Movie Review: ELITE SQUAD (2007)

ELITE SQUAD

Review by Gabriel

FILM DETAILS

Review Score: 90% (Excellent)
Director: Jose Padihla
Genre: Action, Drama, Crime
Starring: Wagner Moura, André Ramiro, Caio Junqueira, Fernanda Machado
Runtime: 115
Rating: R for strong violence, pervasive language and drug content

1997, Rio de Janeiro. The streets are filled with murder and corruption. Drug trafficking is at an all time high. Things are so bad, that the police cannot handle it anymore, especially since most of them are corrupt as well. The answer to the city’s problems is given by BOPE, a paramilitary team that strikes where the police cannot and fight fire with fire. The story of "Elite Squad" ("Tropa de Elite") involves both the struggles of life on the streets of Rio de Janeiro and the inner-workings of BOPE, with both the style and narrative drive of movies like "Cidade de Deus". Director Jose Padihla, who broke out of anonimity with this movie, is presently directing the "Robocop" remake, a film that could use his style of filming violence and dark heroes.

New on DVD & Blu-Ray : ELITE SQUAD - THE ENEMY WITHIN (2010)

Synopsis: From acclaimed director José Padilha (Bus 174) and the Academy Award®-nominated writer of City of God comes the highest-grossing film of all time in South America. The sprawling slum that surrounds Rio de Janeiro is one of the most dangerous places on earth, so as the head of Rio Special Police Operations Battalion, Captain Nascimento has seen his share of intense situations. When a mission to stop a jail riot ends in the violent death of a gang leader, Nascimento finds himself accused of a massacre ... but the citizens of Rio, tired of the crime and drugs that plague their city, embrace him as a national hero. Instead of being fired he finds himself promoted. In his powerful new position, Nascimento brings the gangs that rule the slum to their knees, but quickly discovers that he s only made things even easier for the dirty cops and corrupt politicians that are truly running the game. Now, Nascimento must confront his true enemies, who are much more dangerous... and sitting just down the hall.

In Theaters : ELITE SQUAD - THE ENEMY WITHIN (2011)

Official Synopsis : The sprawling slum that towers over Rio de Janeiro is one of the most dangerous places on Earth, and as the head of Rio's BOPE (Special Police Operations Battalion), Captain Nascimento (Wagner Moura) has seen his share of intense situations. When a BOPE mission to stop a jail riot ends in violence, Nascimento finds his job on the line--and BOPE accused of a massacre by human rights activists. But a public fed up with the violence and gangs that plague Rio loves it, and Nascimento finds himself embraced as a hero who gets results. With elections around the corner, he's promoted to Sub-Secretary of Intelligence. In his powerful new post, Nascimento strengthens BOPE and brings the drug gangs that run the slum to their knees-- only to come to the sobering realization that by doing so, he's only made things easier for the corrupt cops and dirty politicians who are truly running the game. After years in the trenches, Nascimento now finds that his new enemies are much more dangerous and, even worse, sitting at desks just down the hall.

ELITE SQUAD 2: THE ENEMY WITHIN (2010) - Trailer and Poster

Official Synopsis: The sprawling favelas that surround Rio de Janeiro are some of the most dangerous places in the world… and it’s Captain Nascimento’s job to take down the gangs that run them. Although his methods are violent, he’s very good at his job. When he’s promoted to a powerful government position, he thinks he’ll finally be able to finish the job- but instead finds out that he’s only made things easier for the dirty cops and corrupt politicians that are truly running the show. From the director of BUS 174 and the Oscar-nominated writer of CITY OF GOD, ELITE SQUAD: THE ENEMY WITHIN will not only thrill you in the theater, but have you thinking after you leave.

Genre: Action, Drama, Crime

Starring: Wagner Moura, Irandhir Santos, André Ramiro, Milhem Cortaz

Director: José Padilha ("Elite Squad")

Screenplay: José Padilha, Bráulio Mantovani ("City of God")

Not Yet Rated

Release Date: TBA

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