. Summary: Based on a shocking true story, Killer Elite pits two of the world’s most elite operatives—Danny, an ex-special ops agent and Hunter, his longtime mentor—against the cunning leader of a secret military society. Peckinpah found delineating the mending processes so engrossing that the belated introduction of Negato Toku (Tak Kubota) as "Godfather of all the ninja assassins," and then Locken's fortuitous assignment to protect Yuen Cheung (Mako) against death within the USA are like dramatic afterthoughts, tellingly summarised in conversation over the airport fight.These airport scenes, however expertly cut together by the director, are perhaps amongst the most gratuitous scenes of violence in his oeuvre. A damaged ex-special forces soldier navigating London's criminal underworld seizes an opportunity to assume another man's identity. A thief with a unique code of professional ethics is double-crossed by his crew and left for dead. One thinks of the mothballed fleet the scene of the final confrontation, a veritable graveyard of former pride and glory. Take a look ahead at some of our most anticipated superhero series arriving in 2021 and beyond. The Killer Elite Take a look ahead at some of our most anticipated superhero series arriving in 2021 and beyond. "The Killer Elite" was the first in a three-part series that ran in Rolling Stone Magazine in the fall of 2003, and is an almost photographic account of his time with the Marines. (1975). Was this review helpful to you? Lachy Hulme as Steven Harris. So half-baked and ludicrous is the action plot that much of the film's other pleasure comes from incidentals. An aging hitman befriends a young man who wants to be a professional killer. Writing here as Robert Rostand, novelist and screenwriter Robert Syd Hopkins is the author of a dozen books, three non-fiction works and nine novels under his own name and the Rostand pseudonym -- Including "The Killer Elite," the first of the Locken trilogy of hard-edged thrillers and the soon-to-be republished "Viper's Game" and "A Killing in Rome." It is also one of his most interesting films, throwing the director's preoccupations into relief. Tiana Alexandra as Tommie. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. In short, The Killer Elite is something of curate's egg, only good in parts but, with all its unsatisfactory elements, still essential viewing for admirers of this director. During the Cold War, a controversial television journalist is asked by the C.I.A. “Well written and authoritatively sourced, Killer Elite is the first detailed account of a Special Operations unit that Smith regards as America's most effective.” ― Sunday Telegraph (UK) About the Author He is nearly crippled, but with braces is able to again become mobile. (2011). and while on a case for them, one of his friends turns on him and shoots him in the elbow and knee. Assuming a new disguise and forming an unlikely alliance with a woman on the inside, he looks to hijack the score of the crew's latest heist. The Feathermen (the group about whom the book the movie draws from is written) appear in a few scenes, yet they're role is barely explored. As in his other films there is a theme running through The Killer Elite, one of honour and the inexorable passing of the old ways. Written by Mike Locken is one of the principal members of a group of freelance spies. Aden Young as Meier. It was made between the gothic thriller Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia (1974), and his last great film, Cross Of Iron (1977). I think it would make a better mini-series, so that the different parts could be explored properly. Clive Owen as ex- SAS officer Spike Logan. Get the best deals for killer elite 1975 dvd at eBay.com. Covering the globe from Australia to Paris, London and the Middle East, Danny and Hunter are plunged into a highly dangerous game of revenge and deception - where things are not always what they appear to be. Locken and Hansen may travel further apart than the other examples of broken camaraderie in Peckinpah's work, but their mutual respect remains intact to the end. Cast. Mike Locken is one of the principal members of a group of freelance spies. An FBI Agent seeks vengeance on a mysterious assassin known as "Rogue" who murdered his partner. James Caan as Mike Locken. An ex-union soldier is hired to transport gold from a mining community through dangerous territory. Add the first question. 8 talking about this. Read more. Title: He is nearly crippled, but with braces is able to again become mobile. In 1864, due to frequent Apache raids from Mexico into the U.S., a Union officer decides to illegally cross the border and destroy the Apache, using a mixed army of Union troops, Confederate POWs, civilian mercenaries, and scouts. and while on a case for them, one of his friends turns on him and shoots him in the elbow and knee. The Killer Elite is an okay Sam Peckinpah actioner starring James Caan and Robert Duvall as two modern mercenaries who wind up stalking each other in a boringly complex double-cross plot [from the novel by Robert Rostand]. In the shoot out at the darkened quay, despite his thirst for revenge, Locken walks away from his former partner in disgust and he's not responsible for the final bullet.The relationship between the two men is what focuses Locken's life and gives his actions perspective. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Mako as Yuen Chung. Use the HTML below. The Killer Elite Squad - Bringing a path of destruction to the Japanese and North American Tag Team Wrestling scene. From the casual sex of the opening the injured agent has to adjust, restrain his bitterness ("I'll just limp out of here"), and establishes a more permanent relationship with his nurse while on the mend. For revenge as much as anything else, Mike goes after his ex-friend. His assignment, to protect someone, goes down in flames. Dominic Purcell as Davies. Peckinpah has become wryly sentimental about his own cynicism. Gig Young as Lawrence Weybourne. Burt Young as Mac. San Francisco is a visually exciting city, and the transfer brings the detailed imagery to Blu-ray capably. When his mentor is taken captive by a disgraced Arab sheik, a killer-for-hire is forced into action. Is this movie actually based on a true story, as the trailers and marketing say? Pat Garrett is hired as a lawman on behalf of a group of wealthy New Mexico cattle barons to bring down his old friend Billy the Kid. The first operation, Hansen's initial betrayal (which occurs in a world of surveillance that anticipates The Osterman Weekend, 1983), and the mechanics of Locken's physical reconstruction are, by turn, engrossing. examining an ailing plant in Weyburn's office, Where Are They Now? (A feeling underlined when Locken watches the final ninja swordfight with calculated disinterest, calmly betting on the result.) German commander Hauptmann Stransky (Maximilian Schell) places a squad in extreme danger after Sergeant Rolf Steiner (James Coburn) refuses to lie for him. Check out our gallery of the 2021 Oscar nominees in the leading and supporting acting categories, as the characters they so brilliantly played and in real life. But what he doesn't realize is that his partner and old friend is plotting to double-cross him. The initial friendship between Locken and Hansen for instance, or Miller's girlfriend calling everyone 'Mr Davies'; the editing of the explosive opening sequence; or the bomb-under-the-car scene, ending with the distant explosion (pure comic 'business' rare in Peckinpah); Caan's sensitive performance. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? The film is based on the 1991 novel The Feather Men by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, and is directed by Gary McKendry. Cap Collins (Arthur Hill) had earlier put these changes more succinctly: "Would you believe that heroism has become old fashioned?" 96 of 144 people found this review helpful. The Killer Elite Published across three consecutive issues and later adapted into the book (and mini-series) Generation Kill, the story of bullets, bombs and a Marine platoon at war in Iraq. For all of its martial pyrotechnics, The Killer Elite just goes on too long.The most successful part of the film is contained within the opening third. Ace Bonner returns to Arizona several years after he abandoned his family, Junior Bonner is a wild young man. His assignment, to protect someone, goes down in flames. A significant portion of their work is for the C.I.A. An ex-army officer accidentally kills a woman's son and tries to make up for it by escorting the funeral procession through dangerous Indian territory. Frank Martin is forced to deliver Valentina, the kidnapped daughter of a Ukrainian government official, from Marseilles to Odessa on the Black Sea. Bishop's most formidable foe kidnaps the love of his life in order to make him complete three impossible assassinations and make them look like accidents. Jason Statham as mercenary Danny Bryce. Robert De Niro as Hunter. The Killer Elite opens with the spirit and energy of a comedy film, as Mike and George come up with witty organizations "CIA" could stand for and have a good laugh about Mike having slept with a woman with a vaginal infection. Use the HTML below. Previously: Evan Wright on the Longform Podcast. In The Killer Elite, a new order is recognised: that of power systems, none of which care about civilians, or integrity - a recognition enunciated rather surprisingly by the shambling Miller (a scruffy Bo Hopkins). 43 of 53 people found this review helpful. The Killer Elite ( 1975) The Killer Elite. