Le Flingueur

Un thriller décent avec de sombres anti-héros - des tueurs à gages. Mais j'ai vraiment commencé à m'amuser seulement dans le dernier lieu. Tout ce qui précède repose en effet sur la chimie entre Bronson et Michael-Vincent, dont les dialogues taquins ne sont pas suffisamment captivants. Le personnage de Vincent en tant que jeune frimeur est mal développé et peu crédible pour être évalué comme un recrue prometteuse par le professionnel Bronson. C'est là que le monde souterrain dans lequel opère Le Flingueur devient plus intéressant. Il est le moteur atmosphérique du film. Trois étoiles et demie. (18/05/2020)

This is a typical macho action film, with the traditionally stony Charles Bronson, in particular, being good. It has been gnawed a bit by the ravages of time, which leaves the plot dragging a bit, but it makes up for it with perfect action (even the "stealth" stuff) and a great anti-feminist joke, where the female characters are portrayed as total idiots during their two minutes on screen; still, scissors should have been used both on Bronson's head and to cut the film's runtime. 3 ½. (24/01/2011)

With this film, director Winner finally captured my attention. I immediately rank The Mechanic among the best Bronson films I've seen. Much, much higher than the bland Death Wish. The film is a riveting spectacle, and the mood reminded me most of all of the legendary Get Carter with Michael Caine - I didn't find a weak scene, from beginning to end it was simply all excellent. The opening "silent" fifteen-minutes, the motorcycle and car chase, the final action with shotguns... Plus the spare but punchy dialogue between Bronson's neither black nor white Mr. Bishop and his young apprentice. Although it doesn't seem like it, the film actually deals with the theme of friendship and what it can lead to. The Mechanic is certainly not for everyone, but I can't get enough of it. (26/09/2012)