Killer Elite (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Killer Elite

| image = Killer Elite Poster.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Gary McKendry

| producer = {{plainlist|

Michael Boughen
Steve Chasman
Sigurjón Sighvatsson
Tony WinleySwart, Sharon (14 May 2010). [https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/jason-statham-embraces-killer-elite-1118003668/ "Jason Statham embraces 'Killer Elite'"]. Variety. Retrieved 18 August 2011.

}}

| screenplay = Matt Sherring

| based_on = {{Based on|The Feather Men|Sir Ranulph Fiennes}}

| starring = {{plainlist|

}}

| music = {{plainlist|

}}

| cinematography = Simon Duggan

| editing = John Gilbert

| studio = {{plainlist|

Omnilab Media
Ambience Entertainment
Film Victoria
Wales Creative IP Fund

}}

| distributor = Entertainment Film Distributors (United Kingdom)
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (Australia)
Open Road Films (United States)

| released = {{Film date|2011|9|10|TIFF|2011|9|23|United States|2012|2|23|Australia|df=y}}

| runtime = 116 minutes{{cite web |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/killer-elite-film |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628121455/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/killer-elite-film |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 June 2018 |title=KILLER ELITE |publisher=British Board of Film Classification |access-date=28 June 2018}}

| country = {{plainlist|

Australia
United Kingdom
United States

}}

| language = English

| budget = $70 million{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=killerelite.htm |title=Killer Elite (2011) |publisher=Box Office Mojo |access-date=22 September 2014}}

| gross = $56.4 million

}}

Killer Elite is a 2011 action thriller film directed by Gary McKendry and stars Jason Statham, Clive Owen and Robert De Niro. The film is based on the 1991 novel The Feather Men by Ranulph Fiennes. The film marked the debut of Open Road Films. It was released in the United States on 23 September 2011 and received mixed reviews from critics.

Plot

In 1980, Danny Bryce, Hunter, Davies and Meier are a group of mercenaries who arrive in Mexico to assassinate a person. Danny is shot when he becomes distracted after realising he has killed the man in front of the target's young child. Affected by this, Danny retires from the group and returns to Australia.

The following year, Danny is summoned to Oman to meet a handler known as The Agent, where he learns that Hunter was unable to do a $6 million job and Danny must complete Hunter's mission, in exchange for Hunter's life. Amr, a Sheikh and deposed king of a small region of Oman, wants Danny to kill three former SAS troopers—Steven Harris, Warwick Cregg and Simon McCann—for killing his three eldest sons during the Dhofar Rebellion. Danny must videotape their confessions and make their deaths look like accidents before Amr dies from his illness. This will allow Amr's fourth son Bakhait to regain control of his father's desert region. Danny approaches Davies and Meier enlisting them to help in exchange for $3 million each for the two of them while Danny will not receive anything as he just wants to free Hunter.

Danny and Meier find Harris in Oman and gain access to his house pretending to be researchers making a documentary. After Harris confesses on videotape, they take him to the bathroom, intending to make it look like that he slipped and hit his head. However, Harris's girlfriend knocks on the door. While Danny and Meier are distracted, Harris attempts to break free, causing Meier to shoot him dead. In England, Davies travels to a pub known to be frequented by British military personnel and questions bar patrons about former SAS members in Oman. This is reported to the Feather Men, a secret society of former operatives protecting their own. Their head enforcer Spike Logan is sent to investigate.

Davies discovers Cregg preparing for a long nighttime march in wintry weather on the Brecon Beacons mountain range. Danny infiltrates the base, disguised in uniform, and drugs Cregg's coffee. Danny follows Cregg and makes him confess before the drug sends him into shock to die of hypothermia. Aware that the Feather Men are now following them, Danny decides to use a different tactic to kill their last target McCann, who is now working as a mercenary. Their plan is to set up a fake job interview to lure McCann out of his house and then to crash a remote-controlled truck into McCann's car. With the help of the inexperienced Jake, Meier kills McCann. However, Logan and his men were watching over McCann. A gunfight ensues and Jake accidentally kills Meier. Danny and Davies part ways. Davies is tracked down by Logan's men and is fatally hit by a truck while trying to escape. Danny returns to Oman and gives Amr the last confession, which he has faked. Hunter is released, while Danny heads back to Australia and reunites with Anne, a childhood acquaintance.

Danny is informed by the Agent that there is one last man who participated in the murder of Amr's sons' and that the man Ranulph Fiennes is about to release a book about his experiences in the SAS. Danny sends Anne to France so that Hunter can protect her. Bakhait confirms that Harris was innocent. Logan traces Danny through the Agent and sends a team to protect the author, but Jake distracts them, allowing Danny to shoot Fiennes. Danny only wounds the man, but takes pictures that appear to show him dead. Logan captures Danny, taking him to an abandoned warehouse, but a government agent arrives and reveals that the British government is behind the death of Amr's three sons because of Amr's valuable oil reserves and Bakhait was in on it the whole time.

