Review of Righteous Kill (2008) by Mike S — 28 Feb 2010

RIGHTEOUS KILL is a solid thriller, but one that unfortunately must be compared to Michael Mann's classic thriller HEAT, beside which it looks decidedly inferior.

Robert De Niro and Al Pacino return to the screen together for the first time since 1995's HEAT, this time with both of them on the same side of the law. It's a long awaited reunion that, unfortunately, doesn't quite live up to their last collaboration.

This is not to say that RIGTHEOUS KILL is a bad movie, because it's not. It's an entertaining film to be sure, and one that I would most certainly watch again. De Niro and Pacino are both solid in the film, although they both rely more on what have become traditional trademark performance for each of them rather than bringing something new to the table, but it works for the film.

RIGHTEOUS KILL's supporting cast is quite good, featuring solid performances from Carla Gugino, John Leguizamo, and Donnie Wahlberg.

The plot of the film, however, is a bit of a double-edged sword for the film. On the one hand, it's a very good crime plot that keeps the viewer guessing, but once the viewer either figures things out (or gives the film a second viewing), its impact wears off a bit since the surprises are now known to the viewer. The film is a bit too dependent on its plot twists for its own good, and something that was more of a straight-up thriller rather than a guessing game of who the culprit is would have tremendously helped the film.