Arthur Bishop is a mob hit man who operates in an uncompromising world where conventional rules of morality don’t apply and one wrong move could cost him his life! He’s always worked alone; but, as age catches up with him, Bishop takes on a competent and ruthless apprentice and teaches him everything he knows. Together they become an unmatchable team of globetrotting killers … until the pupil’s ruthlessness puts him on a collision course with his teacher!
For thoughts on The Mechanic, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
[youtube https://youtu.be/tcevstdnyV0?t=1124]
Video Quality
The Mechanic returns to Blu-Ray with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer derived from a 2K scan of the interpositive. This film was released previously on Blu-Ray via Twilight Time which is long out of print. I have never seen that disc, so direct comparisons cannot be made. Overall, this new presentation is very striking throughout with only a few small issues making it through the restoration gauntlet. Instances of print damage seem to have been cleaned up immensely with only a light smattering of specks visible. This transfer maintains the natural film grain of the presentation which increases the level of detail. You can find some distinct textures within the clothing and the production design. Colors appear more vibrant and stable with some of the hues from the environments looking much more lifelike. Black levels are admirable in their depth with only a brief loss of detail in some shadowy scenes. Clarity and detail is strong with skin tones that look natural with subtle facial features easily distinguishable in closeups. This new presentation from Scorpion Releasing is a grand representation of the film.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that does everything that is asked of it. Dialogue is very clearly defined and does not get lost among the more chaotic developments. Some of the ADR lines are not synced perfectly, but it is not a consistent issue. The Jerry Fielding score used in the film provides an unsettling atmosphere for this story that maintains excellent fidelity. Environmental sounds such as engines and certain weather effects come through well alongside everything else. The track does not seem to suffer from any wear and tear or distortion. The track supplies some healthy texture in the low end in a couple of moments. Scorpion Releasing has provided a solid audio presentation. This release includes English SDH subtitles.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary #1: Cinematographer Richard H. Kline provides a mostly informative commentary track moderated by Nick Redman in which they discuss how he prepared to shoot the gritty downtown location, the look they set out to achieve, the reality of the film scene of the time, his 70+ years in the movie business, how films such as this compare to his other work, working with director Michael Winner, the performance from Charles Bronson and much more.
- Audio Commentary #2: Author Paul Talbot (Bronson’s Loose book series) provides a deeply entertaining and informative commentary track which focuses heavily on the work of Charles Bronson along with a load of other well-researched information that serves as a great companion to the first audio track.
- Interview with Screenwriter Lewis John Carlino: A 14-minute interview with Carlino in which he discusses how his research into the mafia made him cross paths with hitmen, how these interactions provided inspiration for the film, the act of delving into the psychology of figures such as this, the struggle to get the film made, getting Bronson involved with the picture, how the script evolved with the star attached, the stunt work in the film and more. Judging solely based on what Carlino describes, this may have been an even stronger picture without Bronson attached.
- Trailers: The two-minute trailer for The Mechanic is provided here. There are also trailers provided for Death Wish 3, The Delta Force, Rollerball, Who’ll Stop The Rain, The Killer Elite, and The Dogs Of War.
Final Thoughts
The Mechanic is a pretty intriguing action-thriller which provides a more reserved performance from Charles Bronson than he typically delivers to supplement the character-driven nature of the narrative. There are some pacing issues which cause the film to sag during a few stretches, but overall the suspenseful twists and turns keep this one a compelling experience. Scorpion Releasing and Ronin Flix have released a new Blu-Ray with a sturdy A/V presentation and some fun special features. If you are a Charles Bronson fan, you will not want to miss his work in this one. Recommended
The Mechanic is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Scorpion Releasing and Ronin Flix have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
