On M List of Movie Reviews
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The Mechanic (1972)
Rate:
4
Viewed:
5/18
5/18:
The second of three films that Michael Winner directed Charles Bronson before their smash hit
Death Wish,
The Mechanic is somnambulistic with terrible pace, chaotic editing, and some of the most wooden acting I've seen in
a while.
Shot under a budget of $10 million, it barely made any money at the box office: $86,000. After seeing the film, it's
not hard to understand why. I honestly thought the good ole Charles Bronson would roll up his sleeves and go
under cars. But nope.
Not much happens during the initial hour with zero dialogue in the first sixteen minutes. Charles Bronson barely speaks or
emotes. Then, things are underway. There's a lot of back-and-forth in the pace: some good and a few bad.
Finally, the nightmare ends in a unpredictable manner, yet if Charles Bronson's character knew what would happen, why not take
precautions?
The Mechanic is a frustrating movie to sit through, making it hard for me to get into Charles Bronson
when he barely does anything. On the other hand, Jan-Michael Vincent proves why he's no movie actor, having
ended up as an alcoholic one-legged invalid that he is today.
All in all, instead of a winner, The Mechanic is a flat-out loser.