Review of Elite Squad (2007) by Marcus Y — 12 Jun 2009
Great film from Brazilian director Jose Padilha who came to fame with his acclaimed bus-highjack documentary Bus 174. This feels like City of God but from the point of view of the elite police force operating in the favelas.
It has the same sort of camera work and subject matter and so if you liked City, you will definitely like this. Padilha researched the film for two years and got testimonies from around 20 police officers.
Indeed he initially wanted to make a documentary about corruption in the police force, slum drug dealers and this ultra-violent, well trained police force but he could not find any cops who would go on camera.
Instead he used real events that were told to him to weave a multi-faceted, gripping screenplay. He is set to work on a new Robert Ludlum (writer of the Bourne series) story which I'm sure will be great.
He is very likely to be the new Fernando Meirelles.
This review of Elite Squad (2007) was written by Marcus Y on 12 Jun 2009.
Elite Squad has generally received positive reviews.
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