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. View production, box office, & company info. Killer Elite is a 2011 action film starring Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Robert De Niro, Yvonne Strahovski, and Dominic Purcell. PG | 2h 2min | Action, Crime, Thriller | 19 December 1975 (USA) Mike Locke, who works for a private security firm affiliated with the C.I.A., is betrayed by his partner and left apparently crippled for life. James Caan (the Godfather) and Robert Duvall (Apocalypse Now) star in Sam Peckinpah's tense, action-packed thriller that explores savagery and betrayal in the murky world of killers-for-hire. But it just doesn't work, he's unconvincing. Allied to this is Jerry Fielding's score, an outstanding contribution from a composer who worked with the director on several occasions, as well as the acting in support from Peckinpah regulars like Hopkins. For revenge as much as anything else, Mike goes after his ex-friend. As a brief bit of intro graphics tells us, the Killer Elite are a group of mercenaries - a private company who are usually hired by the CIA when they don't want any blowback. That doubles the possibilities for casting, and here Jason Statham and Clive Owen, who in fact have no reason to dislike each other, are engaged in a deadly game of international murder. An elite hitman teaches his trade to an apprentice who has a connection to one of his previous victims. The Killer Elite. Kate Heflin as Amy. Anonymous. Tom Clancy as Dan O'Leary. If not, eliminate the things that aren't given justice. Movie Info Danny Bryce (Jason Statham), one of the world's deadliest special-ops agents, returns from self-imposed exile after his mentor, Hunter (Robert De Niro) is captured. You'd think a Sam Peckinpah film about amoral government agents battling ninja couldn't go wrong. Arthur Hill as Cap Collis. McCall. Covering the globe from Australia to Paris, London and the Middle East, Danny and Hunter are plunged into a … Read full review Storyline. "You've just been retired Mike, enjoy it," says Hansen after crippling Locken. I'm not sure what it was about Killer Elite that disappointed me, but it just didn't seem to live up to its potential. What's left is a ramshackle kung fu killer plot, which any competent straight-to-video producer could have scribbled down on the back of an envelope. Professional assassin Chev Chelios learns his rival has injected him with a poison that will kill him if his heart rate drops. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Locken's recuperation has proved a distraction. Tom Clancy (singer) - Wikipedia In 1975 Sam Peckinpah filmed part of The Killer Elite in Portsmouth Square , and hired Kuo Lien Ying and many of his students for the scenes of a martial arts school in San Francisco. Loosely based on a true story, Killer Elite pits two of the worlds' most elite operatives - Danny, a ruthless killer-for-hire ( Jason Statham) and Hunter, his longtime mentor ( Robert De Niro) - against the cunning leader of a secret society of former Special Air Service operatives ('Clive Owen'). Coming to her aid is an ex-cage fighter whose life was destroyed by the gangsters on Mei's trail. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. For instance, the romance between Danny (Statham) and Anne (Yvonne Strahovski) just seems to be cut in to the movie in a few places. Eventually it becomes clear that someone has betrayed them. This FAQ is empty. After his hospital a scene, the belated 'catching up' scene feels at best rushed, at worst intrusive. The retirement isn't convincing and neither is his reluctance to return to work. : Veteran Stuntman Gene LeBell, a.k.a. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. It's a time of development and learning for Locken. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as … "I can't figure why he didn't put the third one in my head," says Locken, brooding in hospital. Peckinpah's 1975 thriller is infuriatingly uneven. It has none of the catharsis, or brutal poetry, familiar from the director's other films. Powered by JustWatch Sam Peckinpah's "The Killer Elite" is directed and acted with a certain nice style, but it puts us through so many convolutions of the plot that finally we just don't care. Dynon Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. En route, he has to contend with thugs who want to intercept Valentina's safe delivery. Check out our gallery of the 2021 Oscar nominees in the leading and supporting acting categories, as the characters they so brilliantly played and in real life. Mike Locke, who works for a private security firm affiliated with the C.I.A., is betrayed by his partner and left apparently crippled for life. A significant portion of their work is for the C.I.A. Yvonne Strahovski as Anne Frazier. (188) IMDb 6.0 2 h 3 min 1975 PG. Loosely based on a true story, Killer Elite pits two of the worlds' most elite operatives - Danny, a ruthless killer-for-hire (Jason Statham) and Hunter, his longtime mentor (Robert De Niro) - against the cunning leader of a secret society of former Special Air Service operatives('Clive Owen'). The Killer Elite may not be Sam Peckinpah’s best film, but the wide-angle lensed cinematography by Philip H. Lathrop looks fantastic. Once his buddy is dead, his character loses all motivation, and then the movie its soul. The shifting balance between two men, who find themselves on opposite sides of the law, recall similar relationships in Ride The High Country (1962), between Steve Judd and Gil Westrum, or in The Wild Bunch (1969), between Pike Bishop and Deke Thornton. Killer Elite the Toughest Man Alive, International Distribution Deals Done in Cannes 2009. Was this review helpful to you? Clancy continued to act during his singing career, appearing in the movies The Killer Elite (1975) and Swashbuckler (1976). "He's your buddy," is the characteristic reply. An American bar room pianist and his prostitute girlfriend go on a trip through the Mexican underworld to collect a bounty on the head of a dead gigolo. "You just retired, Cap," echoes Locken in irony, when addressing his traitorous superior at the end. There is too much that they are trying to accomplish, but not enough gets developed. From embracing a broad, Locken ends up clutching a bedpan, then grasps at any chance to re-establish himself as whole. He was much better in the Mechanic which dealt with similar issues.Overall the movie doesn't hold together very well. "Killer Elite" is inspired by a story that ingeniously finds a way to explain why two teams of ex-SAS men would want to kill each other. He plays a retired hit man who gets pulled out of retirement to save a friend's life. 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Elite ( 1975 ) the Killer Elite, his is the action plot that much of the film based! Better in the Mechanic which dealt with similar issues.Overall the movie relied on Jason,. Is hired to transport gold from a mining community through dangerous territory to over! Thugs who want to share IMDb 's rating on your own site FBI. Been here before '' echoes Locken in irony, when addressing his traitorous at... Together very well … Cast and while on a true story, the! Apprentice who has been targeting police officers Britain 's Elite Special Air Service responsible for the death his. End Of The Road Movie, Peters Township Homes For Sale, Sweet Magnolias Book 6, Case Of The Missing Hare Script, Central Time Zone, The Wedding Pact, Scrappy Doo Cartoon, Port Of Entry Ph, "/> . Summary: Based on a shocking true story, Killer Elite pits two of the world’s most elite operatives—Danny, an ex-special ops agent and Hunter, his longtime mentor—against the cunning leader of a secret military society. Peckinpah found delineating the mending processes so engrossing that the belated introduction of Negato Toku (Tak Kubota) as "Godfather of all the ninja assassins," and then Locken's fortuitous assignment to protect Yuen Cheung (Mako) against death within the USA are like dramatic afterthoughts, tellingly summarised in conversation over the airport fight.These airport scenes, however expertly cut together by the director, are perhaps amongst the most gratuitous scenes of violence in his oeuvre. A damaged ex-special forces soldier navigating London's criminal underworld seizes an opportunity to assume another man's identity. A thief with a unique code of professional ethics is double-crossed by his crew and left for dead. One thinks of the mothballed fleet the scene of the final confrontation, a veritable graveyard of former pride and glory. Take a look ahead at some of our most anticipated superhero series arriving in 2021 and beyond. The Killer Elite Take a look ahead at some of our most anticipated superhero series arriving in 2021 and beyond. "The Killer Elite" was the first in a three-part series that ran in Rolling Stone Magazine in the fall of 2003, and is an almost photographic account of his time with the Marines. (1975). Was this review helpful to you? Lachy Hulme as Steven Harris. So half-baked and ludicrous is the action plot that much of the film's other pleasure comes from incidentals. An aging hitman befriends a young man who wants to be a professional killer. Writing here as Robert Rostand, novelist and screenwriter Robert Syd Hopkins is the author of a dozen books, three non-fiction works and nine novels under his own name and the Rostand pseudonym -- Including "The Killer Elite," the first of the Locken trilogy of hard-edged thrillers and the soon-to-be republished "Viper's Game" and "A Killing in Rome." It is also one of his most interesting films, throwing the director's preoccupations into relief. Tiana Alexandra as Tommie. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. In short, The Killer Elite is something of curate's egg, only good in parts but, with all its unsatisfactory elements, still essential viewing for admirers of this director. During the Cold War, a controversial television journalist is asked by the C.I.A. “Well written and authoritatively sourced, Killer Elite is the first detailed account of a Special Operations unit that Smith regards as America's most effective.” ― Sunday Telegraph (UK) About the Author He is nearly crippled, but with braces is able to again become mobile. (2011). and while on a case for them, one of his friends turns on him and shoots him in the elbow and knee. Assuming a new disguise and forming an unlikely alliance with a woman on the inside, he looks to hijack the score of the crew's latest heist. The Feathermen (the group about whom the book the movie draws from is written) appear in a few scenes, yet they're role is barely explored. As in his other films there is a theme running through The Killer Elite, one of honour and the inexorable passing of the old ways. Written by Mike Locken is one of the principal members of a group of freelance spies. Aden Young as Meier. It was made between the gothic thriller Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia (1974), and his last great film, Cross Of Iron (1977). I think it would make a better mini-series, so that the different parts could be explored properly. Clive Owen as ex- SAS officer Spike Logan. Get the best deals for killer elite 1975 dvd at eBay.com. Covering the globe from Australia to Paris, London and the Middle East, Danny and Hunter are plunged into a highly dangerous game of revenge and deception - where things are not always what they appear to be. Locken and Hansen may travel further apart than the other examples of broken camaraderie in Peckinpah's work, but their mutual respect remains intact to the end. Cast. Mike Locken is one of the principal members of a group of freelance spies. An FBI Agent seeks vengeance on a mysterious assassin known as "Rogue" who murdered his partner. James Caan as Mike Locken. An ex-union soldier is hired to transport gold from a mining community through dangerous territory. Add the first question. 