The Mechanic (2011)

Follows an elite hit man as he teaches his trade to an apprentice who has a connection to one of his previous victims.

Director:

Simon West

Writers:

Richard Wenk (screenplay), Lewis John Carlino (screenplay)

Stars:

Jason Statham, Ben Foster, Donald Sutherland

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Statham	...	Arthur Bishop
Ben Foster	...	Steve McKenna
Tony Goldwyn	...	Dean
Donald Sutherland	...	Harry McKenna
Jeff Chase	...	Burke
Mini Anden	...	Sarah
James Logan	...	Jorge Lara
Eddie J. Fernandez	...	Lara's Guard (as Eddie Fernandez)
Joshua Bridgewater	...	Car Jacker
John McConnell	...	Vaughn
Christa Campbell	...	Kelly
Joel Davis	...	Husband
Mark Nutter	...	Mr. Finch (as Mark Anthony Nutter)
Ardy Brent Carlson	...	Bell Hop
Lara Grice	...	Mrs. Finch

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

apprentice | assassin | mentor | disobeying orders | gas station | 

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Taglines:

The most powerful criminals believe they're untouchable. They're dead wrong.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong brutal violence throughout, language, some sexual content and nudity

Details

Official Sites:

CBS Films [United States] Official site [Argentina]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 January 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Mechanic

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,422,006, 30 January 2011, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$29,121,498

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$76,347,393

Company Credits

Production Co:

CBS Films, Millennium Films, Chartoff-Winkler Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shipped to theaters under the code name "Money Maker".

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Goofs

In the cemetery, the initial wide shot shows Steven alone by the grave. In next shot, there is a man with a shovel sitting at the adjacent grave, who stands up as Steven leaves the grave site.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Arthur Bishop: What I do requires a certain mindset. I do assignments; designated targets. Some jobs need to look like accidents. Others must cast suspicion on someone else. A select few need to send a clear message. Pulling a trigger is easy. The best jobs are the ones nobody even knows you were there.

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Connections

Featured in Maltin on Movies: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

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Soundtracks

MISSISSIPPI KKKROSSROADS
Written and Performed by Chris Thomas King
Published by Young Blues Rebel Music (BMI)
Courtesy of 21st Century Blues Records

User Reviews

Above average remake and action thriller

An assassin's abilities are tested when he takes on an apprentice, but things get complicated when he finds he's been used on his last job.

Entertaining assassin/mentor yarn which tries to avoid clichés. Donald Sutherland puts in a welcomed cameo but is missed throughout the rest of the film. Jason Statham is hit man Arthur Bishop, while he can do these roles action roles blind folded Statham is subtler and more complex than most previous parts he's played. Ben Foster gives a hard hitting performance giving an edginess and weight to the character of Steve McKenna and corporate bad guy Tony Goldwyn is notable.

Some logic aside the Mechanic stands head and shoulders above the mass of recent cheap and big budget flicks due to it's 1973 source material, smart writing and Simon West's gritty direction. The wonderful locations give it an air of realism and the soundtrack complements the setups.   

With some thought out character development, twists and well executed action scenes it's a pleasing above average hit-man thriller.