Righteous Kill [Blu-ray]
Starring: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Curtis Jackson, Carla Gugino, Donnie WahlbergDirector: Jon Avnet
Studio: Anchor Bay
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen
Running Time: 103 minutes
DVD Release: January 6th 2009
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DVD Review
Studio: Starz/sphe Release Date: 01/06/2009 Rating: R
User Reviews
Not at all what it could have been. - Rating: 3/5
Turk and Rooster (feel free to cringe) are a couple of veteran cops, who've been handed a doozy of a case: a serial killer with a badge; or, as young detective Perez makes a point of saying, "It's a cop, it's a cop, it's a cop!" A video-taped confession by Turk doesn't quite seal the deal; after all, once we hear his confession, we have an hour and a half of movie left, and believe me, it's full of twists and turns and bullets and blood and gratuitous violence and freaky sex.
"Righteous Kill" isn't at all what it could have been, and that is a damn shame. Pacino is as enthusiastic and enjoyable as ever; De Niro appears to be sleep-walking at times, though he has his moments (does anyone else think he should team with Scorsese again?). John Leguizamo and Donnie Wahlberg are good as younger detectives investigating the same case (though I wonder if four detectives wold be allowed to share the lead on a single case); and Carla Gugino is enjoyable as Turk's freaky girlfriend. Curtis Jackson (aka 50 Cent) isn't half bad, though I believe that's because he only has a little screen time. Brian Dennehy, as the police captain, is a pure pleasure to watch as always; his scenes with De Niro and Pacino (Pacino especially) are the best in the film.
The "twist" here (the main one, that is) is clever and intriguing, but it's bogged down by shoddy directing and an overly-ambitious script. The fault isn't with the actors, it's with the people behind the scenes. To put it simply, "Righteous Kill" is a second-rate film starring first-rate talent. It's a shame, that THIS is the movie Pacino and De Niro finally decide to make together. Maybe they'll collaborate again, in the near future, on a film that is worthy of their immense talents.
Love Deniro and Pacino but... - Rating: 2/5
the movie is too predictable. If you are a big fan of either actor, I think you'll be disappointment. Not because of the acting, but the script is too predictable.
Great actors, but too old for these roles - Rating: 2/5
Pacino and DeNiro are two of the best actors ever, but they are 68 and 65 years old respectively, and they look every second of it. They can't play cops anymore. Most cops retire in their mid 50s, because by then most of them already have 25 to 30 years of service, and they can retire with full pension benefits. Those that still want to work often take lucrative gigs in private security and private investigation work (which is on top of their generous taxpayer-funded pensions).
This is a decent little thriller, but I simply cannot suspend disbelief that they would still be on the job at that age. Pacino, particularly, looks well into his 70s, even though he hasn't yet turned 69. By casting 70 year-old Brian Dennehy (who looks 80) as their boss, they tried to make the two leads look younger by comparison, but it just compounds the silliness. Most police forces have a mandatory retirement age, and it doesn't go up to age 70, even for the highest ranking officers.
There are still many juicy roles these guys can play, and I hope to see much more from each of them. They just cannot play cops anymore.
Robert Deniro is wonderful, no matter his age! - Rating: 4/5
Apparently there is a serial killer on the loose (ok, that's not too original), but it's not exactly a serial killer but a vigilante/avenger on the loose (ok, because we don't like the victimd, we call it vigilantism, when we do like them we consider them to be true victims). Anyway, some pretty bad people, who have gotten off (i.e., eluded justice...among them a child rapist, pimp, killer, a molesting priest, etc) on technicalities are being murdered (actually gunned down with their own weapons). Assigned to this case are Turk (the sexy Robert Deniro) and Rooster (Al Pacino), who have tons of history and experience between them, and two rookies, Perez (John Leugizamo) and his dedicated sidekick Riley (Donnie Wahlberg). With converging storylines (there are tons of them....for example Deniro's romantic relationship with a fellow officer, played by Carla Gugino and Rooster's sketchy past), "Righteous Kill" was fairly entertaining. With plot twists and turns, this movie offers just the right amount of suspense (although I am sure that you will figure out the killer before the end) and mystery. And if nothing else, it gives you an opportunity to see "50 cents" play a music mogul/drug dealer (not a stretch, but always interesting to watch).
Awful - Rating: 1/5
The "twist" is terrible and obvious from the start. De Niro completely phones it in. These two actors are unworthy of this crap, or at least they were when they had standards.