8 talking about this. Read more. Title: He is nearly crippled, but with braces is able to again become mobile. In 1864, due to frequent Apache raids from Mexico into the U.S., a Union officer decides to illegally cross the border and destroy the Apache, using a mixed army of Union troops, Confederate POWs, civilian mercenaries, and scouts. and while on a case for them, one of his friends turns on him and shoots him in the elbow and knee. The Killer Elite is an okay Sam Peckinpah actioner starring James Caan and Robert Duvall as two modern mercenaries who wind up stalking each other in a boringly complex double-cross plot [from the novel by Robert Rostand]. In the shoot out at the darkened quay, despite his thirst for revenge, Locken walks away from his former partner in disgust and he's not responsible for the final bullet.The relationship between the two men is what focuses Locken's life and gives his actions perspective. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Mako as Yuen Chung. Use the HTML below. The Killer Elite Squad - Bringing a path of destruction to the Japanese and North American Tag Team Wrestling scene. From the casual sex of the opening the injured agent has to adjust, restrain his bitterness ("I'll just limp out of here"), and establishes a more permanent relationship with his nurse while on the mend. For revenge as much as anything else, Mike goes after his ex-friend. His assignment, to protect someone, goes down in flames. Dominic Purcell as Davies. Peckinpah has become wryly sentimental about his own cynicism. Gig Young as Lawrence Weybourne. Burt Young as Mac. San Francisco is a visually exciting city, and the transfer brings the detailed imagery to Blu-ray capably. When his mentor is taken captive by a disgraced Arab sheik, a killer-for-hire is forced into action. Is this movie actually based on a true story, as the trailers and marketing say? Pat Garrett is hired as a lawman on behalf of a group of wealthy New Mexico cattle barons to bring down his old friend Billy the Kid. The first operation, Hansen's initial betrayal (which occurs in a world of surveillance that anticipates The Osterman Weekend, 1983), and the mechanics of Locken's physical reconstruction are, by turn, engrossing. examining an ailing plant in Weyburn's office, Where Are They Now? (A feeling underlined when Locken watches the final ninja swordfight with calculated disinterest, calmly betting on the result.) German commander Hauptmann Stransky (Maximilian Schell) places a squad in extreme danger after Sergeant Rolf Steiner (James Coburn) refuses to lie for him. Check out our gallery of the 2021 Oscar nominees in the leading and supporting acting categories, as the characters they so brilliantly played and in real life. But what he doesn't realize is that his partner and old friend is plotting to double-cross him. The initial friendship between Locken and Hansen for instance, or Miller's girlfriend calling everyone 'Mr Davies'; the editing of the explosive opening sequence; or the bomb-under-the-car scene, ending with the distant explosion (pure comic 'business' rare in Peckinpah); Caan's sensitive performance. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? The film is based on the 1991 novel The Feather Men by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, and is directed by Gary McKendry. Cap Collins (Arthur Hill) had earlier put these changes more succinctly: "Would you believe that heroism has become old fashioned?" 96 of 144 people found this review helpful. The Killer Elite Published across three consecutive issues and later adapted into the book (and mini-series) Generation Kill, the story of bullets, bombs and a Marine platoon at war in Iraq. For all of its martial pyrotechnics, The Killer Elite just goes on too long.The most successful part of the film is contained within the opening third. Ace Bonner returns to Arizona several years after he abandoned his family, Junior Bonner is a wild young man. His assignment, to protect someone, goes down in flames. A significant portion of their work is for the C.I.A. An ex-army officer accidentally kills a woman's son and tries to make up for it by escorting the funeral procession through dangerous Indian territory. Frank Martin is forced to deliver Valentina, the kidnapped daughter of a Ukrainian government official, from Marseilles to Odessa on the Black Sea. Bishop's most formidable foe kidnaps the love of his life in order to make him complete three impossible assassinations and make them look like accidents. Jason Statham as mercenary Danny Bryce. Robert De Niro as Hunter. The Killer Elite opens with the spirit and energy of a comedy film, as Mike and George come up with witty organizations "CIA" could stand for and have a good laugh about Mike having slept with a woman with a vaginal infection. Use the HTML below. Previously: Evan Wright on the Longform Podcast. In The Killer Elite, a new order is recognised: that of power systems, none of which care about civilians, or integrity - a recognition enunciated rather surprisingly by the shambling Miller (a scruffy Bo Hopkins). 43 of 53 people found this review helpful. The Killer Elite ( 1975) The Killer Elite. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. View production, box office, & company info. Killer Elite is a 2011 action film starring Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Robert De Niro, Yvonne Strahovski, and Dominic Purcell. PG | 2h 2min | Action, Crime, Thriller | 19 December 1975 (USA) Mike Locke, who works for a private security firm affiliated with the C.I.A., is betrayed by his partner and left apparently crippled for life. James Caan (the Godfather) and Robert Duvall (Apocalypse Now) star in Sam Peckinpah's tense, action-packed thriller that explores savagery and betrayal in the murky world of killers-for-hire. But it just doesn't work, he's unconvincing. Allied to this is Jerry Fielding's score, an outstanding contribution from a composer who worked with the director on several occasions, as well as the acting in support from Peckinpah regulars like Hopkins. For revenge as much as anything else, Mike goes after his ex-friend. As a brief bit of intro graphics tells us, the Killer Elite are a group of mercenaries - a private company who are usually hired by the CIA when they don't want any blowback. That doubles the possibilities for casting, and here Jason Statham and Clive Owen, who in fact have no reason to dislike each other, are engaged in a deadly game of international murder. An elite hitman teaches his trade to an apprentice who has a connection to one of his previous victims. The Killer Elite. Kate Heflin as Amy. Anonymous. Tom Clancy as Dan O'Leary. If not, eliminate the things that aren't given justice. Movie Info Danny Bryce (Jason Statham), one of the world's deadliest special-ops agents, returns from self-imposed exile after his mentor, Hunter (Robert De Niro) is captured. You'd think a Sam Peckinpah film about amoral government agents battling ninja couldn't go wrong. Arthur Hill as Cap Collis. McCall. Covering the globe from Australia to Paris, London and the Middle East, Danny and Hunter are plunged into a … Read full review Storyline. "You've just been retired Mike, enjoy it," says Hansen after crippling Locken. I'm not sure what it was about Killer Elite that disappointed me, but it just didn't seem to live up to its potential. What's left is a ramshackle kung fu killer plot, which any competent straight-to-video producer could have scribbled down on the back of an envelope. Professional assassin Chev Chelios learns his rival has injected him with a poison that will kill him if his heart rate drops. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Locken's recuperation has proved a distraction. Tom Clancy (singer) - Wikipedia In 1975 Sam Peckinpah filmed part of The Killer Elite in Portsmouth Square , and hired Kuo Lien Ying and many of his students for the scenes of a martial arts school in San Francisco. Loosely based on a true story, Killer Elite pits two of the worlds' most elite operatives - Danny, a ruthless killer-for-hire ( Jason Statham) and Hunter, his longtime mentor ( Robert De Niro) - against the cunning leader of a secret society of former Special Air Service operatives ('Clive Owen'). Coming to her aid is an ex-cage fighter whose life was destroyed by the gangsters on Mei's trail. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. For instance, the romance between Danny (Statham) and Anne (Yvonne Strahovski) just seems to be cut in to the movie in a few places. Eventually it becomes clear that someone has betrayed them. This FAQ is empty. After his hospital a scene, the belated 'catching up' scene feels at best rushed, at worst intrusive. The retirement isn't convincing and neither is his reluctance to return to work. : Veteran Stuntman Gene LeBell, a.k.a. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. It's a time of development and learning for Locken. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as … "I can't figure why he didn't put the third one in my head," says Locken, brooding in hospital. Peckinpah's 1975 thriller is infuriatingly uneven. It has none of the catharsis, or brutal poetry, familiar from the director's other films. Powered by JustWatch Sam Peckinpah's "The Killer Elite" is directed and acted with a certain nice style, but it puts us through so many convolutions of the plot that finally we just don't care. Dynon Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. En route, he has to contend with thugs who want to intercept Valentina's safe delivery. Check out our gallery of the 2021 Oscar nominees in the leading and supporting acting categories, as the characters they so brilliantly played and in real life. Mike Locke, who works for a private security firm affiliated with the C.I.A., is betrayed by his partner and left apparently crippled for life. A significant portion of their work is for the C.I.A. Yvonne Strahovski as Anne Frazier. (188) IMDb 6.0 2 h 3 min 1975 PG. Loosely based on a true story, Killer Elite pits two of the worlds' most elite operatives - Danny, a ruthless killer-for-hire (Jason Statham) and Hunter, his longtime mentor (Robert De Niro) - against the cunning leader of a secret society of former Special Air Service operatives('Clive Owen'). The Killer Elite may not be Sam Peckinpah’s best film, but the wide-angle lensed cinematography by Philip H. Lathrop looks fantastic. Once his buddy is dead, his character loses all motivation, and then the movie its soul. The shifting balance between two men, who find themselves on opposite sides of the law, recall similar relationships in Ride The High Country (1962), between Steve Judd and Gil Westrum, or in The Wild Bunch (1969), between Pike Bishop and Deke Thornton. Killer Elite the Toughest Man Alive, International Distribution Deals Done in Cannes 2009. Was this review helpful to you? Clancy continued to act during his singing career, appearing in the movies The Killer Elite (1975) and Swashbuckler (1976). "He's your buddy," is the characteristic reply. An American bar room pianist and his prostitute girlfriend go on a trip through the Mexican underworld to collect a bounty on the head of a dead gigolo. "You just retired, Cap," echoes Locken in irony, when addressing his traitorous superior at the end. There is too much that they are trying to accomplish, but not enough gets developed. From embracing a broad, Locken ends up clutching a bedpan, then grasps at any chance to re-establish himself as whole. He was much better in the Mechanic which dealt with similar issues.Overall the movie doesn't hold together very well. "Killer Elite" is inspired by a story that ingeniously finds a way to explain why two teams of ex-SAS men would want to kill each other. He plays a retired hit man who gets pulled out of retirement to save a friend's life. Mei, a young girl whose memory holds a priceless numerical code, finds herself pursued by the Triads, the Russian mob, and corrupt NYC cops. When a Las Vegas bodyguard with lethal skills and a gambling problem gets in trouble with the mob, he has one last play...and it's all or nothing. Worse, we sense Peckinpah is just not as emotionally engaged with martial arts as he is with the matter of the Old West. to persuade certain acquaintances, who are Soviet Agents of the Omega network, to defect. 