Killer Elite

Another year, another mediocre Robert De Niro film!!!

I can't be overly cynical about a movie that involves Jason Statham, as the script was never going to be the relevant factor. Full of ridiculous OTT action - Yes!
Well, I knew what I was getting myself into so I can't really complain and will try to be constructive.

Based on a true story and set in the early 1980's, Danny (Statham) is a special ops agent forced out of retirement to save his friend and mentor - Hunter (De Niro), who's being held hostage in Oman by a wealthy sheik. Danny must hunt down and kill the people that murdered the sheik's three sons, in return for his friend's release. A six million pound reward is also on the table.

This is a massive feat as he must make all murders look accidental and force the victim to confess on camera. Also, all 3 killers are former British SAS men living in anonymity in Britain.
Danny recruits some former allies to help him in his mission to uncover his targets and ultimately kill them. Standing in their way is a secret society of former SAS agents who will stop at nothing to prevent the SAS's supposed wrongdoings being exposed to the world.

And that's basically it!!!

It's all about the fight scenes, car chases and corny macho one liners. If it was on as a two hour Sunday night drama on UTV after an X Factor fest it would be a great night of tv. However, this movie obviously wants to be more than mere TV fodder, but that's all it merits.

As for the acting, well Jason Statham is Jason Statham. He's not trying to be taken serious! Clive Owen is probably the best thing about the movie as the die hard SAS man fighting the cause. Although he is so much better than this middle of the road action farce. As for De Niro....

I'm baffled by his choices of films these days. Surely he doesn't need the money???
There is no way an actor of his caliber could have read this script and thought, yeah this is a challenge!
He's not on screen for a hell of a lot of time so I guess the producers thought that they'd throw a lot of money his way and hope that De Niro's name as top billing would make the movie a major attraction and a sure fire hit.
Well, this ceased to be the case a long time ago.

He is probably the best actor of our generation and I am a big fan but with his box office stature increasingly declining, his status as an acting legend is dangerously at risk.
There was a time when his mere name connected with a film, would guarantee an immediate buzz and interest. Nowadays it is the total opposite as unfortunately his bad reputation is exceeding him!

Wait for the DVD!


Score: 4/10