THE MECHANIC is an action film in the usual Jason Statham style.  Simon West can direct action scenes.  He will never be a visionary director like Ridley Scott or James Cameron, or a visual director like Jean Pierre-Jeunet.   Simon is an action director.   Sometimes, he is flashy and some would consider him a cinematic trash type of director.   Jason Statham raises the action scenes to another level.   He is an action star and one wishes he would have bigger pictures to star in.    THE BANK JOB proves Jason can really act and not just be good in action scenes.

 It shows cities like New Orleans in different ways from each character involved (you see Orleans like a fever dream through one character while you see New Orleans as a rich cultured city through Bishop (who wants to remain unnoticed)).  

 Jason Statham shows his oh-so-cool attitude that follows him from character to character.  Ben Foster isn't an actor to laugh at either since he proved himself in the under watched PANDORUM (which more people should see this sci-fi cult gem).   Ben Foster shows a reckless person who finds purpose only to still be a little reckless.   Wait until what happens when he finds out who Bishop was responsible for killing.  THE MECHANIC transforms from a cool action film to a revenge film.   THE MECHANIC is a little over-the-top in a joyous cinematic action way.   It is one of those films for an action junkie on action film diet.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Five extended scenes show some bits that were wisely cut (like the alternate ending to the opening sequence) while others provide extra character bits (like the conversation between Arthur and the woman he pays to sleep with).

TOOLS OF THE TRADE is an eight minute featurette is a promotional featurette that mostly focuses on the filming of a couple of stunt sequences which the actors did themselves (Ben Foster jumped off the building despite his fear of heights).  I wish they had an audio commentray track for this film though or more on how they filmed the action sequences.

FINAL ANALYSIS:   THE MECHANIC is your usual Jason Statham action film.  Enjoy it for what it is and enjoy the action.

this DVD review is (c)5-19-2011 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com