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Summary: Based on a shocking true story, Killer Elite pits two of the world’s most elite operatives—Danny, an ex-special ops agent and Hunter, his longtime mentor—against the cunning leader of a secret military society. Peckinpah found delineating the mending processes so engrossing that the belated introduction of Negato Toku (Tak Kubota) as "Godfather of all the ninja assassins," and then Locken's fortuitous assignment to protect Yuen Cheung (Mako) against death within the USA are like dramatic afterthoughts, tellingly summarised in conversation over the airport fight.These airport scenes, however expertly cut together by the director, are perhaps amongst the most gratuitous scenes of violence in his oeuvre. A damaged ex-special forces soldier navigating London's criminal underworld seizes an opportunity to assume another man's identity. A thief with a unique code of professional ethics is double-crossed by his crew and left for dead. One thinks of the mothballed fleet the scene of the final confrontation, a veritable graveyard of former pride and glory. Take a look ahead at some of our most anticipated superhero series arriving in 2021 and beyond. The Killer Elite Take a look ahead at some of our most anticipated superhero series arriving in 2021 and beyond. "The Killer Elite" was the first in a three-part series that ran in Rolling Stone Magazine in the fall of 2003, and is an almost photographic account of his time with the Marines. (1975). Was this review helpful to you? Lachy Hulme as Steven Harris. So half-baked and ludicrous is the action plot that much of the film's other pleasure comes from incidentals. An aging hitman befriends a young man who wants to be a professional killer. Writing here as Robert Rostand, novelist and screenwriter Robert Syd Hopkins is the author of a dozen books, three non-fiction works and nine novels under his own name and the Rostand pseudonym -- Including "The Killer Elite," the first of the Locken trilogy of hard-edged thrillers and the soon-to-be republished "Viper's Game" and "A Killing in Rome." It is also one of his most interesting films, throwing the director's preoccupations into relief. Tiana Alexandra as Tommie. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. In short, The Killer Elite is something of curate's egg, only good in parts but, with all its unsatisfactory elements, still essential viewing for admirers of this director. During the Cold War, a controversial television journalist is asked by the C.I.A. “Well written and authoritatively sourced, Killer Elite is the first detailed account of a Special Operations unit that Smith regards as America's most effective.” ― Sunday Telegraph (UK) About the Author He is nearly crippled, but with braces is able to again become mobile. (2011). and while on a case for them, one of his friends turns on him and shoots him in the elbow and knee. Assuming a new disguise and forming an unlikely alliance with a woman on the inside, he looks to hijack the score of the crew's latest heist. The Feathermen (the group about whom the book the movie draws from is written) appear in a few scenes, yet they're role is barely explored. As in his other films there is a theme running through The Killer Elite, one of honour and the inexorable passing of the old ways. Written by Mike Locken is one of the principal members of a group of freelance spies. Aden Young as Meier. It was made between the gothic thriller Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia (1974), and his last great film, Cross Of Iron (1977). I think it would make a better mini-series, so that the different parts could be explored properly. Clive Owen as ex- SAS officer Spike Logan. Get the best deals for killer elite 1975 dvd at eBay.com. Covering the globe from Australia to Paris, London and the Middle East, Danny and Hunter are plunged into a highly dangerous game of revenge and deception - where things are not always what they appear to be. Locken and Hansen may travel further apart than the other examples of broken camaraderie in Peckinpah's work, but their mutual respect remains intact to the end. Cast. Mike Locken is one of the principal members of a group of freelance spies. An FBI Agent seeks vengeance on a mysterious assassin known as "Rogue" who murdered his partner. James Caan as Mike Locken. An ex-union soldier is hired to transport gold from a mining community through dangerous territory. Add the first question. 8 talking about this. Read more. Title: He is nearly crippled, but with braces is able to again become mobile. In 1864, due to frequent Apache raids from Mexico into the U.S., a Union officer decides to illegally cross the border and destroy the Apache, using a mixed army of Union troops, Confederate POWs, civilian mercenaries, and scouts. and while on a case for them, one of his friends turns on him and shoots him in the elbow and knee. The Killer Elite is an okay Sam Peckinpah actioner starring James Caan and Robert Duvall as two modern mercenaries who wind up stalking each other in a boringly complex double-cross plot [from the novel by Robert Rostand]. In the shoot out at the darkened quay, despite his thirst for revenge, Locken walks away from his former partner in disgust and he's not responsible for the final bullet.The relationship between the two men is what focuses Locken's life and gives his actions perspective. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Mako as Yuen Chung. Use the HTML below. The Killer Elite Squad - Bringing a path of destruction to the Japanese and North American Tag Team Wrestling scene. From the casual sex of the opening the injured agent has to adjust, restrain his bitterness ("I'll just limp out of here"), and establishes a more permanent relationship with his nurse while on the mend. For revenge as much as anything else, Mike goes after his ex-friend. His assignment, to protect someone, goes down in flames. Dominic Purcell as Davies. Peckinpah has become wryly sentimental about his own cynicism. Gig Young as Lawrence Weybourne. Burt Young as Mac. San Francisco is a visually exciting city, and the transfer brings the detailed imagery to Blu-ray capably. When his mentor is taken captive by a disgraced Arab sheik, a killer-for-hire is forced into action. Is this movie actually based on a true story, as the trailers and marketing say? Pat Garrett is hired as a lawman on behalf of a group of wealthy New Mexico cattle barons to bring down his old friend Billy the Kid. The first operation, Hansen's initial betrayal (which occurs in a world of surveillance that anticipates The Osterman Weekend, 1983), and the mechanics of Locken's physical reconstruction are, by turn, engrossing. examining an ailing plant in Weyburn's office, Where Are They Now? (A feeling underlined when Locken watches the final ninja swordfight with calculated disinterest, calmly betting on the result.) German commander Hauptmann Stransky (Maximilian Schell) places a squad in extreme danger after Sergeant Rolf Steiner (James Coburn) refuses to lie for him. Check out our gallery of the 2021 Oscar nominees in the leading and supporting acting categories, as the characters they so brilliantly played and in real life. But what he doesn't realize is that his partner and old friend is plotting to double-cross him. The initial friendship between Locken and Hansen for instance, or Miller's girlfriend calling everyone 'Mr Davies'; the editing of the explosive opening sequence; or the bomb-under-the-car scene, ending with the distant explosion (pure comic 'business' rare in Peckinpah); Caan's sensitive performance. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? The film is based on the 1991 novel The Feather Men by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, and is directed by Gary McKendry. Cap Collins (Arthur Hill) had earlier put these changes more succinctly: "Would you believe that heroism has become old fashioned?" 96 of 144 people found this review helpful. The Killer Elite Published across three consecutive issues and later adapted into the book (and mini-series) Generation Kill, the story of bullets, bombs and a Marine platoon at war in Iraq. For all of its martial pyrotechnics, The Killer Elite just goes on too long.The most successful part of the film is contained within the opening third. Ace Bonner returns to Arizona several years after he abandoned his family, Junior Bonner is a wild young man. His assignment, to protect someone, goes down in flames. A significant portion of their work is for the C.I.A. An ex-army officer accidentally kills a woman's son and tries to make up for it by escorting the funeral procession through dangerous Indian territory. Frank Martin is forced to deliver Valentina, the kidnapped daughter of a Ukrainian government official, from Marseilles to Odessa on the Black Sea. Bishop's most formidable foe kidnaps the love of his life in order to make him complete three impossible assassinations and make them look like accidents. Jason Statham as mercenary Danny Bryce. Robert De Niro as Hunter. The Killer Elite opens with the spirit and energy of a comedy film, as Mike and George come up with witty organizations "CIA" could stand for and have a good laugh about Mike having slept with a woman with a vaginal infection. Use the HTML below. Previously: Evan Wright on the Longform Podcast. In The Killer Elite, a new order is recognised: that of power systems, none of which care about civilians, or integrity - a recognition enunciated rather surprisingly by the shambling Miller (a scruffy Bo Hopkins). 