“The Mechanic”
* 1/2 (out of 4)
Nearly 40 years ago, the original film put Charles Bronson on the road to box-office immortality. This time, we get sleeker, buffer, balder Jason Statham as Arthur Bishop, hit man extraordinaire. It’s still an action thriller, of course, and thus in thrall to its own brainlessness. Its heart remains the relationship between Arthur and Steve Mc- Kenna (Ben Foster). Statham does what he does — his characters are all business all the time, but usually there are people on the margins who care about such characters, making them human. Not this time. R. 1 hour, 35 minutes. John Anderson, The Washington Post
Hot Sara (Minka Kelly) is fresh on campus from Iowa. But her new roomie, Hot Rebecca (Leighton Meester), is an Angelino and is wise to the ways of L.A., rich, friendly and helpful. This timid thriller manages only a couple of mild jolts and a couple of creepy cringe-worthy moments in its variations-on-a-“Single White Female” theme. And Danish director Christian E. Christiansen does nothing remotely chilling with the visuals or the tempo. PG-13. 1 hour 33 minutes. Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
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Playing the other woman is an uncomfortable fit for Natalie Portman. Writer-director Don Roos’ script adaptation leaves holes in logic and emotional resonance. Does Portman’s character, Emilia, feel the slightest bit guilty about breaking up the marriage of an older, wealthy Manhattan lawyer named Jack (Scott Cohen)? Does Jack have any remorse about the way his affair has damaged the lives of his ex-wife, Carolyn (Lisa Kudrow), and his sensitive son, William (Charlie Tahan)? These are just some of the many questions begging to be answered. R. 1 hour 42 minutes. Christy Lemire, The Associated Press
