Killer Elite (2011)

Featured Audience Ratings

• jay n

  
  Just another explosion laden action flick with DeNiro and Clive Owen slumming and picking up a paycheck.

• Dean !

  
  A very good action/thriller with a great cast and strong story based on a book about real SAS events in the 80's. Certainly a level above most of Jason Statham's recent action films which keep being churned out very often. If you like a bit of depth to back up the action… More
  A very good action/thriller with a great cast and strong story based on a book about real SAS events in the 80's. Certainly a level above most of Jason Statham's recent action films which keep being churned out very often. If you like a bit of depth to back up the action this is the film for you.

• Justin Y

  
  Based off of Ranulph Fiennes' book, Gary McKendry brings <i>Killer Elite</i> up to a crime thriller level.<p>In a nutshell, the concept of the plot is as its title states; just without the punch or kick to push it over the top. The story does have its share of… More
  Based off of Ranulph Fiennes' book, Gary McKendry brings <i>Killer Elite</i> up to a crime thriller level.<p>In a nutshell, the concept of the plot is as its title states; just without the punch or kick to push it over the top. The story does have its share of twists, and maybe a tad much,which prolongs the final act and pushes things out to 110 minutes.</p><p>The action is nothing out of the ordinary. The gun play and fist to fist brawls only provide a certain level of entertainment before getting a little stale. <i>Killer Elite</i> is more about the story than it is the action.</p><p>Jason Statham is his cut and dry elite operative self. Clive Owen falls into a similar bucket. There isn't much to fault because they do match with their respective characters. Dominic Purcell and Robert De Niro deliver some good performances. It's safe to say that De Niro is under utilized.</p><p><i>Killer Elite</i> doesn't exactly bore; however, at the same time it doesn't excite. Watchable.</p>

• Chris W

  
  This is a surprisingly solid, entertaining, and well done action film. You'd think I wouldn't have been a been wary of this film given it's cast and subject matter, but I was. Maybe my growing cynicism is to blame. Anyways, the plot concerns a retired hit man named… More
  This is a surprisingly solid, entertaining, and well done action film. You'd think I wouldn't have been a been wary of this film given it's cast and subject matter, but I was. Maybe my growing cynicism is to blame. Anyways, the plot concerns a retired hit man named Danny Bryce who is thrown back into the game after his mentor Hunter is captured due to failing to complete a job. In order to complete the job and save Hunter, Danny has to kill several men for a terminally ill shiek who wants to see that the men who killed three of his sons are likewise killed. To succeed, Danny has to get taped confessions from the targets, make their deaths look like accidents, and do it all before the sheik dies. To complicate matters, all the targets are either curent or former members of the SAS, or British special forces. These men are being looked after by a secret society who likes to protect their own. When the killings start, the society sends out their chief enforcer Spike Logan to figure out what the heck is going on. Sound complicated yet? Yes, the plot is rather muddled and all over the place, and sometimes I had no idea what was going on, but I had a good time watching this and managed to actually keep a lot of it in place and figured out. It's supposedly based on true events, though that claim is highly contested. What I do know is that this is a sharp, well made action thriller that will please a lot of people. Yeah, it's a "Jason Statham" action movie, but unlike some of his other films, the action here is more restrained, far less ridiculous, and somewhat more realistic. It's also a period piece, so we get to see Europe and other parts of the globe circa the early 80s, and from design perspective, this is awesome. Keeping in line with contemporary style trends though, the film is shot through a cool blue filter, diverting away from the yellows, browns, etc of 70s and 80s action pictures. The film is slick, and occasionally the editing is a bit frenzied (as is also the norm nowadays), but the story is intriguing, the action scenes and stunts are well done, and, most surprising of all, there's some actually pretty good performances here. Statham is his usual action badass self, but there's touchs of the erformance he gave in The Bank Job as well. It's great seeing Robert De Niro back into bad ass mode, as it's been a very long time since we've gotten to see him do something awesome again. Clive Owen rocks a mean stache as the enforcer Spike Logan, but for me, the real delight here was Dominic Purcell as Davies- an associate of Danny and Hunter's who helps see that the mission is completed. He rocks some awesome chops and brings some needed comedy to the proceedings, and probably has the most fun role of the film. All in all, if you want well done action mixed with a great sense of style, and some decent performances with a good, but could have been better story, then this is the film for you.