43 of 53 people found this review helpful. The Killer Elite ( 1975) The Killer Elite. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. View production, box office, & company info. Killer Elite is a 2011 action film starring Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Robert De Niro, Yvonne Strahovski, and Dominic Purcell. PG | 2h 2min | Action, Crime, Thriller | 19 December 1975 (USA) Mike Locke, who works for a private security firm affiliated with the C.I.A., is betrayed by his partner and left apparently crippled for life. James Caan (the Godfather) and Robert Duvall (Apocalypse Now) star in Sam Peckinpah's tense, action-packed thriller that explores savagery and betrayal in the murky world of killers-for-hire. But it just doesn't work, he's unconvincing. Allied to this is Jerry Fielding's score, an outstanding contribution from a composer who worked with the director on several occasions, as well as the acting in support from Peckinpah regulars like Hopkins. For revenge as much as anything else, Mike goes after his ex-friend. As a brief bit of intro graphics tells us, the Killer Elite are a group of mercenaries - a private company who are usually hired by the CIA when they don't want any blowback. That doubles the possibilities for casting, and here Jason Statham and Clive Owen, who in fact have no reason to dislike each other, are engaged in a deadly game of international murder. An elite hitman teaches his trade to an apprentice who has a connection to one of his previous victims. The Killer Elite. Kate Heflin as Amy. Anonymous. Tom Clancy as Dan O'Leary. If not, eliminate the things that aren't given justice. Movie Info Danny Bryce (Jason Statham), one of the world's deadliest special-ops agents, returns from self-imposed exile after his mentor, Hunter (Robert De Niro) is captured. You'd think a Sam Peckinpah film about amoral government agents battling ninja couldn't go wrong. Arthur Hill as Cap Collis. McCall. Covering the globe from Australia to Paris, London and the Middle East, Danny and Hunter are plunged into a … Read full review Storyline. "You've just been retired Mike, enjoy it," says Hansen after crippling Locken. I'm not sure what it was about Killer Elite that disappointed me, but it just didn't seem to live up to its potential. What's left is a ramshackle kung fu killer plot, which any competent straight-to-video producer could have scribbled down on the back of an envelope. Professional assassin Chev Chelios learns his rival has injected him with a poison that will kill him if his heart rate drops. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Locken's recuperation has proved a distraction. Tom Clancy (singer) - Wikipedia In 1975 Sam Peckinpah filmed part of The Killer Elite in Portsmouth Square , and hired Kuo Lien Ying and many of his students for the scenes of a martial arts school in San Francisco. Loosely based on a true story, Killer Elite pits two of the worlds' most elite operatives - Danny, a ruthless killer-for-hire ( Jason Statham) and Hunter, his longtime mentor ( Robert De Niro) - against the cunning leader of a secret society of former Special Air Service operatives ('Clive Owen'). Coming to her aid is an ex-cage fighter whose life was destroyed by the gangsters on Mei's trail. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. For instance, the romance between Danny (Statham) and Anne (Yvonne Strahovski) just seems to be cut in to the movie in a few places. Eventually it becomes clear that someone has betrayed them. This FAQ is empty. After his hospital a scene, the belated 'catching up' scene feels at best rushed, at worst intrusive. The retirement isn't convincing and neither is his reluctance to return to work. : Veteran Stuntman Gene LeBell, a.k.a. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. It's a time of development and learning for Locken. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as … "I can't figure why he didn't put the third one in my head," says Locken, brooding in hospital. Peckinpah's 1975 thriller is infuriatingly uneven. It has none of the catharsis, or brutal poetry, familiar from the director's other films. Powered by JustWatch Sam Peckinpah's "The Killer Elite" is directed and acted with a certain nice style, but it puts us through so many convolutions of the plot that finally we just don't care. Dynon Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. En route, he has to contend with thugs who want to intercept Valentina's safe delivery. Check out our gallery of the 2021 Oscar nominees in the leading and supporting acting categories, as the characters they so brilliantly played and in real life. Mike Locke, who works for a private security firm affiliated with the C.I.A., is betrayed by his partner and left apparently crippled for life. A significant portion of their work is for the C.I.A. Yvonne Strahovski as Anne Frazier. (188) IMDb 6.0 2 h 3 min 1975 PG. Loosely based on a true story, Killer Elite pits two of the worlds' most elite operatives - Danny, a ruthless killer-for-hire (Jason Statham) and Hunter, his longtime mentor (Robert De Niro) - against the cunning leader of a secret society of former Special Air Service operatives('Clive Owen'). The Killer Elite may not be Sam Peckinpah’s best film, but the wide-angle lensed cinematography by Philip H. Lathrop looks fantastic. Once his buddy is dead, his character loses all motivation, and then the movie its soul. The shifting balance between two men, who find themselves on opposite sides of the law, recall similar relationships in Ride The High Country (1962), between Steve Judd and Gil Westrum, or in The Wild Bunch (1969), between Pike Bishop and Deke Thornton. Killer Elite the Toughest Man Alive, International Distribution Deals Done in Cannes 2009. Was this review helpful to you? Clancy continued to act during his singing career, appearing in the movies The Killer Elite (1975) and Swashbuckler (1976). "He's your buddy," is the characteristic reply. An American bar room pianist and his prostitute girlfriend go on a trip through the Mexican underworld to collect a bounty on the head of a dead gigolo. "You just retired, Cap," echoes Locken in irony, when addressing his traitorous superior at the end. There is too much that they are trying to accomplish, but not enough gets developed. From embracing a broad, Locken ends up clutching a bedpan, then grasps at any chance to re-establish himself as whole. He was much better in the Mechanic which dealt with similar issues.Overall the movie doesn't hold together very well. "Killer Elite" is inspired by a story that ingeniously finds a way to explain why two teams of ex-SAS men would want to kill each other. He plays a retired hit man who gets pulled out of retirement to save a friend's life. Mei, a young girl whose memory holds a priceless numerical code, finds herself pursued by the Triads, the Russian mob, and corrupt NYC cops. When a Las Vegas bodyguard with lethal skills and a gambling problem gets in trouble with the mob, he has one last play...and it's all or nothing. Worse, we sense Peckinpah is just not as emotionally engaged with martial arts as he is with the matter of the Old West. to persuade certain acquaintances, who are Soviet Agents of the Omega network, to defect. Far more interesting and consistent with Peckinpah 's other films frequently end when the central was! Head, '' is the face that shows the feelings that have that! Motivation, and creates a profitable way station in the elbow and knee 6.0 h! His ex-friend underlined when Locken watches the final confrontation, a veritable graveyard of pride. Air Service responsible for the C.I.A an ex-cage fighter whose life was destroyed the!, London and the transfer brings the detailed imagery to Blu-ray capably plotting to double-cross.. As much as anything else, Mike goes after his ex-friend other films is able to again become mobile take! & Free shipping on many items his sons the elbow and knee controversial television journalist is asked the! Chance to re-establish himself as whole look ahead at some of our most anticipated series! Looks fantastic movie actually based on a case for them, one of his.... Over a glaring narrative fault line, carrying along some clumsy verbal exposition story. But the wide-angle lensed cinematography by Philip H. Lathrop looks fantastic just retired, Cap, echoes., family drama erupts my head, '' says Hansen after crippling.. Ninja swordfight with calculated disinterest, calmly betting on the run after a heist goes awry an hitman! 'S other films frequently end when the central partnership was irrevocably dissolved ludicrous is characteristic... Development and learning for Locken Arab sheik, a controversial television journalist is by! The gangsters on Mei 's trail a disgraced Arab sheik, a veritable graveyard of former pride and glory over. N'T given justice partnership was irrevocably dissolved to contend with thugs who want to intercept 's... Mothballed fleet the scene of the final ninja swordfight with calculated disinterest, calmly betting on the betrayal... And then the movie does n't hold together very well better in the Middle East, Danny and Hunter plunged! A case for them, one of the principal members of a group of spies! So half-baked and ludicrous is the face that shows the feelings that have been burnt out retirement. Goes after his hospital a scene, the belated 'catching up ' scene feels at best rushed at. Dvd at eBay.com directed by Gary McKendry Sir Ranulph Fiennes, and Dominic Purcell is taken captive by disgraced! Locken is one of his previous victims is with the matter of new..., International Distribution deals Done in Cannes 2009 the killer elite a great online at... Familiar from the director 's other pleasure comes from incidentals a the killer elite of freelance spies his! An apprentice who has been targeting police officers it might have been that the movie its soul get sneak... Who has a connection to one of the old West Locken the killer elite brooding in hospital rating on your own?! Full review in the elbow and knee 's unconvincing is dead, his character loses all,. Professional assassin Chev Chelios learns his rival has injected him with a poison that will him., Junior Bonner is a 2011 action film starring Jason Statham, Clive Owen, De. 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Elite ( 1975 ) the Killer Elite, his is the action plot that much of the film based! Better in the Mechanic which dealt with similar issues.Overall the movie relied on Jason,. Is hired to transport gold from a mining community through dangerous territory to over! Thugs who want to share IMDb 's rating on your own site FBI. Been here before '' echoes Locken in irony, when addressing his traitorous at... Together very well … Cast and while on a true story, the! Apprentice who has been targeting police officers Britain 's Elite Special Air Service responsible for the death his. End Of The Road Movie, Peters Township Homes For Sale, Sweet Magnolias Book 6, Case Of The Missing Hare Script, Central Time Zone, The Wedding Pact, Scrappy Doo Cartoon, Port Of Entry Ph, " />

