Killer Elite - 2011

Omnilab Media, Ambience Entertainment, Current Entertainment

Directed by Gary McKendry

Cast:

• Danny – Jason Statham
• Spike – Clive Owen
• Hunter – Robert De Niro
• Davies – Dominic Purcell
• Meier – Aden Young
• Anne – Yvonne Strahovski
• Martin – Ben Mendelsohn
• Agent - Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje

Story: Based on a true story by Ranulph Fiennes, a British officer in the service of the Sultanate of Oman, orginally published under the title “The Feather Men.” A special ops team of assassins is sent in to eliminate a politician, but after the assassin kills the target, he discovers there is a child in the car. He hesitates, is shot in the arm, and his team manages to extract him before the police and guards can get to him. As he is being driven away, he tells the team leader “I'm out.” approximately a year later, while working on his property in Australia, he receives a package in the mail containing an airline ticket and a photo of his team leader in captivity. When he arrives in Oman, the Sultan explains there are three men responsible for the deaths of his sons, and he wants them killed before he will uphold his bargain with the British for oil rights. If Danny, the assassin, does not do this, they will kill Hunter, his old team leader. There is a slight problem, the men he wants killed are all Special Air Service commandos, known as some of the most skilled killers in the world. As Danny works with his former teammates, Davies and Meier, to complete the task, Spike, a former SAS operative in the service of the “Feather Men”, discovers his former teammates are being killed and alerts the SAS. Danny must battle the British government's most prolific killers to keep his team leader alive.

Review: This is NOT a remake of the 1975 film! This is a remarkable translation of a book that exposes the British government, or at least a scheming, ruthless portion of it, for the money grubbing, greedy opportunists they were. Set in Oman in the 1980's, the film focuses on an elite team of assassins sent in under the guise of maintaining political stability to take out elements of the government who were unfriendly to British interests. There missions are simple assassinations, usually clean kills, until the one we see at the opening of the film. I could digress into the book itself, but had better stick to the movie if I don't want to start an editorial. I do highly recommend the book, if you have the time. As to the film, it is a no-holds barred look at the seedy underside of political deals and the life of a trained mercenary. Jason Statham gives a rare and remarkable performance as the assassin who is tired of the game, yet pulled back in to save the life of his former team leader, Robert De Niro. De Niro's performance is highly reminiscent of his role in Ronin, and he brings that sense of a man who knows so much more than he is willing to tell. Clive Owen is a passionate, cold blooded killer who has trouble coming to grips with his physical impairment (he lost an eye) which led to his discharge from the SAS. Dominic Purcell gives a stellar performance as the assassin who resembles Fiona in Burn Notice in attitude (“Shall we shoot them?”), but is intensely loyal and follows orders as directed. The film moves quickly, and the action is appropriate to the scene, which means that there are no added explosions or visuals beyond what is needed to get the point across. Rated R for language, violence, and some sexuality/nudity, this is a carefully thought out film without a bias. The events unfold, the story is told, and it is up to you, the viewer, to determine right and wrong. I will leave collectible up to you, it will depend on your taste in politics and war films.