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Righteous Kill

Buzz says:   MPAA Rating: R
Current Showtimes: No showtimes available

The legendary Al Pacino and Robert De Niro team up in this suspenseful cop flick about a near-retirement duo searching for a serial killer who targets criminals that slip through the cracks of the justice system. When evidence leads the squad to believe that the murderer is one of their own, loyalties are tested and limits pushed as the police force turns on itself.

Righteous Kill has been getting almost unanimously slammed by critics everywhere. Yes, the plot has been done before, the ending is a bit cliche, and the whole tone is slightly reminiscent of a television crime drama, but heck, I liked it!

From start to finish, the pacing was nothing short of excellent, due mostly to a well executed edit job that legitimized a usually frowned upon 'cut, cut, cut' approach. 50 Cent, Carla Gugino, and John Leguizamo round out the old guys, and while their youth is no match for a combined 133 years of Pacino and De Niro greatness, they still manage to deliver strong performances. It is likely that the tremendous acting has everything to do with the fabulous cast and very little to do with the direction, but nevertheless, the relatively inexperienced Jon Avnet makes his presence known with a fresh, sleek style that perfectly complements the heavy content. Thrown into the mix is a smidgen of comedy, and a few sexy and twisted criminal-victim role play scenes between De Niro and Gugino that earn the film its R-rating. While their relationship is vastly underdeveloped, the chemistry between the rest of the cast makes up for it two-fold.

If you are expecting a completely original modern classic that rivals the legendary performances of these two actors' pasts, then yes, you will be met with disappointment. But Righteous Kill stands on its own as a dark and thrilling mystery that showcases its outstanding cast.