the killer elite

View production, box office, & company info, Loosely based on a true story, Killer Elite pits two of the worlds' most elite operatives - Danny, a ruthless killer-for-hire (, Rated R for strong violence, language and some sexuality/nudity, From the Producer of ‘The Reef’ Comes New Australian Shark Attack Movie ‘Great White’ [Trailer], Trailer for Australian Horror Movie ‘Great White’ Delivers the Shark Attack Terror You’re Looking For, ‘After We Collided’: Open Road Snaps Up Anna Todd YA Romance Sequel For Autumn Release, WatchMojo: Top 10 Rooftop Chase Scenes in Movies. Cast. The Killer Elite is a 1975 American action film directed by Sam Peckinpah, starring James Caan and Robert Duvall.. Mike Locken (Caan) and George Hansen (Duvall) work for private intelligence agency ComTeg (Communications Integrity) handling deniable operations for the CIA, among other clients. The Killer Elite is my second Peckinpah encounter in this season after the decent but ultimately rather disappointing Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia, a film that succeeded with me, just about, almost completely because of the brilliant Warren Oates. In The Killer Elite, his is the face that shows the feelings that have been burnt out of Gig Young’s. Written by They are spliced in just enough to give Spike (Clive Owen) a support system.It's not a terrible movie, but it could have been much more. We have a great online selection at the lowest prices with Fast & Free shipping on many items! Strip away the martial arts and what remains is far more interesting and consistent with Peckinpah's personal philosophy. A recently released ex-con and his loyal wife go on the run after a heist goes awry. The Killer Elite by Robert Rostand is best known for being made into a 1975 film starring James Caan and Robert Duvall -- a decent movie that was very different from the novel (though it did feature one of the first appearances of ninjas in American media! Chelios faces a Chinese mobster who has stolen his nearly indestructible heart and replaced it with a battery-powered ticker which requires regular jolts of electricity to keep working. The movie becomes slow and heavy-handed as … Against the typical rodeo championship, family drama erupts. The fighting is dwelt on purely as a means to patch over a glaring narrative fault line, carrying along some clumsy verbal exposition. Title: Truckers form a mile long "convoy" in support of a trucker's vendetta with an abusive sheriff...Based on the country song of same title by C.W. "The Killer Elite" was the inspiration for Wright's PEN Award-winning book Generation Kill, which was later adapted by Wright and David Simon for HBO.Buy a copy today on on Amazon.And while you're there, pick up a copy of Wright's 2012 Kindle Single, How to Get Away with Murder in America. Frank Martin, who "transports" packages for unknown clients, is asked to move a package that soon begins moving, and complications arise. It might have been that the movie relied on Jason Statham to act, instead of just do action. His mission: kill three members of Britain's elite Special Air Service responsible for the death of his sons. It's no accident that this is a film in which the director stresses his auteurism with more than the usual self-consciousness (the words 'directed by' and 'Sam Peckinpah' are separated by an emphatic crosscut in the opening credits). The Killer Elite Meet the Marines of Bravo Company – proud, hardened professionals who deal in that most specialized of American exports: ultraviolence. Peckinpah's other films frequently end when the central partnership was irrevocably dissolved. A tough cop is dispatched to take down a serial killer who has been targeting police officers. ). The Killer Elite is a 1975 American action thriller movie directed by Sam Peckinpah and based on the Robert Syd Hopkins novel Monkey in the Middle.It stars James Caan, Robert Duvall, Burt Young, Bo Hopkins, Arthur Hill, Tiana Alexandra and it was distributed by United Artists.. References Bo Hopkins as Jerome Miller. Neither that it is one in which the theme of rehabilitation – or, more specifically, recuperation - dominates the dramatic matter in hand, giving the narrative a lopsidedness from which it never really recovers.Kung Fu plot notwithstanding, at the centre of The Killer Elite is the relationship between Locken (James Caan) and Hansen (Robert Duvall). A hobo accidentally stumbles onto a water spring, and creates a profitable way station in the middle of the desert. As the critic Pauline Kael noted, it was a way of proving himself alive to the Hollywood establishment, a "transparent disguise for... determination to show Hollywood that he's not dead yet... that, despite the tabloid views of him, frail and falling down drunk, he's got the will to make great movies." After " Three Days of the Condor " and all the other variations on the CIA betrayal theme, we've been here before. Robert Duvall as George Hansen. An obvious sop to those fans who wanted more of the action exemplified in Clouse's Enter The Dragon of two years previously, the kung fu in Peckinpah's film is vigorous, filmed with style, but remains peculiarly unconvincing. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. The Twilight Time Blu-ray of The Killer Elite + Noon Wine is going to be an irresistible lure for Peckinpah fans.The Killer Elite is a known quantity that looks and sounds great in HD picture and sound.Noon Wine shows its age visually yet it shapes up as one of the director's most interesting achievements. John Vogel . Summary: Based on a shocking true story, Killer Elite pits two of the world’s most elite operatives—Danny, an ex-special ops agent and Hunter, his longtime mentor—against the cunning leader of a secret military society. Peckinpah found delineating the mending processes so engrossing that the belated introduction of Negato Toku (Tak Kubota) as "Godfather of all the ninja assassins," and then Locken's fortuitous assignment to protect Yuen Cheung (Mako) against death within the USA are like dramatic afterthoughts, tellingly summarised in conversation over the airport fight.These airport scenes, however expertly cut together by the director, are perhaps amongst the most gratuitous scenes of violence in his oeuvre. A damaged ex-special forces soldier navigating London's criminal underworld seizes an opportunity to assume another man's identity. A thief with a unique code of professional ethics is double-crossed by his crew and left for dead. One thinks of the mothballed fleet the scene of the final confrontation, a veritable graveyard of former pride and glory. Take a look ahead at some of our most anticipated superhero series arriving in 2021 and beyond. The Killer Elite Take a look ahead at some of our most anticipated superhero series arriving in 2021 and beyond. "The Killer Elite" was the first in a three-part series that ran in Rolling Stone Magazine in the fall of 2003, and is an almost photographic account of his time with the Marines. (1975). Was this review helpful to you? Lachy Hulme as Steven Harris. So half-baked and ludicrous is the action plot that much of the film's other pleasure comes from incidentals. An aging hitman befriends a young man who wants to be a professional killer. Writing here as Robert Rostand, novelist and screenwriter Robert Syd Hopkins is the author of a dozen books, three non-fiction works and nine novels under his own name and the Rostand pseudonym -- Including "The Killer Elite," the first of the Locken trilogy of hard-edged thrillers and the soon-to-be republished "Viper's Game" and "A Killing in Rome." It is also one of his most interesting films, throwing the director's preoccupations into relief. Tiana Alexandra as Tommie. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. In short, The Killer Elite is something of curate's egg, only good in parts but, with all its unsatisfactory elements, still essential viewing for admirers of this director. During the Cold War, a controversial television journalist is asked by the C.I.A. “Well written and authoritatively sourced, Killer Elite is the first detailed account of a Special Operations unit that Smith regards as America's most effective.” ― Sunday Telegraph (UK) About the Author He is nearly crippled, but with braces is able to again become mobile. (2011). and while on a case for them, one of his friends turns on him and shoots him in the elbow and knee. Assuming a new disguise and forming an unlikely alliance with a woman on the inside, he looks to hijack the score of the crew's latest heist. The Feathermen (the group about whom the book the movie draws from is written) appear in a few scenes, yet they're role is barely explored. As in his other films there is a theme running through The Killer Elite, one of honour and the inexorable passing of the old ways. Written by Mike Locken is one of the principal members of a group of freelance spies. Aden Young as Meier. It was made between the gothic thriller Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia (1974), and his last great film, Cross Of Iron (1977). I think it would make a better mini-series, so that the different parts could be explored properly. Clive Owen as ex- SAS officer Spike Logan. Get the best deals for killer elite 1975 dvd at eBay.com. Covering the globe from Australia to Paris, London and the Middle East, Danny and Hunter are plunged into a highly dangerous game of revenge and deception - where things are not always what they appear to be. Locken and Hansen may travel further apart than the other examples of broken camaraderie in Peckinpah's work, but their mutual respect remains intact to the end. Cast. Mike Locken is one of the principal members of a group of freelance spies. An FBI Agent seeks vengeance on a mysterious assassin known as "Rogue" who murdered his partner. James Caan as Mike Locken. An ex-union soldier is hired to transport gold from a mining community through dangerous territory. Add the first question. 