Review: Elite Squad

Director: José Padilha (Bus 174)
Writer: José Padilha, Bráulio Mantovani
Producers: José Padilha, Marcos Prado
Starring: Wagner Moura, Caio Junqueira, André Ramiro
MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 115 min

Perhaps it’s to the first world’s fascination with the underbelly of society that has sparked a far more mainstream, open arms approach to films depicting the difficult lives of individuals essentially living in war zones. While documentaries bring us the realities of what’s really going on feature films, regardless of how realistic, seem to have much more widespread and mass appeal. But it’s not fair to account the successes of some of these films solely to the pallets of the masses because in truth, the films themselves are amazing works. Perhaps the most notable of the bunch is 2002’s City of God which, aside from being a critical and commercial success, also seemed to mark a shift in focus of international film from Europe and Asia to South America not to mention that it ushered in a new era of Brazilian filmmaking.

Whereas City of God focused on the hardships of life within the slums of Brazil, director José Padilha has chosen to look at the trials faced by the men working on the other side of the law and the result is the deservedly award winning Elite Squad. The story takes place in 1997, months before the arrival of the Pope. Nascimento, a Captain in a special police force named “BOPE”, is at the end of his rope and ready for a career change but he wants to ensure that he is replaced by a capable man, an individual that can uphold the law and lead his squadron effectively. Amidst the corrupt cops of the city’s police force, and through a believable series of events, he meets two straight cutting rookie cops who might make good replacements. The rest of the film follows the two men’s struggles through boot camp and the eventual conclusion of the film will leave you gasping for more.

I have yet to take in Bus 174 which has been unanimously praised and recommended, so it is difficult to say whether the style of Elite Squad is an expansion from his first film or something new for the director but however you cut it, it’s truly amazing. Padilha has taken Meirelles’s in-the-moment, hand-held approach and blown it sky high. From the opening sequence you’re drawn into the action and the film doesn’t let go until the end credits roll. There are scenes of extended chases through the slums and though the camera is in constant movement, it never confuses; we always know who we’re following and what’s going on. It’s like watching Greengrass at work – it’s that good.

The film is shot by Lula Carvalho, the man also responsible for the look of City of God, which may help explain the similar feel of the city but that’s essentially where the similarities end. The surroundings of Elite Squad seem even dirtier and grimier than those of its predecessors which suggests that while the criminals are scummy, dirty police officers are the goo at the bottom of the barrel.

The visuals which so brilliantly capture emotion and ideas are taken directly from the story. The film blends the intricate story and crisscrossing lives of its characters, managing to fully develop the lead characters and some of the supporting cast to the point that one never questions their actions. There is no second guessing whether the character would actually do that; every decision, action and reaction are within the scope of the characters making the entire story that much more realistic and while the plot and dialog itself is excellent, much of the film’s success can also be traced to the strong performances. Easily the best of the bunch is Wagner Moura as Captain Nascimento. From the moment you see him it’s clear that he is the man in charge; a gruff, no non-sense type of guy, but as the film introduces some of his personal struggles and demons, one starts to take note of the small details of Moura’s outstanding performance.

There is much more to praise of Padilha’s film: the excellent sound design (I can still hear the apparently un-muffled gun shots), the other great performances, the excellent use of voice over and the unfolding of the story itself which, though conventional, felt like something new. Bottom line is that Elite Squad surpassed any expectations I had going in. Once I manage to get over the gut punch and my mind un-winds, I look forward to visiting the film again.

Links:
IMDb profile
Official Site
Flixster Profile for Elite Squad