Killer Elite [2011]

The fun in this routine action flick is watching Jason Statham, Clive Owen and Robert DeNiro together in one film. But even those three can’t save “Killer Elite” from being formulaic and unashamedly manipulative. We’re told right at the beginning that the story we’re about to see is based on true events. Yet halfway through, I was seriously beginning to wonder if any of this really happened (check out Statham jumping out of a window, his hands tied to a chair). Anyway, Statham plays Danny, a retired Navy Seal and hired assassin who’d rather spend the rest of his life with his girlfriend back in Australia. But the’re pulling him back in. An Omani sheik has kidnapped Danny’s old partner Hunter (DeNiro), and has threatened to kill him, unless DeNiro starts making good movies again. Ok not really. What the Sheik really wants is for Danny to kill off the three British Special Air Service (SAS) jocks who killed his sons. He also wants video proof of the kills. Our man builds his team. So does Clive Owen, who plays an SAS jock out to protect his friends. You can probably guess the rest. There’s plenty of ass kicking scenes, and director Gary McKendry delivers the goods in many scenes. I guess what I’m trying to say is that fans of the genre will probably be satisfied with what the movie has to offer. What I find ridiculous though is that it pretends to be fact based and 100% true to its 80’s period. Just know it’s all bullshit.

Rating: 2/4