Review of Righteous Kill (2008) by Joe T — 29 Jul 2009

Most film critics lambasted the highly anticipated Al Pacino & Robert DeNiro film collaboration "Righteous Kill". They thought the cop flick was arresting in its pretentious ways to fabricate itself as a cerebral crime drama. I thought for the most part that some of them were half right and some were half wrong. No doubt that Director Jon Avnet wastes the legendary thespian talents of these two acting gods by not showcasing them in more engaging scenes throughout the narrative. And Screenwriter Russell Gewirtz should be booked for feeding Team Paniro the cheesiest cop drama clichés in the book. But speaking of Team Paniro or Team Decino (depending on which one of them is more righteous to you), their performances were righteously killer. I mean it is still in far comparison to their past classic acting feats, but it still warrants commendable consideration; especially Pacino. So now it's time to closely investigate the plot of "Righteous Kill". Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro star as partner Detectives Tom "Turk" Cowan and David "Rooster" Fisk in "Righteous Kill". Team Turkrooster are investigating the serial murders of convicts who were unjustifiably exonerated. Could a cop be the serial killer himself? It would not be very righteous of me to answer that question for you, and therefore be found guilty of a first degree charge of Aggravated Spoiler. "Righteous Kill" also co-stars Carla Gugino as the Detective lover of Rooster who gets her unrighteous thrills from her Rooster calls from rough sex. The supporting acting precinct of "Righteous Kill" also holds John Leguizamo and Donnie Wahlberg playing Turk & Rooster's competing detectives, and Brian Dennehy as Rooster & Turk's lieutenant superior. Even though not atrocious, none of these supporting roles were deemed to be honorable in crime drama thespianism. But now back to the lifesavers of "Righteous Kill"! The Righteous Brothers of Al Pacino & Robert DeNiro might not be the same they used to be in their thespian prime, but they still have enough appeal and magnetism to demonstrate that "they have not lost that acting feeling", as they aptly demonstrated in "Righteous Kill".

*** Average.