cast: Jason Statham, Ben Foster, Tony Goldwyn, Donald Sutherland, Jeff Chase, Mini Anden, James Logan, Eddie J. Fernandez, John McConnell, Christa Campbell Director: Simon West Summary: When his mentor is murdered, lone hit man Arthur Bishop (Jason Statham) trains the… More
Cast: Jason Statham, Ben Foster, Tony Goldwyn, Donald Sutherland, Jeff Chase, Mini Anden, James Logan, Eddie J. Fernandez, John McConnell, Christa Campbell Director: Simon West Summary: When his mentor is murdered, lone hit man Arthur Bishop (Jason Statham) trains the man's son, Steve McKenna (Ben Foster), in the ways of the professional kill. Together Arthur and his eager apprentice hunt down those responsible for executing Steve's father. But the partnership gives rise to new dangers and deceptions. A remake of the 1972 Charles Bronson thriller. My Thoughts: "I love a good action flick, and this one didn't disappoint at all. I love Ben Foster and he was one of my main reasons for watching it. But I have seen Jason Statham in a couple films now, and I am impressed. He's really good in these action movies. I definitely will be checking out more of his films. The movie is action packed with some really great killing scenes. The pool scene was one I've never seen before in any film. I liked Jason and Ben together in this film and thought they made a great team. I found the ending to be a surprise and a bitter sweet one at that. Definitely worth seeing if you like a good action/thriller."
Kristijonas F

I just don't understand how Jason Statham can make so many mind-numbing action movies and still be cool as fuck.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Jason Statham as Arthur Bishop

            Ben Foster as Steve

            Tony Goldwyn as Dean Sanderson

            Donald Sutherland as Harry

            Jeff Chase as Burke

            Mini Anden as Sarah

            James Logan as Jorge Lara

            Eddie Fernandez as Lara's Guard

            Joshua Bridgewater as Car Jacker

            John "Spud" McConnell as Vaughn

            Christa Campbell as Kelly

            Joel Davis as Husband

            Mark Anthony Nutter as Mr. Finch

            Ardy Brent Carlson as Bell Hop

            Lara Grice as Mrs. Finch

            Lance E. Nichols as Henry

            J.D. Evermore as Gun Runner

            Ada Michelle Loridans as Finch's Daughter

            Linzzi Zaorski as Jazz Club Singer

            Dawn Neufeld as News Reporter #1

            Molly Rosenblatt as News Reporter #2

            Bill Scharpf as Dean's Driver

            John Teague as Ney

            David Leitch as Sebastian

            Jennifer Ortega as Lara's Girl #1

            LaTeace Towns-Cuellar as Lara's Girl #2

            Paul Abraham as Shuttle Driver

            David Dahlgren as Dr. X

            Stuart Greer as Ralph

            Kasia Wolejnio as Maria

            Larrel France as Vaughn's Intern

            Danny Cosmo Higginbottom as Peasant

            Derek Schreck as Security Guard

            Choop Hunyup as "Arthur" the Dog

            John McConnell
            
See full cast