Elite Squad

Rio de Janeiro is full of pissed off drug dealers and gangs, and they must be taken off the streets before the Pope comes to visit. The elite BOPA unit will be happy to do the job. A very impressive and well shot action drama about how life in Brazil is far from idyllic. But this audiovisual and atmospheric banger has a problem with perhaps too radical ideas in the script. (2008-07-09)

If the entire film was only about the training of the new members of the “elite squad”, the only thing that would bother me would be the ideological aftertaste left by almost every scene. But Elite Squad has many more things that bothered me: there isn’t a lot of action, and when there is some, it’s not very clear, half the scenes are pointless, the subplots are uninteresting, the script goes nowhere and there are many ugly male characters that (other than the main trio) I could never tell apart. To tell you the truth, after half an hour I was already looking forward to the end (and I kept on looking forward until the end). (2011-04-21)

Every couple of years me and some Brazilian movie’s paths cross. And every couple of years it’s a movie that is only hard to forget. This year Tropa de Elite was released. A picture that went perhaps too far in terms of authenticity and intensity of experience. The type of movie that you wouldn’t expect from a western production. Each part is about something else a little differently. Power abusing special units, corrupt police, a hopeless social situation in the slums, politics, the system, society and unit training. All of this throughout the movie will drain you to the core, something that is amply helped by the à la Greengrass documentary style. Despite all the strong aspects of the movie, especially in the second half is the best (or worst, depending) thing about it is Matias’ transformation. It sends shivers down the spine. The negatives here are just purely personal things. Like for instance, Matias’ glasses seem a little out of place in the elite unit, and also the fact that the unit members didn’t cover their faces (EDIT a little later: after watching the documentaries Favela Rising and Bus 174, I take these naive objections back). It’s a powerful movie. Even exceptional. But in no way “nice". Good? Bad? Oh come on, those are long since obsolete terms. No hope, no illusions, no good feelings; pure depression. That is what Tropa de Elite will leave behind in you. For a long, long time. (2008-01-08)

Rio de Janeiro isn’t just a sunny city with Jesus standing on a hill. The slums are overflowing with drugs (and trash), and cops’ pockets with money. Because the men from BOPE are here, doing what is necessary, using whatever means necessary. The direction is marvelous, visually inventive and the screenplay develops on several ideas with huge social implications at once. Whether suffocation by plastic bag or fighting against the system (while still keeping your job), it always hits a nerve. So where would you like to go on holiday? To Rio? (2013-05-29)

The Brazilians unexpectedly delivered a fantastic film that left me with strong emotions. It's quite important to watch films from other countries from time to time, as viewers can learn something new. The same goes for me. The film presented a very believable portrayal of everyday life in the poorest areas of Rio (the favelas), showcasing what law enforcement has to deal with and the completely different way of life for the local residents. I’m so glad I don’t live in Brazil because I wouldn’t want to encounter a kid with an automatic rifle on every corner, who could easily shoot me in the head without hesitation. I don’t envy the local police at all, as they face two problems, and I don’t even know which is worse. They deal with various gangsters and their associates, who don’t have much love for men in blue uniforms, or even the corrupt part of the police, those who should be fighting against it. The cast was extremely likable, and Wagner Moura was outstanding. Throughout its runtime, the film breathed an atmosphere that captivated me. The action moments in the chaotic, semi-collapsed buildings were perfectly shot. I can't wait to see the sequel. The first one gets 88% from me. (2017-03-04)