Killer Elite (2011)
Certified: 18
Duration: 100 minutes
Directed by: Gary McKendry
Starring: Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Yvonne Strahovski, Robert De Niro, Dominic Purcell, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Grant Bowler, Matthew Nable
KRS release
This adaptation of Ranulph Fiennes’s The Feather Men is a picture for Jason Statham fans; however, it also boasts the acting talents of Robert De Niro and Clive Owen.
In Mr Statham’s oeuvre this is the film that mostly resembles his other hit, The Bank Job, as it is also inspired by true events. Adding spice to the source material is the controversy that the factional (mix of fact and fiction) novel had garnered due to the way Britain is depicted as having been involved in an undercover fashion in Oman.
Danny (Jason Statham) is very good at his job. He works as a mercenary and along with his partner Hunter (Robert De Niro) they form a highly sought-after team… that is, until during an assignment Danny accidently ends up killing a child. He retires to Australia to live with his girlfriend Anne (Yvonne Strahovski). However, his retirement is short-lived as he is informed by the operative known as The Agent (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) that Hunter is in danger. Sheik Amir bin Issa (Rodney Afif) has taken Hunter prisoner and needs Danny to carry out a mission in exchange for Hunter’s life.
Initially, Hunter was assigned the job but refuses on discovering that it involved killing a group of ex-SAS soldiers in revenge for the death of the Sheik’s three sons.
Danny gathers a team; he wants to make these killings look like an accident and also videotape their confession. He moves under the watchful eye of the Sheik’s last son Bakhait (Firass Dirani).
Danny is however unaware that the secret organisation known as The Feather Men, whose aim is to defend ex-SAS operatives, is now gunning for him.
Spike (Clive Owen), a member of The Feather Men, has got a whiff of what Danny is up to. It all depends on who will be the first to complete their mission…
Mr Statham delivers his usual energetic and macho performance. Meanwhile, Clive Owen seems to be having a fine time as he chews up the scenery and seems intent to upstage Mr Statham’s brawny approach. Robert De Niro brings some gravitas to proceedings while Yvonne Strahovki is simply stunning.
It is very difficult to find heroes in this film and the audience will make up their own mind with whom to side. The Oman events were quite a dark affair and while these sentiments are touched upon, the emphasis here is more on inducing adrenaline. The opening scene really elucidates the film’s intention.
Under the direction of Gary McKendry, Killer Elite has a no-holds-barred mix of action and bravado, energy and smiles. It is a self-aware film that does not go out of its way to be anything more than what it is meant to be. The action is delivered in solid 1970s style – all guts, punches and square-jawed stuff.
Mr McKendry’s film seems fresh, polished and is a guaranteed hit among action lovers. The result is a muscular movie that is popcorn entertainment with a zing to it to keep its audience happy.