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Killer Elite Review

Release Date: Sep 23, 2011
Rated: Strong violence, language and some sexuality/nudity
Runtime: 1 hr. 40 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Thriller
Director:Gary McKendry
Cast:Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Robert De Niro, Dominic Purcell, Aden Young. Full cast + crew

Movies.com Critics

2.0

Dave White Profile <h3>Dave White</h3> <p><strong>Your Movies.com Man at the Multiplex</strong></p> <br /> <p>Dave White's first movie review was of the animated feature Snoopy Come Home. He was seven years old...<a href="http://www.movies.com/movie-reviews/dave-white">Read full profile</a></p>

Jason Statham And A Gun, Part 27. Read full review

3.0

Grae Drake Profile <h3>Grae Drake</h3> <p><strong>Movie maven about town</strong></p> <br /> <p>Grae Drake began her love affair with cinema as a wee bairn, as she spent every weekend corralling her friends over to the local...<a href="http://www.movies.com/movie-reviews/grae-drake">Read full profile</a></p>

Gave a judo chop to my cynicism. Read full review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

3.0

44

out of 100

Metascore^®
Mixed or average reviews
based on a weighted average of all
critic review scores.
25

out of 100

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum
Killing looks ridiculously easy in this dispensable exploitation picture, directed for maximum impact of head-cracking pain by ad-trained Irish director Gary McKendry in his first feature.

Read Full Review
70

out of 100

The Hollywood Reporter Todd McCarthy
This muscular thriller--led by Jason Statham, Clive Owen and Robert De Niro--strives to be a genuinely good film, but unwilling to let go of proven formulas, it falls short.

Read Full Review

75

out of 100

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
This is actually a pretty good thriller, based more on character and plot than on action for its own sake. The need to construct killings that look like accidents adds to the interest.

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See all Killer Elite reviews at Metacritic.com

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For Families provided by Common Sense Media

Iffy for 16+

Violence prevails in exciting but uneven action movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this book-based action/thriller/drama about an assassin who tries to quit the business but is drawn back in has lots of strong violence, including blood, dead bodies, guns and shootings, stabbings, and explosions. There's also a shot of a topless woman, as well as some sexual innuendo, kissing, and flirting. Language is strong and includes both "f--k" and "s--t," and minor characters drink and smoke in a background way.

Families can talk about the movie's violence. What impact does killing for a living have on the main character? Are his decisions believable?
How does the movie present revenge? Is it a valid reason to pursue violence? Do the ends ever justify the means?
The story is presented as being based on actual events, though there's some speculation about whether that's the case. Why might filmmakers want audiences to think it was based on a true story? Why might some facts be changed?

The good stuff

Messages: Characters attempt to do the right thing, but circumstances prevent them from succeeding. Revenge is a powerful motivator for the main character.
Role models: The main character has some morals, even though he's an assassin; he decides to quit after his actions endanger a kid, but revenge later forces him back into the business. He seems to regret killing and tries not to whenever possible, but when it's time for action, he jumps right in.

What to watch for

Violence: Very strong violence based around killing, assassinations, and revenge. Lots of guns and shootings, stabbings, fighting, gory dead bodies, blood, and explosions.
Sex: A gangster's girlfriend is seen topless. A supporting character hires a prostitute for sex, though nothing is shown. Sex noises are heard off screen. The main character is seen flirting, as well as kissing a woman he's romantically involved with.
Language: Language is very strong but not constant. Words include "f--k," "s--t," "a--holes," "balls," "goddamn," "son of a bitch," "oh my God" (as an exclamation), "prick," "d--k," "bugger," "hell," "damn," "bollocks," and "schtupping."
Drinking, drugs and smoking: Minor characters drink beer in a pub; others are seen smoking cigarettes.

Common Sense Media

An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology.