This week I went to see Righteous Kill starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, two of the most recognisable thriller actors. Righteous Kill is about two high ranking New York Police officers who are also best friends. We follow the homicide cases the two are investigating and we believe that De Niro's character, Turk, is carrying out these murders. The film explores how Turk is getting away with these murders and the strains on the friendship as we believe 'Rooster', Pacino's character, knows what Turk is doing.
The opening sequence was quite misleading, it was much more like an action film than a thriller film. We are given a background on the two characters. Turk and Rooster are in a firing range shooting dummies laughing to each other as they do so. We understand that Turk is a tough guy, he coaches a kids baseball team and is in his precincts team. Rooster is set up as somewhat of a genius, he is playing multiple chess games at one time. This genius image is not exactly continued throughout the film. The colours that are used are very typical; Reds, Blacks and Whites.
After the opening sequence the first thing we see is Turk confessing on camera to killing a number of people in his time as a police officer. This commentary runs through out the film and becomes a narration to the action of the film. Sub-plots occur involving on-going investigations and disappointment between the two friends after events in the past. There is a drugs bust that the two characters are working on that progresses the plot and towards the end leads to trap which brings the film to its climax.
In the end I feel 'Righteous Kill' failed as a thriller film. The twist and mystery to the film was easily guessed as there was nothing else it could be or any other direction the film could go in. I also felt that there was too much comic relief between Turk and Rooster for tension to really build up. The only thing that saves the film is the two big actors, without them the film probably wouldn't have gone into production.
No comments:
Post a Comment