Jason Statham and Robert De Niro in "Killer Elite"; photo courtesy of Open Road Pictures

 KILLER ELITE (Open Road Film)

When you put Jason Statham, Robert De Niro and Clive Owen in a movie then you know you are going to have plenty of action, and “Killer Elite” delivers that and more. It is a suspenseful tale of three men whose lives intersect over some actions during a war. The movie is based on a true story which indicates the Special Forces from England may have committed acts of murder in Oman during a battle there. At least the movie says these killings happened.

Statham plays Danny Brice. When seen at the first of the film he is a killer for hire. He and his friend Hunter (De Niro) are working a job and when it is finished Danny decides he is through. He moves to Australia and begins a quiet life. Then he learns that Hunter is being held prisoner by a sheik who wants a job done. He wants Danny to find three SAS operatives from England who killed his three sons in Oman. He wants confessions from them and then proof of their deaths.

Danny takes the job and enlists his buddies Davies and Meier (Dominic Purcell and Aden Young) to help out. A man named Spike (Owen) is the main man trying to stop their killing spree. Meanwhile Danny’s girlfriend Anne (Yvonne Strahovski) gets pulled into the fight.

The plot is fairly complex and a little muddled but at least you know who the bad guys are and who the good guys are. Well maybe good guys isn’t a term that would apply to anyone involved. The action takes place at various locations around the world and the killing methods used are inventive.

Statham dominates the story and the action. He is the “star” of the movie. Owen matches him action for action when on screen, and his broody persona adds to the fun of the film. De Niro has more of a supporting role but he makes his presence known. Strahovski is beautiful and romantic as Danny’s drawn into the fray girlfriend.

The movie is rated R for nudity, profanity and violence.

Mostly fast paced and chock full of action, “Killer Elite” should please action movie junkies who like to see macho manpower on the screen. Statham always delivers the action and in this film he has two co-stars who add power plus.

I scored “Killer Elite” a deadly 6 out of 10.