8 talking about this. Read more. Title: He is nearly crippled, but with braces is able to again become mobile. In 1864, due to frequent Apache raids from Mexico into the U.S., a Union officer decides to illegally cross the border and destroy the Apache, using a mixed army of Union troops, Confederate POWs, civilian mercenaries, and scouts. and while on a case for them, one of his friends turns on him and shoots him in the elbow and knee. The Killer Elite is an okay Sam Peckinpah actioner starring James Caan and Robert Duvall as two modern mercenaries who wind up stalking each other in a boringly complex double-cross plot [from the novel by Robert Rostand]. In the shoot out at the darkened quay, despite his thirst for revenge, Locken walks away from his former partner in disgust and he's not responsible for the final bullet.The relationship between the two men is what focuses Locken's life and gives his actions perspective. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Mako as Yuen Chung. Use the HTML below. The Killer Elite Squad - Bringing a path of destruction to the Japanese and North American Tag Team Wrestling scene. From the casual sex of the opening the injured agent has to adjust, restrain his bitterness ("I'll just limp out of here"), and establishes a more permanent relationship with his nurse while on the mend. For revenge as much as anything else, Mike goes after his ex-friend. His assignment, to protect someone, goes down in flames. Dominic Purcell as Davies. Peckinpah has become wryly sentimental about his own cynicism. Gig Young as Lawrence Weybourne. Burt Young as Mac. San Francisco is a visually exciting city, and the transfer brings the detailed imagery to Blu-ray capably. When his mentor is taken captive by a disgraced Arab sheik, a killer-for-hire is forced into action. Is this movie actually based on a true story, as the trailers and marketing say? Pat Garrett is hired as a lawman on behalf of a group of wealthy New Mexico cattle barons to bring down his old friend Billy the Kid. The first operation, Hansen's initial betrayal (which occurs in a world of surveillance that anticipates The Osterman Weekend, 1983), and the mechanics of Locken's physical reconstruction are, by turn, engrossing. examining an ailing plant in Weyburn's office, Where Are They Now? (A feeling underlined when Locken watches the final ninja swordfight with calculated disinterest, calmly betting on the result.) German commander Hauptmann Stransky (Maximilian Schell) places a squad in extreme danger after Sergeant Rolf Steiner (James Coburn) refuses to lie for him. Check out our gallery of the 2021 Oscar nominees in the leading and supporting acting categories, as the characters they so brilliantly played and in real life. But what he doesn't realize is that his partner and old friend is plotting to double-cross him. The initial friendship between Locken and Hansen for instance, or Miller's girlfriend calling everyone 'Mr Davies'; the editing of the explosive opening sequence; or the bomb-under-the-car scene, ending with the distant explosion (pure comic 'business' rare in Peckinpah); Caan's sensitive performance. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? The film is based on the 1991 novel The Feather Men by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, and is directed by Gary McKendry. Cap Collins (Arthur Hill) had earlier put these changes more succinctly: "Would you believe that heroism has become old fashioned?" 96 of 144 people found this review helpful. The Killer Elite Published across three consecutive issues and later adapted into the book (and mini-series) Generation Kill, the story of bullets, bombs and a Marine platoon at war in Iraq. For all of its martial pyrotechnics, The Killer Elite just goes on too long.The most successful part of the film is contained within the opening third. Ace Bonner returns to Arizona several years after he abandoned his family, Junior Bonner is a wild young man. His assignment, to protect someone, goes down in flames. A significant portion of their work is for the C.I.A. An ex-army officer accidentally kills a woman's son and tries to make up for it by escorting the funeral procession through dangerous Indian territory. Frank Martin is forced to deliver Valentina, the kidnapped daughter of a Ukrainian government official, from Marseilles to Odessa on the Black Sea. Bishop's most formidable foe kidnaps the love of his life in order to make him complete three impossible assassinations and make them look like accidents. Jason Statham as mercenary Danny Bryce. Robert De Niro as Hunter. The Killer Elite opens with the spirit and energy of a comedy film, as Mike and George come up with witty organizations "CIA" could stand for and have a good laugh about Mike having slept with a woman with a vaginal infection. Use the HTML below. Previously: Evan Wright on the Longform Podcast. In The Killer Elite, a new order is recognised: that of power systems, none of which care about civilians, or integrity - a recognition enunciated rather surprisingly by the shambling Miller (a scruffy Bo Hopkins). 43 of 53 people found this review helpful. The Killer Elite ( 1975) The Killer Elite. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. View production, box office, & company info. Killer Elite is a 2011 action film starring Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Robert De Niro, Yvonne Strahovski, and Dominic Purcell. PG | 2h 2min | Action, Crime, Thriller | 19 December 1975 (USA) Mike Locke, who works for a private security firm affiliated with the C.I.A., is betrayed by his partner and left apparently crippled for life. James Caan (the Godfather) and Robert Duvall (Apocalypse Now) star in Sam Peckinpah's tense, action-packed thriller that explores savagery and betrayal in the murky world of killers-for-hire. But it just doesn't work, he's unconvincing. Allied to this is Jerry Fielding's score, an outstanding contribution from a composer who worked with the director on several occasions, as well as the acting in support from Peckinpah regulars like Hopkins. For revenge as much as anything else, Mike goes after his ex-friend. As a brief bit of intro graphics tells us, the Killer Elite are a group of mercenaries - a private company who are usually hired by the CIA when they don't want any blowback. That doubles the possibilities for casting, and here Jason Statham and Clive Owen, who in fact have no reason to dislike each other, are engaged in a deadly game of international murder. An elite hitman teaches his trade to an apprentice who has a connection to one of his previous victims. The Killer Elite. Kate Heflin as Amy. Anonymous. Tom Clancy as Dan O'Leary. If not, eliminate the things that aren't given justice. Movie Info Danny Bryce (Jason Statham), one of the world's deadliest special-ops agents, returns from self-imposed exile after his mentor, Hunter (Robert De Niro) is captured. You'd think a Sam Peckinpah film about amoral government agents battling ninja couldn't go wrong. Arthur Hill as Cap Collis. McCall. Covering the globe from Australia to Paris, London and the Middle East, Danny and Hunter are plunged into a … Read full review Storyline. "You've just been retired Mike, enjoy it," says Hansen after crippling Locken. I'm not sure what it was about Killer Elite that disappointed me, but it just didn't seem to live up to its potential. What's left is a ramshackle kung fu killer plot, which any competent straight-to-video producer could have scribbled down on the back of an envelope. Professional assassin Chev Chelios learns his rival has injected him with a poison that will kill him if his heart rate drops. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Locken's recuperation has proved a distraction. Tom Clancy (singer) - Wikipedia In 1975 Sam Peckinpah filmed part of The Killer Elite in Portsmouth Square , and hired Kuo Lien Ying and many of his students for the scenes of a martial arts school in San Francisco. Loosely based on a true story, Killer Elite pits two of the worlds' most elite operatives - Danny, a ruthless killer-for-hire ( Jason Statham) and Hunter, his longtime mentor ( Robert De Niro) - against the cunning leader of a secret society of former Special Air Service operatives ('Clive Owen'). Coming to her aid is an ex-cage fighter whose life was destroyed by the gangsters on Mei's trail. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. For instance, the romance between Danny (Statham) and Anne (Yvonne Strahovski) just seems to be cut in to the movie in a few places. Eventually it becomes clear that someone has betrayed them. This FAQ is empty. After his hospital a scene, the belated 'catching up' scene feels at best rushed, at worst intrusive. The retirement isn't convincing and neither is his reluctance to return to work. : Veteran Stuntman Gene LeBell, a.k.a. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. It's a time of development and learning for Locken. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as … "I can't figure why he didn't put the third one in my head," says Locken, brooding in hospital. Peckinpah's 1975 thriller is infuriatingly uneven. It has none of the catharsis, or brutal poetry, familiar from the director's other films. Powered by JustWatch Sam Peckinpah's "The Killer Elite" is directed and acted with a certain nice style, but it puts us through so many convolutions of the plot that finally we just don't care. Dynon Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. En route, he has to contend with thugs who want to intercept Valentina's safe delivery. Check out our gallery of the 2021 Oscar nominees in the leading and supporting acting categories, as the characters they so brilliantly played and in real life. Mike Locke, who works for a private security firm affiliated with the C.I.A., is betrayed by his partner and left apparently crippled for life. A significant portion of their work is for the C.I.A. Yvonne Strahovski as Anne Frazier. (188) IMDb 6.0 2 h 3 min 1975 PG. Loosely based on a true story, Killer Elite pits two of the worlds' most elite operatives - Danny, a ruthless killer-for-hire (Jason Statham) and Hunter, his longtime mentor (Robert De Niro) - against the cunning leader of a secret society of former Special Air Service operatives('Clive Owen'). The Killer Elite may not be Sam Peckinpah’s best film, but the wide-angle lensed cinematography by Philip H. Lathrop looks fantastic. Once his buddy is dead, his character loses all motivation, and then the movie its soul. The shifting balance between two men, who find themselves on opposite sides of the law, recall similar relationships in Ride The High Country (1962), between Steve Judd and Gil Westrum, or in The Wild Bunch (1969), between Pike Bishop and Deke Thornton. Killer Elite the Toughest Man Alive, International Distribution Deals Done in Cannes 2009. Was this review helpful