Tropa de Elite (The Elite Squad)

If you liked Colors, Training Day, or any of the other gang-related movies of past years, you will most likely enjoy this movie. Yes, it is from Brazilian cinema, but the themes are similar. You can choose either Portuguese or English dialogue. I recommend the Portuguese with English subtitles.

This movie was shot entirely on location in Rio de Janeiro neighborhoods. In fact, over 90 weapons were stolen during filming. It was also shot with hand-held 35mm cameras giving a very real sense of "being there". The soundtrack is purely Carioca. Muito bom.

Unless you are familiar with Brazilian cinema, you will most likely not recognize any faces here, but I want to give high praise to Wagner Moura, Caio Junqueira, and André Ramiro. All do a great job of showing the stress and range of emotions police undergo in a variety of social situations. All are familiar faces to Brazilian audiences and I hope we get to see more of them in mainstream cinema.

Yes, I am biased. I love most things Brazilian. But this is a genuinely good entry in the police-thriller genre.

Watch it with someone who will not be afraid to visit tourist mecca Rio afterwards.