RIGHTEOUS KILL brings together movie greats Robert De Niro and Al Pacino.  They were together long time back in Michael Mann’s HEAT though in that one, they only shared one scene together.  In RIGHTEOUS KILL, they not only appear together in multiple scenes but they both try very hard at making this movie work.  And understandably why.  Both have not got a major hit for some time, though De Niro has proved his worth in comedies (the FOCKERS and STARDUST).

The film centres on a pair of veteran New York City police detectives (De Niro and Pacino) on the trail of a vigilante serial killer.  From the start, it seems clear that De Niro is the killer – which implies in movie script terms, he is not.  As both ready for retirement, they are given the final task of apprehending the culprit, following the murder of a notorious pimp. 

As expected, De Niro and Pacino deliver top notch method acting.  Rapper 50 Cent offer his 50 cents worth as well as the Drug Lord harassed by the pair.
Avnet directed Pacino in the not too bad thriller 88 MINUTES that flopped at the box-office.  RIGHTEOUS KILL is not the perfect movie.  It is thrilling in parts, well written by Russell Gerwitz (INSIDE MAN) with a good unexpected twist but the film lacks bite and originality.  RIGHTEOUS KILL will most likely have the identical fate as 88 MINUTES.