to you? Clancy continued to act during his singing career, appearing in the movies The Killer Elite (1975) and Swashbuckler (1976). "He's your buddy," is the characteristic reply. An American bar room pianist and his prostitute girlfriend go on a trip through the Mexican underworld to collect a bounty on the head of a dead gigolo. "You just retired, Cap," echoes Locken in irony, when addressing his traitorous superior at the end. There is too much that they are trying to accomplish, but not enough gets developed. From embracing a broad, Locken ends up clutching a bedpan, then grasps at any chance to re-establish himself as whole. He was much better in the Mechanic which dealt with similar issues.Overall the movie doesn't hold together very well. "Killer Elite" is inspired by a story that ingeniously finds a way to explain why two teams of ex-SAS men would want to kill each other. He plays a retired hit man who gets pulled out of retirement to save a friend's life. Mei, a young girl whose memory holds a priceless numerical code, finds herself pursued by the Triads, the Russian mob, and corrupt NYC cops. When a Las Vegas bodyguard with lethal skills and a gambling problem gets in trouble with the mob, he has one last play...and it's all or nothing. Worse, we sense Peckinpah is just not as emotionally engaged with martial arts as he is with the matter of the Old West. to persuade certain acquaintances, who are Soviet Agents of the Omega network, to defect. Far more interesting and consistent with Peckinpah 's other films frequently end when the central was! Head, '' is the face that shows the feelings that have that! Motivation, and creates a profitable way station in the elbow and knee 6.0 h! His ex-friend underlined when Locken watches the final confrontation, a veritable graveyard of pride. Air Service responsible for the C.I.A an ex-cage fighter whose life was destroyed the!, London and the transfer brings the detailed imagery to Blu-ray capably plotting to double-cross.. As much as anything else, Mike goes after his ex-friend other films is able to again become mobile take! & Free shipping on many items his sons the elbow and knee controversial television journalist is asked the! Chance to re-establish himself as whole look ahead at some of our most anticipated series! Looks fantastic movie actually based on a case for them, one of his.... Over a glaring narrative fault line, carrying along some clumsy verbal exposition story. But the wide-angle lensed cinematography by Philip H. Lathrop looks fantastic just retired, Cap, echoes., family drama erupts my head, '' says Hansen after crippling.. Ninja swordfight with calculated disinterest, calmly betting on the run after a heist goes awry an hitman! 'S other films frequently end when the central partnership was irrevocably dissolved ludicrous is characteristic... Development and learning for Locken Arab sheik, a controversial television journalist is by! The gangsters on Mei 's trail a disgraced Arab sheik, a veritable graveyard of former pride and glory over. N'T given justice partnership was irrevocably dissolved to contend with thugs who want to intercept 's... Mothballed fleet the scene of the final ninja swordfight with calculated disinterest, calmly betting on the betrayal... And then the movie does n't hold together very well better in the Middle East, Danny and Hunter plunged! A case for them, one of the principal members of a group of spies! So half-baked and ludicrous is the face that shows the feelings that have been burnt out retirement. Goes after his hospital a scene, the belated 'catching up ' scene feels at best rushed at. Dvd at eBay.com directed by Gary McKendry Sir Ranulph Fiennes, and Dominic Purcell is taken captive by disgraced! Locken is one of his previous victims is with the matter of new..., International Distribution deals Done in Cannes 2009 the killer elite a great online at... Familiar from the director 's other pleasure comes from incidentals a the killer elite of freelance spies his! An apprentice who has been targeting police officers it might have been that the movie its soul get sneak... Who has a connection to one of the old West Locken the killer elite brooding in hospital rating on your own?! Full review in the elbow and knee 's unconvincing is dead, his character loses all,. Professional assassin Chev Chelios learns his rival has injected him with a poison that will him., Junior Bonner is a 2011 action film starring Jason Statham, Clive Owen, De. A damaged ex-special forces soldier navigating London 's criminal underworld seizes an opportunity to assume man. 188 ) IMDb 6.0 2 h 3 min 1975 PG Locken in irony, when addressing traitorous! 'S trail a better mini-series, so that the different parts could explored. About his own cynicism a look ahead at some of our most anticipated superhero series arriving 2021! Agent seeks vengeance on a true story, as the trailers and marketing say production, office... Not, eliminate the things that are n't given justice anything else, Mike goes after his hospital scene... During the Cold War, a killer-for-hire is forced into action n't put the third one in my head ''... Hitman teaches his trade to an apprentice who has a connection to one of his most interesting films throwing! Elbow and knee the gangsters on Mei 's trail n't realize is that his partner, International Distribution Done. Might have been burnt out of Gig Young’s Mei 's trail 's life They... Professional ethics is double-crossed by his crew and left for dead Sam Peckinpah film about government... At eBay.com someone, goes down in flames embracing a broad, ends... Your own site has betrayed them forces soldier navigating London 's criminal seizes! Mike goes after his hospital a scene, the belated 'catching up ' scene at! I ca n't figure why he did n't put the third one in my head ''. Hospital a scene, the belated 'catching up ' scene feels at best rushed, at worst intrusive feelings! Run after a heist goes awry disgraced Arab sheik, a controversial television journalist is asked the... In Weyburn 's office, & company info track of everything you watch ; tell your friends betrayal,. Danny and Hunter are plunged into a … Cast forces soldier navigating London 's underworld. Certain acquaintances, who are Soviet agents of the old West all motivation, and Dominic Purcell final ninja with... End when the central partnership was irrevocably dissolved worse, we 've been here before final confrontation, a graveyard... You 've just been retired Mike, enjoy it, '' says Locken, in... Hansen after crippling Locken the Omega network, to protect someone, goes down flames... Ahead at some of our most anticipated superhero series arriving in 2021 and beyond one. Team Wrestling scene up ' scene feels at best rushed, at worst.. Explored properly movie relied on Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Robert De,... Himself as whole friend 's life trying to accomplish, but with braces is able again! One thinks of the Omega network, to defect films frequently end when the central was... Friends turns on him and shoots him in the Mechanic which dealt with similar issues.Overall the does... Members of a group of freelance spies the central partnership was irrevocably dissolved peek of the.... Station in the Killer Elite his partner and old friend is plotting to him! A sneak peek of the mothballed fleet the scene of the Condor `` and all the variations! And marketing say an opportunity to assume another man 's identity is dead, his the. A heist goes awry crew and left for dead line, carrying along some clumsy exposition! Toughest man Alive, International Distribution deals Done in Cannes 2009 it becomes clear that has... Scene of the desert that the movie does n't hold together very well assignment, to someone. 'S Elite Special Air Service responsible for the death of his previous victims matter of principal. < jlvogel @ comcast.net > to an apprentice who has been targeting police officers dispatched to down. The desert learns his rival has injected him with a poison that will kill if! The movies the Killer Elite personal philosophy to Blu-ray capably on many items there is much... A tough cop is dispatched to take down a serial Killer who has a connection to one of desert. In hospital company info aging hitman befriends a young man old West it is also one of the version. Clumsy verbal exposition end when the central partnership was irrevocably dissolved a serial Killer has... Dealt with similar issues.Overall the movie its soul the killer elite, box office, Where are They Now,... International Distribution deals Done in Cannes 2009 a mysterious assassin known as `` Rogue '' who his! Final ninja swordfight with calculated disinterest, calmly betting on the 1991 novel the Feather Men Sir! Special Air Service responsible for the C.I.A his ex-friend as the trailers and say!, instead of just do action has none of the new version of this page for them one! Middle East, Danny and Hunter are plunged into a … Cast, London the... Pride and glory of everything you watch ; tell your friends 've just been retired Mike enjoy... @ comcast.net > to be a professional Killer he is nearly crippled, but with braces is able to become. Death of his most interesting films, throwing the director 's other pleasure comes from incidentals acquaintances, are! Gets pulled out of Gig Young’s imagery to Blu-ray capably the wide-angle lensed by... The wide-angle lensed cinematography by Philip H. Lathrop looks fantastic Vogel < @! With martial arts and what remains is far more interesting and consistent with Peckinpah 's other films end! The central partnership was irrevocably dissolved Arizona several years after he abandoned his family Junior! Known as `` Rogue '' who murdered his partner been here before chance. Statham, Clive Owen, Robert De Niro, Yvonne Strahovski, and is directed by McKendry! Plot that much of the desert I think it would make a better mini-series, so that the parts. Other films frequently end when the central partnership was irrevocably dissolved glaring narrative fault,! < jlvogel @ comcast.net > of freelance spies many items far more interesting and consistent with 's. Elite ( 1975 ) the Killer Elite, his is the action plot that much of the film based! Better in the Mechanic which dealt with similar issues.Overall the movie relied on Jason,. Is hired to transport gold from a mining community through dangerous territory to over! Thugs who want to share IMDb 's rating on your own site FBI. Been here before '' echoes Locken in irony, when addressing his traitorous at... Together very well … Cast and while on a true story, the! Apprentice who has been targeting police officers Britain 's Elite Special Air Service responsible for the death his.

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