There's a major bait and switch as the story opens that you don't learn about until the end of the movie, and personally, I didn't see it coming. But it almost seemed like a cheap cop out, no pun intended. The value here is in seeing De Niro and Pacino working together as thirty year veterans of the New York Police Department. They're on the trail of a serial killer who's victims are all former bad guys, who leaves a charming poem at the site of each murder. The script gets pretty brazen when it goes in the direction of suggesting a cop is doing the killing, as partners Turk (De Niro) and Rooster (Pacino) have no qualms about casually discussing what might be their own culpability. The police psychologist Prosky (Barry Primus) had it right when he stated the killer wanted to get caught, something I can't personally begin to understand. Presumably, how would anyone know how brilliant the murderer was if he didn't come forward to reveal himself? With that, one of the partners decides to prove what side of the law he's really on by taking down his buddy. If that's enough to whet you appetite, you'll have to see the movie.
Review of Righteous Kill
