If you’ve ever wanted a good reason to read subtitles in a movie, then here it is - ELITE SQUAD: THE ENEMY WITHIN.  This film from Brazil is a stunning entry into the Crime/Action genre and is definitely one to check out soon.

f you are not familiar with ELITE SQUAD: THE ENEMY WITHIN, here is the plot synopsis courtesy of the press release:

The sprawling slum that surrounds Rio de Janeiro is one of the most dangerous places on earth.  As the head of Rio’s Special Police Operations Battalion (or BOPE), Captain Nascimento has seen his share of intense situations.  When a BOPE mission to stop a rail riot ends in the violent death of a gang leader, Nascimento finds himself accused of a massacre...but the citizens of Rio, tired of the crim and drugs that plague their city, embrace him as a national hero.

Unfortunately for me, I never got to see this film’s predecessor, ELITE SQUAD.  But from what I understand, this film ties in perfectly with the first and is actually a ‘reinvention’ of it.  With that being said, you don’t have to have seen the first one to know what’s going on, so you can watch this one easily by itself.

ELITE SQUAD: THE ENEMY WITHIN is a complex film that mirrors reality on several different levels.  Director Jose Padilha uses actual problems from the real world in his film, including Brazil’s urban violence and mismanaged state institutions.  The result is a powerful and poignant look at Rio de Janeiro’s seedy underbelly.

The film is shot very well and looks great on-screen.  The acting is superb, with the cast portraying a wide variety of shady cops and brazen, albeit damaged, heroes.  There’s a bit of bloodshed but nothing really in the way of gore, so the special effects are almost moot.  But the shootouts are realistic, which is just the way I like them, and the action is intense.

ELITE SQUAD: THE ENEMY WITHIN is a compelling crime drama that you’ll certainly want to watch more than once.  It is gritty and dark, the kind of film that almost makes you want to wash your hands after its over.  But you’ll love the film because of it.  Check this one out for sure.  It’s available in stores now.