Review of Elite Squad: The Enemy Within (2010) by Maksim B — 19 Mar 2012

Elite Squad: The Enemy Within is rougher, more brutal, faster paced and much more intriguing than its predecessor. It is one of those rare cases when the sequence is better than the original delivery. The Enemy Within is more provoking, more complex and depicts the true ugly face of societies, where crime, corruption and politics have become one.

Situated several years later, Jose Padilha's story is as realistic as in the firs installment. Unlike its predecessor the narrative is not way too much and the story is easier to follow as the going-forth-and-back is minimized. From the very beginning Padilha trashes once again the liberal, the social and all kinds of bourgeois human rights activists whose perception of reality is based on non-existent ideal and nothing else. While showing how the life of Captain Nascimento evolves into the brain who brings BOPE to a new professional level, Jose Padilha takes a bold turn on politics and corruption on the highest levels. With no sentiments, he shows the growing up of Captain Nascimento and the revealing of the monstrous face of the symbiosis between crime, corruption and politics.

Each detail of story is a hard hitting one, especially when one realizes that the "system" is everywhere and cutting its head will only result the giving life to two others. The documentary style typical for the first movie is kept and this straightens the grip of the movie on the audience.

Positive comments should be made also about Wagner Moura, whose performance evolves from being a rough special forces cop, into someone who has gained wisdom, experience and who never stops to believe in the righteousness of his actions. His solid acting is definitely something to be followed up in the next projects with him (Neill Blomkamp's Elysium) and probably he could become the next established Brazilian movie-star.

Elite Squad: The Enemy Within is an excellent cop-thriller, which will grab you from its first minute and won't let you long after the final credits. It is not only the brutal violence in it, but also the message and the determination it contains. A must see movie !