Killer Elite

A 2011 Australian-British-American action thriller directed by debutant Gary McKendry, based on Matt Sherring's screenplay adapted from Ranulph Fiennes' novel "The Feather Men". The story follows former mercenary Danny Bryce (Jason Statham), who, after a failed mission in Mexico where he inadvertently kills a man in front of the man's child, retires and returns to Australia. A year later, he learns that his mentor and friend Hunter (Robert De Niro) has been captured in Oman by a sheikh seeking revenge for the deaths of his sons at the hands of British SAS operatives. To save Hunter, Danny must assassinate three former SAS members responsible for the deaths. During his mission, Danny encounters ex-SAS agent Spike (Clive Owen), who leads a secret society called "The Feather Men" dedicated to protecting their own. The film also features Dominic Purcell, Aden Young, Yvonne Strahovski, and Ben Mendelsohn. Filming took place in Australia and Wales, including locations in Melbourne and Cardiff. Despite its star-studded cast and intense plot, the film received predominantly negative reviews, criticized for its formulaic and predictable storyline, though Roger Ebert awarded it 3 out of 4 stars, praising McKendry's directorial debut. With a budget of $70 million, the film grossed approximately $56.4 million worldwide.