Righteous Kill

• Released Internationally on 12/09/08
• Released in Malta by KRS on 05/11/08

Preview (01/11/08)

In a nutshell

Two NYPD detectives, who have been partners for over 30 years, start investigating what appears to be the case of a serial killer. The amount of inside information leads them to believe that the guy their after is in fact a member of their own department.

Why we’re hyped

See ‘who’s in it?’

Who’s in it?

Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro, two of the most recognizable and respected actors of our generation, team up again as the two detectives on the case. They were both in The Godfather Part II, although they didn’t share any scenes, and then we finally saw them together in Michael Mann’s explosive and brilliant Heat in 1995. Let’s hope this pairing up is in the same league. Filling out the minor roles are Brian Dennehy, John Leguizamo, Carla Gugino and Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson.

Review (04/11/08)

Star Power

With two surnames like Pacino and DeNiro on your movie poster, your chances of making big business are quite good. Which is why the marketing campaign of this cop movie naturally focused heavily on the starring duo, who need no introduction. And from scene one, this film is all about them. Forget the above-mentioned films they shared - they were never, or hardly ever on screen together. This time they're partners, long-time buddies, and they spend most of the film's running time in the same rooms, situations and conversations. It's great to see these two pillars of modern film feeding off each other, and despite their very distinct and recognizable personas, they make a convincing pair and complement each other nicely.

Good Cop, Bad Cop

Italian surnames aside, this film is essentially an above-average police thriller. Partners, stakeouts, raids, surveillance... the works. This vast and often underrated film genre has produced some of the most memorable plots and interesting characters of the past couple of decades, and this time around we get a bit of both. The plot has enough twists and developments to remain interesting throughout, and the supporting cast listed above provide an array of interesting minor characters which add life to the police department in question. Carla Gugino is particularly notable as the crime scene investigator who likes to let her job overflow into her personal life.

In the end

Ultimately, this film could have been a documentary about knitting, and Pacino and DeNiro would have still managed to draw crowds and make it interesting. But although director Jon Avnet milks the star factor for every penny it's worth, we're still treated to an enjoyable, if not particularly ground-breaking thriller.

Trailer: