Killer Elite
Of course this film is not in the MUBI library. I recently received an e-mail from 314 with his recent ranking of films. Since I agree with most of the ones I have seen, I decided that anything he deems to be better than 6/10 is worth watching. “Killer Elite” got a 7 and since Pip was interested in it AND the film is available on Netflix, so we decided to spend the evening watching it.
This introduction is relevant because the film marvelously met my expectations to the T. It’s pure entertainment but no more and no less. The film is incredibly dense, and made me in awe of how much action you can pack into 120 minutes, with multiple chase scenes and exciting one-to-one confrontations. I don’t think it is possible to be bored with this film, unless you absolutely hate all kinds of action scenes. As for me, I have slowly come to like them when they are well done, and in “Killer Elite” they certainly are. However, there is nothing new about the film, nothing overly exciting, it is not even emotional in any sense. I wouldn’t say the film is empty, but everything is just so convenient in it. While the circumstances in some action movies can provide for the best emotional drama sometimes (I am thinking of “Leon” or “Infernal Affairs” here), “Killer Elite” is completely boring when it comes to that. There is not enough drama or tragedy going on, and the uplifting ending does not fit the overall mood of the film.
314 put “Killer Elite” onto the same level as “Drive”. While “Drive” is certainly the more stylish and beautiful film, “Killer Elite” has a much better story, even with a better female lead. Just don’t be surprised by them saying “prick” and “bollocks” all the time.