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  Cast: Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Robert De Niro, Dominic Purcell, Aden Young, Yvonne Strahovski, Ben Mendelsohn, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Grant Bowler, Michael Dorman, Firass Dirani, Lachy Hulme, Sandy Greenwood Director: Gary McKendry Summary: This globe-trotting thriller, based… More
  Cast: Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Robert De Niro, Dominic Purcell, Aden Young, Yvonne Strahovski, Ben Mendelsohn, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Grant Bowler, Michael Dorman, Firass Dirani, Lachy Hulme, Sandy Greenwood Director: Gary McKendry Summary: This globe-trotting thriller, based on a true story, follows Danny Bryce, a former British special ops tough guy forced to come out of retirement when his mentor is kidnapped by a ruthless criminal. Enraged, Danny has to dodge three top assassins. My Thoughts: "If you watch a film with Jason Statham you know your going to be enjoying an action flick. The action is non-stop and there is plenty of good fighting scenes too. Jason, Clive, and De Niro all do fantastic work in this film. I loved that there was three parties in the film and not the regular two going at it. The film has an interesting story which helps any action thriller. I thought De Niro and Statham had great chemistry. I'd like to see them do another action flick together. The movie was better then I was expecting. The ending was a bit mushy for my taste but every hero needs a damsel."

• Albert K

  
  oh no... another Jason Statham action movie... oh wait, there's Robert De freakin Niro and Clive Owen. Count me in. But "Killer Elite" is crippled with an awful screenplay and horrible actors standing next to these beasts. The introduction trickles out with cheesy… More
  oh no... another Jason Statham action movie... oh wait, there's Robert De freakin Niro and Clive Owen. Count me in. But "Killer Elite" is crippled with an awful screenplay and horrible actors standing next to these beasts. The introduction trickles out with cheesy B-movie material: Horrible dialogue and cliches of a "serious and gritty" action movie... There were moments where one of the characters would utter a cringe-worthy line and it would lead me to roll my eyes and go, "...really?". But I was pleasantly surprised by how the action picks up. The action is entertaining and smartly executed. It isn't a "blow everything up in the place while Jason Statham walks scratchless" action movie. Yes, it tries to be a Bourne knock-off, but it pulls it off and its entertaining enough. It's a good action thriller that isn't loud and obnoxious. The action is executed at a frenetic pace that is engaging and thrilling. The same can't be said about the plot, dialogue, or the chemistry between the characters. At least De Niro and Owen pull off their roles well. If you've been waiting for another movie with the same style and action as the Bourne series, here it is. Just don't expect it to be a well-rounded, excellent movie that is on the same caliber as the Bourne series.

• Bruce B

  
  How can you gather these 3 stars together and not have a good movie. A spy vs spy vs the Saudi king movie. A Saudi king wants revenge for the killing of his 3 sons, in the mean time are renegade spies getting set up. 4 Stars

• Thomas B

  
  Terrible. Absolutely terrible. Full review later.

• Melvin W

  
  Spike: This ends today. âMay The Best Man Liveâ� I really like the cast involved here. Robert De Niro, Jason Statham, Clive Owen, and Dominic Purcell are all fun to watch. As for the film itself, it leaves a lot to be desired. I initially couldnâ(TM)t believe that this movie could… More
  Spike: This ends today. âMay The Best Man Liveâ� I really like the cast involved here. Robert De Niro, Jason Statham, Clive Owen, and Dominic Purcell are all fun to watch. As for the film itself, it leaves a lot to be desired. I initially couldnâ(TM)t believe that this movie could possibly as bad as I had heard. With a cast like this and a story that could and should be at the very least exciting, I believed I was in for a solid two hours of entertainment. Iâ(TM)m unhappy to say that wasnâ(TM)t true. Danny retires from the killing game, but he is forced to make a comeback when his mentor is abducted. He has a mission to kill three assassins. It turns into your typical action thriller, but it seems like director Gary McKendry thinks the film is a whole lot smarter than it really is. I would have liked if it was smart or entertaining. One or the other would have been fine, but Killer Elite isnâ(TM)t smart and it definitely isnâ(TM)t entertaining. Iâ(TM)d actually argue that it was boring. It has a few decent action scenes, but much of what they are showing us is pretty underwhelming. Disappointment is all that really comes from watching Killer Elite. Thereâ(TM)s disappointment in the waste of a great cast and in the waste of a great story. This could have been great. Instead it is mediocre at best. Not really worth your time, but if you watch it, expect some pretty good performances that arenâ(TM)t backed up by a good script.

