Advanced Search Beta »
Basic Search Fields
Elite Squad
Metascore
33 out of 100

Generally unfavorable - based on 7 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 4 out of 7
view
per page
  1. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: David Edelstein
    70
    The captain narrates in a punchy, journalistic style that gives Elite Squad an air of sociological realism--it bears a resemblance to viscerally exciting seventies urban thrillers like "The French Connection."
  2. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Jim Ridley
    70
    This latest pounding slice-of-thug-life thriller from Brazil packs the same cinematic firepower as "City of God," only on the other side of the law.
  3. Variety
    Reviewed by: Jay Weissberg
    40
    A one-note celebration of violence-for-good that plays like a recruitment film for fascist thugs.
  4. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Ray Bennett
    30
    Poorly structured and at times incoherent.
  5. New York Post
    Reviewed by: V.A. Musetto
    25
    It boggles the mind to think that Elite Squad won the top prize at the prestigious Berlin Film Festival in February.
  6. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: Robert Koehler
    25
    Pokes and prods the viewer to watch the brutal, indiscriminate methods of Rio's SWAT-like cops and then demands only one conclusion: That cops in Rio's drug-infested slums must do what they do and if that means rampant point-blank executions, so be it.
  7. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Manohla Dargis
    0
    A relentlessly ugly, unpleasant, often incoherent assault on the senses from Brazil.
prev next
Page:
  • 1

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
9.2 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 80 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 30
  3. Negative: 2 out of 30
  1. CarlosB
    10
    The movie is based on the book "Elte of the Squad" (own translation), which was written by former police officers from the "BOPE" unit, in Rio. It is an espectacular thriller with both extraordinary history and action (the action scenes done by the same guy of "BlackHawk Down") - the relation between the caracters resembles "Training Day", but the movie is mainly a portrait of real life in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro. It does not reflect any opinion about violence, but describes the enviroment by the point of view of one the characters, cap. Nascimento. The movie leaves to the audience to analyse and make his own conclusions. To call it "fascist propaganda" is an absurd, paranoid mistake. It's just ignorance.… Full Review »
  2. Ididseethemovie
    10
    Also, if you don't like this kind of movie, why in hell did you bother watching it at all? You FAILED to understand the plot of this movie, and it was NEVER incoherent. You people have amazed me this time.… Full Review »
  3. aalanmassari
    10
    Hello I am Brazilian I live in Rio de Janeiro in Barra da Tijuca I'm settled aera Brazilian force, as you Americans are so innocent, this movie does not portray nen half of the slums relidade nen you do not know what hunger is mizeria violence, our reality are totally different in the favela has no law has no rule, this film portrays nen half of violence and crime in the favelas, the BOPE (Special Operations Battalion) and the movie but there shall not nen shows half of what they are ralmente materiality because in the recruitment of BOPE to shock language they take you out but only the strong and well prepared fiction, should doubt my word ta here my facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002033752756… Full Review »
See all user reviews »