The Mechanic

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The Mechanic

PG

Released Nov 17, 1972

1h 40m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

45%

Tomatometer

11 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Arthur Bishop (Charles Bronson) is a veteran hit man who, owing to his penchant for making his targets' deaths seem like accidents, thinks himself an artist. It's made him very rich, but as he hits middle age, he's so depressed and lonely that he takes on one of his victim's sons, Steve McKenna (Jan-Michael Vincent), as his apprentice. Arthur puts him through a rigorous training period and brings him on several hits. As Steven improves, Arthur worries that he'll discover who killed his father.

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Judith Crist

New York Magazine/Vulture

It is a banal expedition into slaughter and sadism and stupid dialogue.

Jun 11, 2020

Full Review

Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

As slow as molasses and just as exciting.

Rated: C-

Apr 17, 2011

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

The funny thing is that this sounds more interesting than it is.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 23, 2004

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…The Mechanic is a decent (for director Michael Winner) collaboration with Charles Bronson that plays to their strengths rather than their weaknesses, with an impressive 15 minute silent opening…

Rated: 3/5

Jul 27, 2024

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

“The Mechanic” remains a solid entry in Bronson’s filmography and one that sits comfortably in the middle of arguably the best five-year run of the late actor’s four-decade-plus career.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mar 21, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

One of Bronson's signature pieces from the era.

Rated: 2.5/4

Nov 19, 2020

Full Review

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Fer S

Stiff acting, horrible dialogue and quite ridiculous plot. It started great, then it all went downhill.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/25

Full Review

Melvin L

Bronson has become a right wing extremist and big fan of Don, the con

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/22/25

Full Review

Jay W

"The Mechanic" is a unique situation. In many ways it is decades ahead of its time. In other ways, it is the most 70's movie I've ever seen. The movie focuses on Arthur Bishop, played by Charles Bronson. He is a professional assassin, who orchestrates his hits to look like accidents. The opening scene reminds me a lot of a movie that could come out today. Watch this and then "The Killer" from 2023 and you can see a lot of similarities. It is in... forgive the pun, the execution that things differ. The movie begins with all the credits for the film. The music is going crazy with the bongos. Everyone's hair and fashion is very 70's, ton of mustaches, sideburns and Beatles haircuts. Also, the editing is all over the place. Bad ADR and smash cuts all around. The James Bond like action and very meandering pace is also reminiscent of that era of filmmaking. In short, the movie has a good compelling intro and an awesome ending. The good stuff in the middle is far too few and far between. But, if you're a fan of Charles Bronson and can forgive some awkward cinematography, this movie is a fine time.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/21/24

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Ian C

Vintage Bronson, great character, classic 70s. I liked the remake but this is better. Up there with his best.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/06/24

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James B

clasdic charles bronson film good 70s flick cool ending a classic better than the remakes

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/06/24

Full Review

Nathan W

I haven't watched this in a long time, but I don't remember it being quite this bad. The beginning was cool, as was the ending, but everything in between was as dull as can be. The dialogue is uninteresting and poorly delivered... The worst offender being Bronson himself, who is devoid of any discernable emotion. The plot was bizarre at times and didn't make very much sense. There were sections that were clearly just filler as they had nothing to do with the story. I would guess that most of the film's budget went to filming in Italy and blowing stuff up at the end. The rest of the time, they're just in random locations... Like wherever they could film for cheap or free. I did think the cinematography was decent and it had that nostalgic 70's movie soundtrack. But the overall story was just so slow and unexciting, that its almost unwatchable.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

05/20/24

Full Review

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Michael Winner

Director

Charles Bronson

Arthur Bishop

Jan-Michael Vincent

Steve McKenna

Keenan Wynn

Harry McKenna

Jill Ireland

The Girl

Linda Ridgeway

Louise

The Mechanic: Official Clip - Slow Sleepy Suicide

1:49

The Mechanic: Official Clip - Killing Big Harry

2:10

The Mechanic: Official Clip - Motorcycle Chase

2:10

The Mechanic: Official Clip - Shotgun Attack

2:13

The Mechanic: Official Clip - See Naples and Die

2:11

The Mechanic: Official Clip - Killer Heroes

1:26

The Mechanic: Official Clip - An Associate

2:03

The Mechanic: Official Clip - Bulldozing!

1:34

The Mechanic: Official Clip - Ready, Aim, Fire!

1:40

The Mechanic: Official Clip - Skeet Practice

1:10

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Synopsis

Arthur Bishop (Charles Bronson) is a veteran hit man who, owing to his penchant for making his targets' deaths seem like accidents, thinks himself an artist. It's made him very rich, but as he hits middle age, he's so depressed and lonely that he takes on one of his victim's sons, Steve McKenna (Jan-Michael Vincent), as his apprentice. Arthur puts him through a rigorous training period and brings him on several hits. As Steven improves, Arthur worries that he'll discover who killed his father.

Director: Michael Winner
Producer: Robert Chartoff, Irwin Winkler
Screenwriter: Lewis John Carlino
Distributor: MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., United Artists
Production Co: Chartoff-Winkler Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 17, 1972, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 12, 2017
Runtime: 1h 40m

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