Screening until Thursday 16^th October 2008 @ Vue, Bristol

The last time Al Pacino and Robert de Niro appeared on screen together, the result was arguably one of the greatest crime capers of the 1990s; Heat (Michael Mann, 1995). Unfortunately Righteous Kill has failed to reach such lofty heights, and considering the behind the scenes names surrounding the picture (Directed by Jon Avnet (Red Corner, Fried Green Tomatoes) and written by Russell Gewirtz (Inside Man)), I was surprised.

The film sees the famous pair as two experienced New York detectives on the trail of a serial killer who is murdering the city’s criminals. The murders raise questions concerning an old case and whether the right man is behind bars.

Pacino and de Niro give performances in accordance with the script but the attachment of the two huge names serve merely to mitigate the abysmal camera work, editing and weak storyline.

Just another ‘cop movie’ then and not one of the strongest; another Heat this ain’t!

www.myvue.com

Sam Butler