The Mechanic Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Mechanic Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 3, 2020

Entering the 1970s, a decade that would see his star power rise to its greatest level, Charles Bronson wanted to do one thing, and he did it exceedingly well. 1972’s “The Mechanic” contributes greatly to his reputation as an actor of few words and less facial reactions, taking such restraint to the extreme with an opening sequence that doesn’t include any dialogue for the first 16 minutes of the movie. The material (scripted by Lewis John Carlito, who went on to direct “The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea”) is unnervingly suited to Bronson’s thespian abilities, offering him a chance to act hard, kill people, and remain as perfectly still as possible. “The Mechanic” is a peculiar picture, but it does have defined highlights of intimidation and action, while the procedural aspects of the feature are fascinating, presenting a cooler overview of the assassin workday while director Michael Winner (who struck gold with Bronson in 1974’s “Death Wish”) fiddles with editorial and scoring dials to give a straightforward story some intrusive avant-garde touches.

Arthur (Charles Bronson) is a seasoned hitman, a “mechanic” who lives a solitary life. He’s devoted to his work, which offers an anxiety-laden living experience he’s beginning to lose control of. After taking out a colleague, Arthur is confronted by the man’s son, Steve (Jan-Michael Vincent), who’s interested in the killer’s lifestyle, aiming to be introduced to the game. In need of an apprentice, Arthur accepts the young man’s companionship, with teacher taking his student on a tour of the lifestyle, giving him the proper training to become a top agent. When the secret society shares an objection to the pairing, Arthur and Steve are presented with a new target that tests their abilities and level of mutual trust.

Indeed, the introduction to “The Mechanic” is a dialogue-free overview of Arthur’s daily experience, with the assassin tasked with taking out a target who lives in a tiny apartment. He sets up shop across the street, also breaking into the dwelling to plant explosives and prepare his killing blow, and we follow Arthur through every step of the journey, taking in the details of a professional who’s done this possibly hundreds of times before, calmly getting past locks and avoiding detection as he completes his mission. While “The Mechanic” has its highlights, this opening is the finest sequence in the movie, with Winner able to wordlessly establish character and purpose, while Bronson excels with his simple screen presence. Sure, one wonders why a man of extreme observation would pick a haircut that partially obscures his vision, but that’s the Bronson way, and the manner in which he projects pure assassin ice is a welcome start to “The Mechanic.”

A common piece of trivia for “The Mechanic” is how Carlino initially envisioned Arthur and Steve as a gay couple working out their passions and power plays as they team up for the murder business. Remnants of this idea remain, with Arthur clearly wagging his tail when Steve is around, and Winner includes a few crotch shots of Vincent to sell his youthful swagger. However, “The Mechanic” has been hetero-ized for its final screen form, with Arthur turning to a female prostitute (Jill Ireland) to release his wiggles, while his time with Steve is more friendly than flirty, with the duo commencing a bonding experience that finds them visiting jazz clubs, flying recklessly in airplanes, and competing in games of handball and skeet shooting. There’s also a darker side to their pairing, introduced in a scene where one of Steve’s ex-lovers decides to slice her wrists in front of the men. They simply watch the lady bleed out, commenting on the sacrifice in medical terms, establishing a cold-bloodedness that make them a perfect match. They become a team in the story, giving Winner a chance to showcase the men in motion, putting them to the test with motorcycle chases, shootouts, and stealthy acts of infiltration, which gives the picture a slight James Bond vibe.

A review of the 2014 Blu-ray release of “The Mechanic,” written by Jeffrey Kauffman, can be found here.

The Mechanic Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"The Mechanic" was previously issued on Blu-ray in 2014 via Twilight Time. Scorpion Releasing returns to the well with a new release of the feature, offering a "2K scan from the interpositive," looking to upgrade the viewing experience. The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation appears to deliver a more colorful look at the picture's design elements, with deep reds on Arthur's casualwear and interior decoration, along with his choice in a slick automobile. Greenery also stands out, along with California blue skies. Skintones are reasonably natural, with more of a reddish push. Detail offers a softer examination of facial particulars, doing best with Bronson's creased appearance. Locations are dimensional, and interiors are open for study. Delineation is acceptable. Source is in good shape, with some visible hairs, a few chemical blotches, and speckling. Mild judder is detected as well.

The Mechanic Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix handles with period bluntness. Dialogue exchanges, which offer plenty of ADR work, are acceptable, providing a feel for performance choices and expositional clarity. Scoring never slips into distortive extremes, securing passable instrumentation and position. Sound effects register as intended, along with atmospherics for exteriors and crowd bustle.

The Mechanic Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features cinematographer Richard Kline.

• Commentary #2 features author Paul Talbot.

• Interview (13:58, HD) sits down with screenwriter Lewis John Carlino, who recounts his research into the mafia during the late 1960s, which provided the initial creative seed for "The Mechanic." Carlino talks about his interest in the interior life of a professional assassin, looking to explore how such psychology works. While the project was initially turned down by several producers, it eventually found its place with Charles Bronson attached, though the interviewee laments the loss of intellectual edge with the star's hiring. Time with director Michael Winner is recalled, along with the feature's tonal unevenness as action was prioritized. Carlino discusses his original vision for the tale, which had Arthur and Steve as a couple, but changes were requested, inspiring the creation of the prostitute character. An assessment of Bronson is presented, along with an appreciation of the stunt work, and the chat closes with an overview of "The Mechanic" and its cult longevity.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:50, SD) is included.

The Mechanic Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Mechanic" hopes to be a more refined endeavor at times, offering intriguing details concerning Arthur's taste in art and his rising anxiety. The production gets carried away with cinematic experimentation, finding composer Jerry Fielding trying to underline confusion with his noisy score, and editing by Frederick Wilson and Winner is too jumpy, looking to create disorientation that should come through Bronson's performance. The cutting tends to make the feature feel like an extended trailer as times, but the central idea of guarded men playing mind games remains, creating periodic moments of suspenseful clarity as Bronson and Vincent do what they've been hired to do: keep steely and handle violence with complete ease.