With the World Cup in Brazil fast approaching, JOE brings you the third in our series of Brazilliant Brazilian films…
Sponsored by Pot Noodle Brazilian BBQ Steak Flavour
Brazil is known the world over for many wonderful things; its fantastic footballing stars, its magnificent must-see attractions and the fact that it is jam-packed full of bountiful, beautiful Brazilian babes.
Just like Ireland then so… *ugly tumbleweed rolls past*
In the build up to World Cup 2014 in Brazil, JOE has been bringing you the best of all that the super Samba-loving country has to offer and this week it’s the turn of the country’s finest film exports.
And don’t tell us that you’re one of those muppets who won’t watch films because they’ve got subtitles on the screen. “If I wanted to read JOE then I’d read a book JOE, y’know what I mean JOE?”
Cool. Well, you’re missing out if that is the case because over the next week, we’re bringing you five Brazilliant Brazilian films that you really should check out. Our first two chosen films were the superb Cidade De Deus (City Of God) and the excellent Elite Squad, and now it’s the turn of that second film’s super sequel, Elite Squad: The Enemy Within.
Tropa de Elite 2 – O Inimigo Agora é Outro (Elite Squad: The Enemy Within) – 2010
Plot’s It All About?
Following on from the success of 2007’s Elite Squad, friend of JOE, José Padilha, stepped behind the camera once more to continue his fascinating take on the semi-fictional tale of the Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais (BOPE), the Special Police Operations Squad of the Rio de Janeiro Military Police. Disappointingly though, there’s still no sign of Colin Farrell…
Anyone know how they say “spoiler alert” in Brazil? Because here comes one now…
Still focusing on the police force and the corrupt politicians controlling them, this super (and some would say superior) sequel to Elite Squad, once more follows Wagner Moura as Roberto Nascimento, now an Lieutenant Colonel and Undersecretary of Rio de Janeiro Public Safety for Intelligence.
Make sure to keep an eye out for Brazilian singer-songwriter, awesome actor and JOE favourite, Seu Jorge, who stars as one of the film’s conniving criminals.
Why JOE loves it so much:
As mentioned above, many viewers, including JOE, regard this sequel as a superior film to 2007’s elite Squad, with director Padilha now taking firm control of and a more mature grip on the fantastic follow-up film.
One of the most amazing aspects of the film was actually the manner in which it was released. Get this; due to the fact that the first film had been leaked to millions of film fans before its official release day, strict security measures were put in place to ensure that audiences wouldn’t be able to see the film unless they were paying for it in the cinema.
Remarkably, a huge security operation was created, one which had its own security team, a “production apartment” (with no Internet) which only four people had access to, and the final film (still with no sound) was stored in a high-security police safe.
Incredible stuff.
Check it out or, as the Brazilians say (we think), “Dê uma olhada”
Brought to you with thanks to Pot Noodle Brazilian BBQ Steak Flavour.
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