A three-way battle ensues, with Danny escaping and Logan shooting the government agent. Danny and Hunter head to Oman to give Amr the pictures. However, Logan arrives and tells Amr that the pictures are fake and then stabs him to death. Bakhait does not care since his father's death benefits him much like how he sacrificed his own three brothers to the British in exchange for wealth. Bakhait gives $6 million to Logan, which was meant for Danny and Hunter. Hunter spots Logan leaving, where they chase after him with Amr's men.

After stopping Amr's men, Danny and Hunter confront Logan on a desert road. Hunter takes some of the money for his expenses and his family. They leave the remaining money to Logan while telling him that he will need it to start a new life after killing the government agent and acting against the wishes of the Feather Men and the British government. Danny tells that it is over for him and that Logan must make up his own mind about what to do. Danny reunites with Anne.

Cast

File:Killer Elite cast at Edwards Air Force Base.jpg, Jason Statham, Yvonne Strahovski and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje.]]

{{castlist|

Jason Statham as Danny Bryce
Clive Owen as Spike Logan
Yvonne Strahovski as Anne Frazier
Robert De Niro as Hunter
Lachy Hulme as Steven Harris
Dominic Purcell as Davies
Aden Young as Meier
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as The Agent
Ben Mendelsohn as Martin
Grant Bowler as Warwick Cregg
Matt Nable as Pennock
Michael Dorman as Jake
Daniel Roberts as Simon McCann
Firass Dirani as Bakhait
Nick Tate as Commander B

}}

Production

The Internet Movie Database cites a number of locations used for filming. Filming began at Docklands Studios Melbourne in May 2010. In July 2010, Jason Statham's scenes were shot at the Brecon Beacons in Wales.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-10780518 "Jason Statham returns home to Britain to film 'Killer Elite'"]. BBC News. Retrieved 18 August 2011. Robert De Niro filmed a scene in Melbourne's Spring Street set in 1970s Paris.Quinn, Karl (7 July 2010). [https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/hollywood-comes-to-paris-end-of-town-de-niro-style-20100706-zyzt.html "Hollywood comes to Paris end of town, De Niro style"]. Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 August 2011. The scene of McCann's death by tanker truck was filmed on Dynon Road, Melbourne. The final scene was filmed on Little Collins Street in Melbourne.

Some London scenes were filmed in Cardiff—in July 2010, De Niro and Statham were seen filming outside The Promised Land Bar on Windsor Place. Other scenes shot in Cardiff were also on Windsor Place, showing the City United Reformed Church, Buffalo bar and various small business buildings. Agent's several meetings with other characters at a stone, columned monument were shot at the Welsh National War Memorial in Alexandra Gardens, Cardiff. A scene where The Welshman leaves a building was shot on Kings Road, Pontcanna, showing Kings Road Doctors' Surgery and residential buildings. Another scene was shot at The Blue Anchor Inn in East Aberthaw, Vale of Glamorgan.{{cite web|url=http://www.blueanchoraberthaw.com/our-history|title=Our History|publisher=The Blue Anchor|access-date=22 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024112029/http://www.blueanchoraberthaw.com/our-history|archive-date=24 October 2012|url-status=dead}}

In July 2010, filming took place near the Storey Arms outdoor centre in the Brecon Beacons.

Reception

The film had a gala-premiere at the 36th Toronto International Film Festival on 10 September 2011.{{Cite journal| title = Killer Elite premiere photos - 36th Toronto International Film Festival | url = http://www.digitalhit.com/galleries/40/584 | year = 2011 | author = Evans, Ian | website = DigitalHit.com | access-date =3 January 2012}} {{RT prose|27||124|A rote, utterly disposable Jason Statham vehicle that just happens to have Clive Owen and Robert De Niro in it.|ref=y|access-date=May 20, 2025}} {{MC film|44|29|ref=y|access-date=May 20, 2025}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.

Roger Ebert gave it 3 stars out of 4, calling it director Gary McKendry's "impressive debut", noting he "understands that action is better when it's structured around character and plot, and doesn't rely on simple sensation."{{cite news |title=Killer Elite |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/killer-elite-2011 |work=Chicago Sun-Times}}

=Accolades=

Despite the negative reviews, Killer Elite was nominated for Best Production Design and Best Visual Effects at the 2nd AACTA Awards.

''The Feather Men''

The plot for the film is based on the novel The Feather Men by Ranulph Fiennes.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/09/30/sir-ranulph-fiennes-talks-the-feather-men-and-killer-elite-with-robert-de-niro.html|title=Sir Ranulph Fiennes Talks 'The Feather Men' and 'Killer Elite' with Robert de Niro|newspaper=Daily Beast|date=October 2011|last1=Stern|first1=Marlow}} Fiennes claims that a secret society called the "Feather Men", made up of retired and disabled SAS members, was operating in the shadows. They are called the "feather men" because their influence and intervention were subtle, like the touch of a feather. Their job was to protect SAS personnel and their families and avenge wrongs or harm done to them.