• Jeff "

  
  Killer Elite is a high octane action film with a good cast. The film is flawed, but nonetheless the film is mindless fun. However, after reading extensively on the SAS, it was clear that the facts and practices of the SAS have been hHollywoodized to make them look like easy targets.… More
  Killer Elite is a high octane action film with a good cast. The film is flawed, but nonetheless the film is mindless fun. However, after reading extensively on the SAS, it was clear that the facts and practices of the SAS have been hHollywoodized to make them look like easy targets. Other than that, the film was good, but not the best. I've seen far better action films than this. Nonetheless, this is a fun ride from start to finish. The acting is questionable, but pretty decent. I mean what can you expect from a mindless popcorn flick? Killer Elite is the type of film that you watch on a boring Friday night. This is the perfect film to watch and enjoy. Like I said the film isn't perfect, but for what it is, it's a mindless actioner that delivers. The film has some good action scenes that are exciting. However it doesn't do anything new or original, but it's still lots of fun on-screen. Director Gary Mckendry directs a good action film using the traditional ingredients for an effective action film. Killer Elite is not the best action film, but it definitely is a good time. I very much enjoyed the film despite the small problems I had with the way the SAS were portrayed I liked the film. Killer Elite will appeal to any serious action film buff, and it's a good time from start to finish. The film may not be perfect, but kit more than makes up for it with its exciting action.

• Anthony L

  
  Lovers of Jason Statham action films may feel a little let down but people, like me, who are put off by mindless action films may want to rethink as this is quite an intelligent thriller. The casting is pretty good, you're never too sure of Robert De Niro's character or… More
  Lovers of Jason Statham action films may feel a little let down but people, like me, who are put off by mindless action films may want to rethink as this is quite an intelligent thriller. The casting is pretty good, you're never too sure of Robert De Niro's character or Clive Owen's for that matter but this only adds to the curiosity and intrigue this film excellently creates. It's not a masterpiece by any stretch but it is a pleasant surprise - some scenes just do not work and when Sir Ranulph Fiennes turned up I wondered if it was some kind of bizarre comedy (I've not read his books) but it all made sense in the end. A very clever way of bringing The Feather Men to the big screen, imaginative if not a little odd but original all the same. Certainly worth a go!

• Manu G

  
  May the Best Man Live Good movie but overall the movie doesn't hold together very well. There is too much that they are trying to accomplish, but not enough gets developed. For instance, the romance between Danny (Statham) and Anne (Yvonne Strahovski) just seems to be cut in to… More
  May the Best Man Live Good movie but overall the movie doesn't hold together very well. There is too much that they are trying to accomplish, but not enough gets developed. For instance, the romance between Danny (Statham) and Anne (Yvonne Strahovski) just seems to be cut in to the movie in a few places. The Feathermen (the group about whom the book the movie draws from is written) appear in a few scenes, yet they're role is barely explored. They are spliced in just enough to give Spike (Clive Owen) a support system. Based on a true story, Killer Elite pits two of the worlds' most elite operatives - Danny, an ex-special ops agent (Jason Statham) and Hunter, his longtime mentor (Robert De Niro) - against the cunning leader of a secret military society ('Clive Owen' ). Covering the globe from Australia to Paris, London and the Middle East, Danny and Hunter are plunged into a highly dangerous game of cat and mouse - where the predators become the prey.

