Director Gary McKendry makes his feature debut with Killer Elite and co-scripted with Matt Sherring, adapting the 1991 novel The Feather Men by British writer and adventurer (and third cousin to Ralph and Joseph) Ranulph Fiennes. The title is similar to Sam Peckinpah's 1975 film The Killer Elite, which starred James Caan and Robert Duvall but featured a different story about dueling spies.
The plot goes something like this: Evil, mustachioed Clive Owen takes beardy De Niro hostage to coerce Jason Statham to come out of retirement; complications ensue, and soon Statham is doing backflips onto Owen while strapped to a chair before jumping out of a second-story window. Somewhere along the lines there's a pretty girl, windows explode, De Niro throws 'bows -- and did Statham just punch Owen in the nuts?
I believe that a film's accompanying music, even in trailer, isn't to be taken lightly. Therefore, when '80s anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" by the German metal band The Scorpions starts playing halfway through the trailer, it sends a clear message to the audience. Namely: This movie, with its direct-to-DVD-worthy title, might just be the most fun you have with meaty, old fashioned man vs.man action you have in theaters until The Expendables 2 comes out.
Verdict: Sold the moment Statham jumped out of the window.
Open Road will release Killer Elite September 23.