C "Most people respect the badge. Everybody respects the gun." With an intriguing tagline plus the tag team of Robert De Niro (Stardust) and Al Pacino (Ocean's Thirteen) spending nearly all of their screen time together, it would seem like Righteous Kill, the latest film by director Jon Avnet, is a can't-miss. Too bad recycled ideas and a weak script hold back what could have been a great film. De Niro and Pacino star as Turk and Rooster, two veteran New York police officers closing in on retirement with more than 60 years of experience between them. The officers' latest case involves a different type of serial killer; rather than kill innocent victims, this one targets murderers, rapists and other heinous criminals that have somehow slipped through the justice system. Turk and Rooster collaborate with two other cops, Perez (John Leguizamo, The Happening) and Riley (Donnie Wahlberg, Saw II), during the investigation. After several failed attempts to figure out who the killer is, it becomes clear to Perez the killer is a cop. There are a lot of crime-thrillers out there and sadly this one doesn't offer anything new to the genre. The idea of a vigilante serial killer murdering people who "deserve it" is nothing new. It's currently the hook of Showtime hit series Dexter, which follows the storyline of the righteous serial killer and tells the story in a much more eloquent fashion. Perez's motives are quite unclear as he begins an investigation based seemingly on nothing more than his dislike for Turk.
A revelation of a previous fling between Perez and Turk's girlfriend Karen (Carla Gugino, American Gangster) is then thrown in to create extra tension between the two cops. But how much more tension is needed when one cop already thinks the other is a serial killer? Not only is this an unnecessary subplot, it's embarrassingly clich?(c). Most of the dialogue is rather trite. A majority of the characters are tough, hard-edged cops and the audience is treated to a lot of macho conversation, with all the swearing and testosterone one could ever hope for. The entire film is a build-up for a twist ending that feels like a dirty trick played by Avnet. He covered his tracks carefully and every major question is answered, but it still feels like the film goes so far out of the way to throw off the viewer that the ending would be better without the twist. Yet despite the shoddy filmmaking, none of the actors give a bad performance. Leguizamo and Wahlberg are especially good, showcasing their ability to hold up onscreen with the two accomplished veterans. That being said, De Niro and Pacino steal the show. They talk so fast and comfortably with each other that it hardly feels like they're even acting. Every word seems effortless and natural, the two acting giants making the best out of the silly things Gewirtz forces them to say. Seeing these two in a movie together is an undeniable treat and keeps this average crime thriller from falling below mediocrity. Another on-screen pairing of these living legends would be more than welcome, but lets hope the next time around the film is actually worth while.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
