Review of film: “KILLER ELITE”

2011, 09-20:

Review of film:  “KILLER ELITE”

This 105-minute R-rated film was directed by GARY McKENDRY...

...  The film is “centered” on a 1991 novel called called “THE FEATHER MEN”  by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, ostensibly based on a true story about some “undercover” episodes involving various groups... 

...  As the movie starts, we’re in a small town in MEXICO, where a “private” group of killers has been hired to ASSASSINATE some “big shot”...

 

...  We meet ex-Special-ops gunman Danny (JASON STATHAM), who’s working with his older partner Hunter (ROBERT De NIRO) to try to stop the convoy of cars carrying their targets... 

...  In the ensuing fight, Jason gets in trouble, & his life is SAVED by Robert, who he’s forever grateful to for getting him to safety...

...  Tired of the dangerous life he’d been leading for years, Jason tries to retire to somewhere in Australia, living with his girlfriend Anne (YVONNE STRAHOVSKI)...

...  All of a sudden, Jason is informed that he “must” go to OMAN (in the SE corner of the Arabian Peninsula, across the Persian Gulf from Iran)...

...  He doesn’t want to go--  until he hears that his old friend ROBERT is being held CAPTIVE there;  he feels he “owes” it to Robert to try to help him, so he quickly picks up & goes...

...  In Oman, Jason is brought before old Sheikh Amr (RODNEY AFIF).  He explains that Robert was kidnapped because he wants JASON’s help in exacting some REVENGE:

...  It seems the Sheikh had 4 sons, 3 of whom were killed by undercover BRITISH special forces called the SAS (Special Air Services) while those agents were secretly fighting against guerrillas with “Communist” leanings...      

...  He introduces his last living son, Bakhait (FIRASS DIRANI), who he expects to take over his tribe & lands when he dies...

...  But, the Sheikh feels his people won’t ACCEPT his son unless he can prove that his dead sons were “SET-UP” by the British & that the sons & he did nothing WRONG (as the British tried to claim to the world)...

...  Accordingly, he wants Jason to track down the 3 British agents who killed his sons, get VIDEO footage to him of them ADMITTING their illegal activities that he was “blamed” for, & then Jason was to KILL the agents who’d killed his children...

...  After meeting with Robert to be sure he was all right, Jason takes off for PARIS & LONDON... 

...  He meets with a bunch of “shady” characters such as a black Agent (ADEWALE AKINNUOYE-AGBAJE) who gave him some “leads” to FINDING the 3 British ex-agents who the Sheikh wants killed... 

...  Jason gathers together some “helpers” for his planned exploits against the guys the Sheikh wants killed...

...  Periodically, we’re shown private MEETINGS of ex-SAS men (called the “FEATHER MEN” for their “light touch” in private dealings) who have been trying to look like legitimate “businessmen” to HIDE their past undercover work...

...  The rich men want to stifle any possible “publicity” about their pasts, & allow a younger associate named “Spike” (CLIVE OWEN) to try to PROTECT them & their “interests” against the “rumors” that “someone” is out to try to KILL some of the people they’d been “working” with...

...  Jason & his “assistants” work to try to FIND & ELIMINATE the 3 British agents (after getting their taped confessions for the Sheikh)...

...  One-by-one, Jason & his cohorts go after the Agents & their “protectors”— Davies (DOMINIC PURCELL), Martin (BEN MENDELSOHN), Meier (ADEN YOUNG), etc....

...  But, complicating Jason’s efforts is the intrusion of CLIVE & HIS cohorts... 

...   Thus we have a bunch of CONFLICTING combat concerning the two opposing groups & their “allies”, which eventually also involves Pennock (MATTHEW NABLE), Harris (LACHY HULME), the MI6 Man (DAVID WHITELEY), Commander B (NICK TATE), & others...

...  We are thus treated to numerous “CHASE” & battle scenes as the groups go “AFTER” each other & try to stop the various “agendas” of their adversaries...

...  What character will turn out to be a “DOUBLE AGENT”?...  How successful will Jason be in getting the taped confessions that are so important to the Sheikh?...  Will he try to trick the Sheikh to make his efforts easier?...

...  What unexpected TWISTS will arise that will complicate Jason’s original plans?...  What “good guys” & “baddies” will survive at the END of the conflicts?...

...  Will Jason be able to get Robert RELEASED from the Sheikh’s clutches, &, if so, will he be “needed” (or able) to help protect some of JASON’s “interests”?...         

...  The story as explained “bit-by-bit” comes across as somewhat “CONFUSING” at times (which I’ve tried to “clear-up” a bit in my info above)... 

...  Those sometimes-“unclear” plot-line segments tend to “distract” from the basic “plans”, which periodically LESSENS the “impact” of what’s going on (& things about to happen)...

...  There’s lots of impressive ACTION in the fights, chases, ATTACK plans & executions, etc...  The acting is appropriately “TOUGH” & EFFECTIVE from the main actors (tho do understand that Robert De Niro’s role is comparatively SMALL)...  

    

...  All things considered, it’s an ENJOYABLE (if not “flawlessly”-executed) “cat-&-mouse” thriller, which I’m rating at 7.75 of 10 stars...

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