Movie Description
For those left unsatisfied by Robert De Niro and Al Pacino's near-lack of shared screen time in the masterful HEAT, RIGHTEOUS KILL promises a prominent pairing of the two legendary actors. De Niro and Pacino star as two cops who team up to catch a serial killer in this crime thriller from director Jon Avnet.
In director Jon Avent's 2008 crime drama RIGHTEOUS KILL, two New York City police detectives--Turk (Robert De Niro) and Rooster (Al Pacino)--attempt to track down a serial killer who targets only vicious criminals. This enigmatic vigilante has earned the duo's respect, yet they are duty-bound to apprehend the criminal-hunting assailant, and in doing so they strain the bonds of their longtime partnership. Aiding Turk and Rooster are a fiery younger pair of detectives (Donnie Wahlberg and John Leguizamo) and investigator Karen Correlli (Carla Gugino), who are determined to see that justice is served.
The second face-to-face film pairing of De Niro and Pacino--the first being Michael Mann's gritty 1995 epic, HEAT--RIGHTEOUS KILL finds the revered veteran actors working within the confines of a police procedural. Ably supported by Gugino, Wahlberg, and Leguizamo, the iconic performers contribute relatively subdued turns, never fully engaging in their signature dramatic fireworks. Working from a script by Russell Gewirtz (INSIDE MAN), Avnet (who also directed Pacino in 88 MINUTES) guides the action through twists and turns while staying rooted in a fairly straightforward LAW & ORDER-like aesthetic. Although RIGHTEOUS KILL may be underwhelming for those expecting a De Niro/Pacino double tour de force, the movie is a fine addition to the cop thriller category.
| Credits | | Producer: | Avi Lerner, Jon Avnet, Randall Emmett, Rob Cowan | | Cast: | Brian Dennehy, Donnie Wahlberg |
Editorial Reviews
3 stars out of 5 -- "Pleasingly understated. Bob and Al bring it down a notch to stay a whisper above gravelly for most of their dialogue."
Total Film - Dennis Brabham (11/01/2008)
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