Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Righteous Kill

The poster for Righteous Kill draws you in quickly:



You see it, and can't help but remember: The Godfather. Dog Day Afternoon. Raging Bull. The Deer Hunter. De Niro and Pacino are iconic talents who have helped make dozens of movies legendary; if you are even a moderate fan of film from the 70s and 80s, the Righteous Kill poster is like a drug. It calls your name, and compels you to see it.

"The ten minute, on-screen scene these two shared in 1995's Heat was just a taste, baby. Pony up $3.99 for this redbox of kronic talent!"

(I doubt drug dealers have ever used the phrases "share" and "pony up," but go with me on it.)

The problem is, Righteous Kill is more Backdraft than Taxi Driver, more 88 Minutes than Scent Of A Woman. It's a formula movie with an obvious swerve.

Although De Niro and Pacino deliver some very good moments in this flick, the movie just can't be saved. The awe of watching these guys work together wears off after the first 30 minutes, when you realize there's still an hour to kill and you've already figured out the ending.

It's more than disappointing.

3 comments:

All Click said...

You are spot on. It IS more than disappointing. It's Miss-appointing. Or some such.

Spike Nesmith said...

attica! attica! attica!

I was so excited when I saw the trailer for this, and that excitement fell flat on its fat face as soon as I saw the title. I knew at that point that it was going to be a clunker.

Elvis Drinkmo said...

Without having seen it- you're review is exactly what I thought when the ads first came out. I love DeNiro and Pacino- but even with all good actors, there has to be a decent story line or forget it.