#248: Elite Squad: The Enemy Within (2010)

August 20th, 2015, on Hulu Plus. Allison had her FastBreak bar from yesterday, and I had some Nestle Quik for the first time in at least ten years.

Had I seen this film already?

No.

What did I know about the movie before watching it?

Guns and action. More subtitles. I expected disappointment.

What do I know about it now?

Guns and action, but set up brilliantly early on. The plot wasn’t anything innovative, but the narrator broke the fourth wall immediately, and the characters sucked me in. I was in there early.

What are some themes in the film?

Corruption and the vain attempts of humanity to serve justice with temptation ever knocking on the door. The narrator repeatedly referred to “the system”, alluding to a natural cycle of events where those in power always fall into criminal mindsets to maintain things.

Did this affect me personally?

Yes. It’s an eagle’s eye view of the reality of many dangerous Latin American cities. The narrator stated early on that this account, though fictional, is close to a reality many people ignore. It made me grateful that our country is not as corrupt as many citizens believe it is.

Why is this ranked #248?

This one is also off the Top 250 already, but it’ll be back on where it belongs. It bears merit for its realistic attributes more so than its cinematic traits, which most viewers will appreciate.

Did my wife watch/like it?

Not really. This is definitely a bro movie. A brovie.

Would I watch it again?

No.

Would I recommend it to a friend?

Yes, simply to be grateful we have it so good here.

Does it deserve to be on this list as one of the greatest films of all time?

I’m a bit undecided. It depends on where you come from, I suppose.

What makes this film work is the way it demonstrates you never really know who the bad guys are, from start to finish, even in the changes. And that’s the point.