Jason Statham’s 2011 action thriller The Mechanic is a remake of Charles Bronson’s classic film of the same name and is now one of the most popular movies on Netflix. The Mechanic remains one of Jason Statham’s highest-rated films of his illustrious career and one of Statham’s most successful film franchises. The film follows Statham’s Arthur Bishop, an elite assassin or “mechanic” who is the best in the business. After Bishop’s mentor Harry (Donald Sutherland) is murdered, Bishop embarks on a one-man military mission to avenge his death and make those responsible pay. It’s a classic premise for Statham and one of his most immersive films.
From October 1, 2024, The Mechanic can be streamed on Netflix. Directed by Simon West (Con Air, Lara Craft: Tomb Raider) and written by Richard Wenk (The Equalizer, The Expendables 2), Mechanical also stars Ben Foster, Tony Goldwyn and David Leitch. With a Rotten Tomatoes critic rating of 53%, The Mechanic is not considered one of the best in Statham’s filmography, topped by 2015’s The Spy (95%), 2015’s Furious 7 (81%) and 2008’s The Bank Job (80%) ). . ). It is on par with 2002’s The Transporter (54%) and 2023’s Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre (51%).
Jason Statham’s The Mechanic is a remake of Charles Bronson’s 1972 action film
Statham’s The Mechanic was based on the 1972 film of the same name, directed by Michael Winner (Death Wish, Watchmen) and starring Charles Bronson. As one of Hollywood’s biggest leading baddies, Bronson was a natural fit for the original portrayal of elite assassin Arthur Bishop in the classic action thriller. A signature trick for Statham and Arthur Bishop’s protagonists is to make their hits look like accidents, a concept from Lewis’ original screenwriter John Carlin. Keenan Wynn portrayed Harry in the 1972 version, which Sutherland plays in the 2011 remake, while Jan-Michael Vincent portrayed Foster’s Steve McKenna.
Charles Bronson was known for his rugged good looks, which made him the perfect actor for leading roles in action films and westerns. His best known performances include Harmonica in Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), Danny “Tunnel King” in The Great Escape (1963) and Bernardo O’Reilly in The Magnificent Seven (1960). Bronson also starred in such iconic and critically acclaimed films as The Dirty Dozen (1967), House of Wax (1953), Mr. Majestyk (1974) and Hard Times (1975). His performance as the vigilante Paul Kersey in 1974’s Death Wish spawned four sequels between 1982 and 1994.
Which is more deserving of appreciation – the 1972 original or the mechanical ‘remake’ of it?
Statham was definitely the ideal actor in the serious Michael Caine’s Mechanic remake, stealing the baton from Bronson but however not quite dulling up the franchise with sheer copying. Both Statham and Bronson are those action mesmerizers in one needs to say less, as then more is shown. This was somewhat similar to Bronson’s Mechanic which posted a low 45% RT critic score but has a high 65% audience score unlike Statham’s 51%. One way or the other, had the system worked, Statham’s version is, most likely, better.
The biggest distinction can be found in the way the two films are directed, cut, and paced. While The mechanic (1972) is a… somewhat gripping affair, it is the case that the pace gradually heightens as the end draws nigh and even gets resolved. Director goes right to the killing action in the remake as Arthur Bishop is dispatched, played by Jason Statham. He also begins at a point intensely right in the sequence where the dramatic promise is equal to or even greater than in the previous version. Sectional style is dominated as well, thus the whole product is sharper and more entertaining in this way. While Bronson’s Mechanic is a decent slow burner, the adjustments made to Statham’s version if anything only serve to enhance the cinematic experience. The original film has been made with a rather low budget of 10 million dollars, and in Statham version with 42.5 million dollar s budget they manage to create the impressive action but with envious sets.
Jason Statham’s Mechanic 3 has to happen even after the 2016 sequel
Statham’s remake of The Mechanic inspired a sequel in 2016 called The Mechanic: Resurrection. Although the film received a lower Rotten Tomatoes critic score than the original and remake (31%), it added more interesting scenes and actors, including Jessica Alba, Tommy Lee Jones, and Michelle Yeoh. Despite the critical failure of Resurrection, the Mechanica sequel was successful, grossing $125.7 million against a $40 million budget. Since Statham is the face of several action thriller franchises such as The Beekeeper, The Meg and more, it would make sense if he decided to cap off the trilogy with The Mechanic 3.
