Review of Elite Squad (2007) by Martin S — 15 Dec 2008

This movie is garbage. Moral ambiguity or complex commentary (a la HBO's The Wire) is not the same as lazy character development (an incessant voiceover) and showing police corruption alongside jingoistic chest pounding.

Nothing in this movie is earned. It has no flow, no sense of urgency, and writing so sure of its relevance that it beats you over the head with anything it has to say, hoping you'll stick around for the whole 2 hours to endure more and more of the same.

The most interesting thing about the movie is the undeniable right-wing slant to the movie that reminded me of John Millius' Red Dawn, a similarly fascist praise of violence and military (or paramilitary) action.

Fascinating stuff on that level, but as entertainment, polemic or even history lesson, it's bullshit. At least Red Dawn is a fun action movie. Stylistically in debt to Goodfellas, Full Metal Jacket, and of course, City of God, there is absolutely nothing original here.

Just imagine Starship Troopers if instead of bugs, the bad guys are drug lords. Now subtract any satire, awesome gore, fun action, and Doogie Howser. I give you Elite Squad.