• Matt G

  
  Danny Bryce: You and I got a lot in common. Well, I didn't expect it to be this solid. Jason Statham is Danny Bryce, an elite operative who stopped working after an operation went wrong. When his ex-partner Hunter (Robert De Niro) is kidnapped, Danny gets off his ass and takes… More
  Danny Bryce: You and I got a lot in common. Well, I didn't expect it to be this solid. Jason Statham is Danny Bryce, an elite operative who stopped working after an operation went wrong. When his ex-partner Hunter (Robert De Niro) is kidnapped, Danny gets off his ass and takes responsibility of rescuing him. After the rescue, they are in a battle with Spike (Clive Owen), the leader of a secret military society. May the best man live. When this was first announced, all I thought it would be was a standard Statham action flick, and while it is, the film is aided by the presence of Robert De Niro, but his performance isn't good enough to make me forgive him for 'Little Fockers'. Clive Owen is in pure badass mode, reminding me of his over-the-top awesome performance in 'Shoot Em Up'. Statham is... well Statham. Yvonne Strahovski from TV's 'Chuck' shines as she is finally in a role where she gets to take advantage of having a thick Australian accent. All in all, a solid cast. Viewers need to acknowledge that this is not anything you've never seen before; but there is some enjoyment from watching these three duke it out. All of the action sequences are well executed, but again, it's nothing you've never seen before. Additionally, I wouldn't recommend viewing this on Blu-ray, at least to me; it's a theater only film. Perhaps I am in the minority (especially since my audience clapped at the end), but I didn't like this too much, but it is good for a one time watch.

• Phil H

  
  'This is the best special forces unit in the world, they make the Navy Seals look like a bunch of cupcakes' Possibly the best line of the film or any film for some time :). Based on a controversial novel by Sir Ranulph Fiennes called 'The Feather Men' this is a… More
  'This is the best special forces unit in the world, they make the Navy Seals look like a bunch of cupcakes' Possibly the best line of the film or any film for some time :). Based on a controversial novel by Sir Ranulph Fiennes called 'The Feather Men' this is a ripping story based on assassins and major undercover ops within the British Empire surrounding our Special Air Service unit. What makes this so intriguing is the fact its supposed to based on or around fact and the author Fiennes was actually one SAS serviceman almost killed, wether this is all accurate or exaggerated is questionable but makes for a great film. Of course the Ministry of Defence denies all actions undertaken within the book, naturally, but the events all surrounding the control of oil in the Oman area is highly possible and the British Empire are highly skilled at coverups and keeping things hush hush, what is surprising is the use of SAS servicemen for the fall seeing as they are the best of the best are most definitely not disposable. As for this film I can't quite understand why it has received such negative reviews, it has excellent action, stealth, espionage of sorts and has the 80's recreated very well. The title doesn't help of course, to read it you would think its some kind of blistering nonstop explosion filled gun fest much like 'The Expendables', with the casting of Statham I can also understand the confusion with this notion as he is not exactly a subtle actor for a sensible film. The fact is there is really a very very good espionage thriller underneath but has been badly miscast with Statham, probably to give the film a much bigger impact and attract more of an audience with an action man feel, thus giving the film a completely upside down outlook and messing up a possibly intelligent film. Everyone else in the film is cast well and makes for a sensible exciting thrilling ride but Statham brings a kind of dumb invincible superhero theme to it which takes it believeability away sadly. Think 'The Bourne Identity' but with Statham as the lead but also add in a hint of 'Ronin' (a better film I might add). Its still a fun film with great set pieces, hard to believe its all fact I must admit, I haven't read the novel so I can't compare but its hard to think a few mercs could take down experienced SAS servicemen. I wonder if Fiennes likes this Statham vehicle adaptation, decent enough but a missed chance for a real classic.

• Mike S

  
  Hard-boiled and fast-paced, this highly entertaining action-thriller is a solid remedy in the battle against boredom. And you certainly can't go wrong with three of Hollywood's coolest action stars (Jason Statham, Clive Owen and Robert De Niro). All of whom adds star quality… More
  Hard-boiled and fast-paced, this highly entertaining action-thriller is a solid remedy in the battle against boredom. And you certainly can't go wrong with three of Hollywood's coolest action stars (Jason Statham, Clive Owen and Robert De Niro). All of whom adds star quality to this rip-roaring pulse-pounder, that doesn't take "slow" for an answer. Thrill junkies will definitely not be disappointed, as it packs a lot of heat with some top notch, slam-bang and effective moments of sheer adrenaline. Heck, there's even a scene where they use a loaf of bread for a silencer. Prison Break's Dominic Purcell gives a very notable performance as well, and fits in superbly with this band of hard-headed veterans. I wish there was more I could say about the film, but it's pretty typical for its genre, so there's not much else to be added that I haven't already covered in dozens of other reviews of similar actioners. All you really need to know though is that it's surely worth checking out. A great way to kill some time, although not quite to the level of deserving the word "elite".

