Title: Killer Elite
Director: Gary McKendry
Starring: Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Robert De Niro, Dominic Purcell, Yvonne Strahovski, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Aden Young
Killer Elite begins with the “Based on true events” tagline. It just so happens the 100 minute feature could have actually happened; as it is based off a book titled, The Feather Men, whose author has been coy on whether or not the content in the pages contain actual truths. Looking into the facts after seeing the film may have one appreciating this standard action piece a bit more. Either way, seeing Jason Statham in this type of role & script once again, we can finally coin the phrase, “It’s a Jason Statham flick.”
Yep. Any straight-up action movie that attempts to develop the characters and sees Statham periodically kicking-ass has now become an official genre just as a Jackie Chan piece (prior to Rush Hour). Good news is that Statham generally picks action scripts that try to have a purpose instead of the ones that employ “less talk, bigger body count.”
Statham and De Niro play contract-killers who have a rep for being one of the best in the underground business. They receive their orders from the agent-like, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and the duo – along with team members Dominic Purcell and Aden Young – usually get the job done. Statham’s character decides to leave the game of killing but is pushed to come out of retirement for a dicey mission when a vengeful Sheikh (Rodney Afif) holds De Niro hostage in order to force his exceptional killing hand.
Statham agrees to the gig in order to save his mentor yet the missions requires him to match his impressive skills with elite British specials forces called the SAS (Special Air Service). When the enforcer of the retired SAS group, Clive Owen, finds out his serving buddies are dying, he attempts to track the elusive Statham and his team down.
The movie was predominantly shot in Australia even though the story places this tale in the desert, Paris and London. And the year is 1980 with the backdrop of the “oil rush” during that time. The setting and/or backdrop really doesn’t factor into how one will take this predictable and fundamental action piece. It is what is, and it works alright for fans of the genre. Only thing missing was a solid sex scene.
Sticking with the action staples, Statham’s and Owen’s battles (mentally & physically) are engrossing to watch. When these moments are taking place, the performances and the movie mechanics are all on the same page. Everything else leading up or coming after is essentially mindless masturbation. Since this flick encompasses seldom comedy, one could compare this to a bland A-Team or The Losers products from last year.
Overall, Killer Elite is an average action movie. Full disclosure, this review was written about five days after the screening and there isn’t anything memorable to elaborate on other than what has already been stated. So that should hopefully tell you something. The flick has decent action, a boring script, and a game cast trying to make the most of it. Knowing that what was depicted on-screen may have occurred adds some intrigue; but as stated just a few sentences ago, the movie has already been filed in mental limbo.
Technical: C+
Story: B
Acting: B
Overall: C+
Review by Joe Belcastro
