The Russian Specialist (2005)

Very disappointing...

The Worst Film Ever

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

His family killed dead by the Mafia in a drug deal gone bad, Dolph returns to Russia from a stateside sabbatical to finish the job he failed six years earlier. With the added goal of rescuing a pimped Americenne as moral ammunition.The acting leaves you expecting a sudden plot twist where it's revealed you were duped and you are watching a cheap porno. While the whole time you're wondering what kind of sicko gives a bunch of Russian kids guns and tells them to watch Dolph's back. Naturally they pass the Mechanik's pop sweep test, but as time passes and bullets bounce through him into his comrades it's apparent they won't last the journey.Fortunately for progression's sake the Mafioso had the sense to read the script the night before. While the good guys favour plenty of pit stops to slow their escape in a clapped-out van the bad guys take a laid-back approach arriving comfortably in stylish executive saloons. Interrogating discarded support actors until the general direction of the next set is revealed.The showdown redefines the term 'tactical weapons' with bullet-strider Dolph picking an over and under shotgun to irritate the opposition into submission while his rag-tag troupe make every attempt to get themselves shot. In a moment of climactic tension the drop off driver reverses a front-wheel drive into a shallow ditch and is righteously executed for his lack of skills. Giddy from the acquisition of a suitcase full of dollars the boss trips headfirst into hostage soup. Dolph fishes him out only to put him back with both barrels.Thankfully, after a brief tear-jerking mother daughter reunion you can switch off, go to sleep and repress all that trauma.

Dolph's first directing effort, The Defender, was a nice little action piece. Granted, the movie was low budget, but there was enough enthusiasm and excitement to make it worthwhile.The Russian Specialist,aka The Mechanik, as it should be called; is a distinct step UP for Dolph. His direction is incredibly assured for someone who's only directed one other movie.I won't go into story specifics here because everybody already knows what this about. However, I will go into the production and performances.Dolph has changed as an actor. He's matured, he's confident in his skin. That is half the battle, and he wins bigtime.Ben Cross is the comedy relief/dramatic Brit. He's one of the film's better assets.The rest of the performers are more than adequate. The villains in particular, are slimy and nasty. It's a good thing they're slaughtered in such a brutal fashion!!! The script for this film, while hardly original, is pretty good for low budget fare like this. It pushes all the right buttons at the right time. The dialog is also quite good.Dolph, the director, is in very good form. His style is loose and fluid. Think Tony Scott meets John Woo and you're on the right track.The score by Elia Cmiral is haunting when it needs to be and tense when the crap hits the fan. Which brings us to the action set pieces.Although they're not numerous, the action scenes are well done and VIOLENT! Dolph pulls no punches with this flick. The deaths come fast, hard and furious! Overall, this little film is quite good. I eagerly await the next Dolph film. To those who have not checked out this film and The Defender, I recommend you do so.

I was an exchange student in London a year ago and had the great opportunity of meeting Dolph in person, and he gave me an autograph. He was very gracious and kind. I don't watch a lot of his movie usually but I decided to watch this one earlier today (my boyfriend works in a video store and got me it a day early!).I really enjoyed the movie it was very good. Dolph looks good too (I didn't say this to my boyfriend, I'm so bad!) and of course there is lots of fights and things too so he was happy. I liked the scenes with Dolph and Ben Cross, they were engaging and Ben is a really top actor (not that Dolph isn't a good one).Anyways this was a good film and although it was a bit overly violent at times, a little sadistic it was well made.

Honestly guys this movie the Mechanik has to be one of the most boring and pathetic movies i have seen in a while. I don not know how other people can rate this as a great revenge movie, it's cheap the acting just was so bad, i think the Wiggles could have done better!!!! This movie could have been so damn good only if the acting was better and had a lot more action. I must admit though that it had a good tag line but that's about it. I think only one man could have changed this movie around would be John Woo for the Action!!!! Beyond all honesty i would not recommend this movie to anyone, for the simple fact on how bad the acting and action scenes were. You would think that by reading other users comments that this sounds like a great movie but believe you me it's not. Better wait until it comes out on TV and then watch it.