• Al S

  
  An excellent and explosive action film that puts story, substance and characters before the spectacle. A strong, edgy, solid and powerful movie. It packs some intense punch and great character development. It`s smart, hard-boiled, intense and wickedly entertaining. A top-notch… More
  An excellent and explosive action film that puts story, substance and characters before the spectacle. A strong, edgy, solid and powerful movie. It packs some intense punch and great character development. It`s smart, hard-boiled, intense and wickedly entertaining. A top-notch action-packed edge of your seat thriller. A heat-seeking missel of a roller-coaster ride that dosent stop. A riveting, thrilling and utterly breathtaking movie. A tremendosuly enjoyable film that`s loaded with heart-pounding suspense and non-stop action. This movie was nothing but flat-out awesome from start to finish. It`s the real deal. Director, Gary McKendrys firey directional debut is nothing short of sensational work. The all-star cast takes the cake with their powerhouse performances. Jason Statham is at his absolute best, giving an outstanding performance. Clive Owen is magnificent. Robert De Niro is fantastic. De Niro, Owen and Statham are amazing in this film adding alot of strengths to their characters and develop them very well. An unforgettable adrenaline-rush.

• Kase V

  
  'Killer Elite' suffers from an overdose of over-the-top action sequences that it loses too much credibility. The is some cause for excitement, yes, for the action junkies. But the acting is so wooden and dialogue so bland that it can't be saved from the usual… More
  'Killer Elite' suffers from an overdose of over-the-top action sequences that it loses too much credibility. The is some cause for excitement, yes, for the action junkies. But the acting is so wooden and dialogue so bland that it can't be saved from the usual back-of-the-shelf action movie that Statham has been starring in a lot lately. Very, Very forgettable.

• Michael S

  
  "Killer Elite" is a solid film that surprisingly puts character and plot before spectacle. It does a lot of things right and has all the pieces in place to be a top notch action-thriller. This makes it's flaws all the more disappointing. The plot is bloated and… More
  "Killer Elite" is a solid film that surprisingly puts character and plot before spectacle. It does a lot of things right and has all the pieces in place to be a top notch action-thriller. This makes it's flaws all the more disappointing. The plot is bloated and overstuffed. There is a lot going on and a lot of characters to keep track of, as well as double crosses and the like. It at times seems unnecessarily difficult to figure out what some of the character's motivations are. The web of a plot is thick in explaination, which unfortunately slows the film's pace down quite a bit from time to time. All of this thematic padding made the film feel a lot longer than it actually was. But the film, in the hands of promising newcomer Gary McKendry, does a lot right... and for this it deserves to be seen. The plot itself is pretty neat for a film of this kind and is in no way something you've seen before. Yes, it feels like too much in spots, but McKendry keeps thing moving along in appropriately stylish and comprehensible fashion. You may get a little confused, but the film always pulls you back in. Jason Statham once again proves to be the most reliable and interesting of action stars, and Clive Owen and Robert DeNiro are fun to watch (though they are on autopilot and can play these roles in their sleep). "Killer Elite" is a film that I think is even better than I'm selling it as, but it's short comings cast an unfortunate shadow. With a little tweaking it could have been on par with films such as "The Bank Job," but instead it is a good actioner that I can wholeheartedly recommend on the basis of it's strengths.

• Lenny M

  
  All over the place, misguided but fun action movie. Yet again Robert De Niro gets top billing but is in about 10 minutes of this movie.

• Liam G

  
  It's not that ''Killer Elite'' is a horrible film, it's just that it is one huge plate of mediocrity. There's really nothing that stands out apart from one or two enjoyable action sequences and decent performances from the three leads. But the tone… More
  It's not that ''Killer Elite'' is a horrible film, it's just that it is one huge plate of mediocrity. There's really nothing that stands out apart from one or two enjoyable action sequences and decent performances from the three leads. But the tone is muddled, the plot is extremely convoluted, the dialogue is weak and the film is way too long, which leads to an overall dull and mediocre action picture.

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