ed lopez

Tropa de Elite (Elite Squad) is hands down a must see movie. Excellent screenplay and brilliant performances from the entire cast. The standout performance goes to Wagner Moura as Capitão Nascimento. Scenes with him when cops go through the BOPE boot camp are very compelling and raw.

The movie explores the dynamics between drug dealers, drug users, good and corrupt cops, and the BOPE (if you don't know BOPE think SWAT). One interesting subplot is how the corruption of the Military Police Force works. It shows how the "system" is used against itself and how bureaucracy makes the easiest things difficult to execute within the MP force. You begin to understand how individuals with integrity can lose their way and fall victim to this "system". You also see how people with integrity maintain it within this "system" by being callus and absolute to the point of self-detriment. As a result, good guy and bad guy lines are very blurry in this movie.

The main plot of the movie revolves around Nascimento, the captain of BOPE. Nascimento is looking for a replacement. Someone who has all the qualities the job demands. Someone like him. Enter two MP recruits Neto and Matias (who happen to be best friends). Neto has the heart and attitude to lead the BOPE but is wreckless, and Matias is smart and calculated, but thinks to the point of inaction. What they have in common is integrity and the will to change and confront the corruption that is all around them.

I won't give away any spoilers, but if you are looking for a good foreign flick in the same vein as City of God, this is it.

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