MECHANIC RESURRECTION
US, 2016, 98 minutes, Colour.
Jason Statham, Jessica Alba, Tommy Lee Jones, Michelle Yeoh, Sam Haseldine.
Directed by Dennis Gansel.
Charles Bronson was the original Mechanic in the film by Michael Winner. He was resurrected in the form of Jason Statham in The Mechanic, 2015. The film was a successful Jason Statham vehicle.
In the sequel, the mechanic, Arthur Bishop, is thought to be dead, but he is living in Rio. However, he is tracked down for further hits. He refuses but is taken by a powerful and rich man, Crain (Sam Haseldine).
The bulk of the film is about the three hits. Fortunately, for the audience, the producers have decided that they will travel to very attractive locations, filling in a lot of local background – with Rio at the beginning, a move to Thailand, a move to Sydney, a move to a Bulgarian resort on the Black Sea.
Into the mix comes a woman in distress, Jessica Alba – who has been set up by Crain to persuade Bishop to do the hits and is being kept until he finishes, and is then to be disposed of.
One of the hits is in a Thai prison. Another is in a skyscraper in Sydney. However, with the third hit, the target is played by Tommy Lee Jones, an arms dealer with an elaborate plant in Bulgaria. Bishop does a deal with him, faking Tommy Lee Jones’s death, the possibility of an attack on Crain, the rescue of the girl and Crain’s death. All of which happens.
Direction is by the German Denis Gansel, taking on a Hollywood opportunity after his serious German films, The Wave and We are the Night.
1. Memories of the Charles Bronson original of the 70s? Memories of the remake with Jason Statham? The character and action continue?
2. The range of settings, the touristic attractiveness, the use of the settings for character and drama: Rio, the beaches, the mountain; Thailand, the coast and resorts, prison; Sydney, the characteristic locations and the harbour; Bulgaria and the Black Sea, the city, the water? The vast installation, underground, mechanisms? The musical score?
3. The presupposition that Arthur Bishop was dead? In Rio, his life? The approach of the agent, his not speaking English, her wanting to hire him for three hits, his expertise? His attack, her getting the toughs, the fight, the body count, his being taken to Crain?
4. The explanation of the hits? Crain’s hold over him? His sending Gina, Bishop and his rescuing her from the brutality, her ingratiating herself, his suspicions, telling the truth, Crain’s using her? Her being taken, the threats and Bishop having to comply?
5. Going to Thailand, Mei, her friendship, encouraging him?
6. The details of the hits, Bishop and his shrewdness, the warlord from Africa, in prison, Bishop going into the prison, the plan, ingratiating himself, the killing? The contrast with Sydney, the businessman and the top floor, going to the outside the building, crashing in, the killing, escaping down the building?
7. The visits to Crain, his still holding Gina?
8. The visit to Bulgaria, Max Adams and his power, arms dealing, his vast plant? Hospital? The encounter with Bishop? Doing the deal, the elaborate explosions and the pretence that Adams was dead? Bishop going to see Crain, the yacht, the shootings, the plan for the escape, the hatch, with Gina? Fighting Crain and his death? The escape?
9. The possibility for more hits from Arthur Bishop?
