Killer Elite

Out of the game hitman, Danny, is pulled back in for one last job to save his friend’s life. The job isn’t one he’d take if Hunter’s life wasn’t on the line: Killing 3 British SAS officers isn’t going to be a walk in the park for anyone – no matter their skill set.

With the help of two pals from the old days, Danny sets about getting the soldier’s confessions and making their death’s look like accidents. Unbeknownst to Danny, the Feather Men, a society of Ex-SAS, are tracking his movements and trying to save the lives of their brethren. Killing the elite is not a task for the faint of Heart.

My Thoughts:

I haven’t read the novel this is adapted from, and I don’t know that I will. I’m not always a fan of fiction based on true events like this, especially when the author is a part of the story. Also, this is one of those movies, where I don’t really know who to root for. I know Jason Statham’s character is supposed to be the hero (or in this case the anti-hero) but I can’t really find a reason to like him for what he’s doing. Sure, he’s trying to save his friend’s life, but I don’t think that’s enough in this case. You have a dying man who wants his son’s avenged – and I’m of the opinion that in War-time there are unfortunate and often avoidable deaths that can’t be  tried in a normal manner. And I don’t see much of any reason to care who wins on either side.

Making the deaths look like an accident is… odd. Honeslty, the second death – faking hypothermia – is the only one that I think they did right. In the first instance, they took the time to get the tile’s matched and glue them to a hammer… but they didn’t take the time to make the hammer consistent with the shape of the shower’s lip? You have a flat corner… that you’re trying to emulate with a pointed hammer? And the third death, while, sure it looks like an accident. I’ll give you that, it’s an incredibly dick move to put that man’s death on someone else’s conscience. I realize you’re hitmen, but have a little respect.

Dominic Purcell could not have looked more creep-tastic…. Unless maybe if they’d given him pedo tendancies. I know it’s the 80’s when this is taking place, but I feel like his character never left the seventies. It simply feels wrong.  

Runtime: 116 minutes