It's an extraordinary (and almost plausible) story, and we can only wish that the filmmakers had told it better ... a great cast and plenty of tension, action and gunfire, but unless you know the basic story it is rather confusing, jumpy and jumbled
- Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile, February 21, 2012
Fascinating but often frustrating, this Australian co-production rips along at a frenetic pace with edge-of-seat thrills as the action hots up, but loses its sizzle by a jumpy, clumsy screenplay and direction
- Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile, February 21, 2012
A few good stunts, some tolerable brooding and one nice, if silly desert chase. But not essential.
- Kim Newman, Empire Magazine, September 26, 2011
I had a reasonably good time, on the whole...
- Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com, September 25, 2011
Jason Statham cements status as top-level action star.
- Richard Roeper, Richard Roeper.com, September 23, 2011
De Niro, in what amounts to an extended cameo, is radically miscast. That's still no excuse for his nonperformance, which is beyond lackluster.
- Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, September 23, 2011
Statham is just good enough to make one wish he'd challenge himself.
- Tom Long, Detroit News, September 23, 2011
Jason Statham is enjoyable enough to watch that he can occasionally make one forget just how silly and dull a movie like Killer Elite really is.
- Ian Buckwalter, NPR, September 23, 2011
The movie's not stupid. And that makes it more than bearable and often a little fun.
- Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger, September 23, 2011
To be sure, first-time director Gary McKendry keeps things moving at an adrenalized pace, even through thickets of flashbacks. But this is precisely Killer Elite's major problem: motion at the expense of emotion.
- James Adams, Globe and Mail, September 23, 2011
When Robert De Niro, Clive Owen and Jason Statham unite for an action thriller, we should be able to expect something special. Or at least memorable. Instead, "Killer Elite" gives us ordinary.
- Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News, September 23, 2011
It doesn't care if you like it, which is why I kind of do.
- Kyle Smith, New York Post, September 23, 2011
Simultaneously silly and overwrought...
- Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, September 23, 2011
Clumsily directed by Gary McKendry and poorly written by Matt Sherring, rookies both, the convoluted movie collapses under the weight of its own clichés.
- Peter Howell, Toronto Star, September 23, 2011
Pure punishment.
- J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader, September 22, 2011
[A] pileup of sub-Bourne action set pieces, sad laughs and clichés.
- Manohla Dargis, New York Times, September 22, 2011
With a B+ cast and a script full of pseudo-profound moral complexities, its aspirations are lofty and its achievements are trifling.
- Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune, September 22, 2011
Jason Statham is matched with Robert de Niro and Clive Owen in this headcracking hitman yarn, but it's a bit overcomplicated for its own good.
- Catherine Shoard, Guardian [UK], September 22, 2011
Long, muddled, misguided.
- Nick Hasted, Little White Lies, September 28, 2011
Killer Elite is a throwback to an era when action movies still had balls, when muscular bravado easily overcame banal screenwriting and corny narrative earnestness.
- Rob Humanick, Slant Magazine, September 23, 2011
