Elite Squad

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Elite Squad

R

Released Sep 19, 2008

1h 54m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Popcornmeter

51%

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35 Reviews

87%

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10,000+ Ratings

The captain (Wagner Moura) of a special Brazilian police force considers which of two new recruits (André Ramiro, Caio Junqueira) would make a suitable successor.

Critics Consensus

Brutal, action heavy, Brazilian cop film with a pointless voiceover. Lacks flair, overdoes the violence and is never quite sure where its morals lie.

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V.A. Musetto

New York Post

For nearly two hours, Padilha bombards viewers with senseless, sickening violence for its own sake.

Rated: 1/4

Sep 19, 2008

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Manohla Dargis

New York Times

Elite Squad is a relentlessly ugly, unpleasant, often incoherent assault on the senses from Brazil.

Rated: .5/5

Sep 19, 2008

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David Fear

Time Out

Elite Squad can't decide whether it wants to pull the lid back on what urban decay has wrought or simply open up a can of whup ass.

Rated: 2/6

Sep 17, 2008

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

It keeps me interested with its sample of slum violence and police brutality, but it is affected by a lack of character development and a regular narrative that seems to repeat itself like a crime wave in the favelas. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 6/10

Feb 12, 2021

Full Review

Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

A satisfactory enough cop movie, but not one that people will still be name checking years hence

Rated: 6/10

Jan 13, 2009

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Robert Koehler

Christian Science Monitor

Given that Brazil, as a Latin American moviemaking powerhouse, steadily produces vibrant, vital films of real impact and humanity, it's a crime itself that Elite Squad may be the only Brazilian film that American audiences see this year.

Rated: D

Sep 25, 2008

Full Review

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Wendel L

Direção: Bom Atuação: Bom Roteiro: Bom Caracterização: Bom Soundtrack: Ok

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/14/24

Full Review

Lucas S

O filme é muito bom, a quem possa de incomodar com a narração explicativa do capitao nascimento, mas mesmo para essas pessoas podem admirar um filme que mostra realidade de muitas favelas do brasil, e como é visto pela visão de alguns "burgueses" que não tem contato direto com isso

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/20/24

Full Review

Fabrícia F

A violência e corrupção policial são o foco nesse drama ambientado na cidade maravilhosa. Incrível, épico, surreal! Os dilemas enfrentados pelo capitão Nascimento (Wagner Moura) despertam o interesse do público e ganha a torcida da opinião popular. Um clássico atemporal e dramático.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/22/24

Full Review

Maximos g

As pessoas que veem esse filme como uma violência sem sentido, provavelmente vivem em uma bolha, porque esse filme retrata muito bem o rj e como o pública reage a ele acaba descrevendo o 2, que é tornar o capitão nascimento como um héroi, embora não seja a intenção do filme é assim que o público vê, pois odeia mais criminosos

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/29/24

Full Review

Pedro F

Melhor filme Brasileiro Feito, e eu posso falar pois sou brasileiro, em relação a esse filme, gringos não tem argumento

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/08/24

Full Review

Raiodesol S

Realistic and compelling if you happen to live in the context of the movie. Maybe a little too extreme for most audiences, but that’s the sad reality of the Rio de Janeiro’s favelas.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/18/24

Full Review

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José Padilha

Director

Wagner Moura

Captain Nascimento

André Ramiro

André Matias

Caio Junqueira

Neto

Milhem Cortaz

Captain Fábio

Fernanda Machado

Maria

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Synopsis

The captain (Wagner Moura) of a special Brazilian police force considers which of two new recruits (André Ramiro, Caio Junqueira) would make a suitable successor.

Director: José Padilha
Producer: Marcos Prado, José Padilha
Screenwriter: José Padilha, Rodrigo Pimentel, Bráulio Mantovani, André Batista, Rodrigo Pimentel
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Quanta Centro de Produções, Zazen Producoes, Estúdios Mega, Weinstein Company, Universal Pictures
Rating: R (Pervasive Language|Drug Content|Strong Violence)
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: Brazilian Portuguese
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 19, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 10, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.1K
Runtime: 1h 54m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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