Elite Squad: The Enemy Within – Guns, Grit, and Great Performances

Ah, Tropa de Elite 2! Where to begin? It’s intense, man. If you thought the first movie was a mad ride through Rio’s favelas, this sequel takes it up several notches. Directed by José Padilha and starring the fantastic Wagner Moura, it’s like they’ve brewed a cauldron full of tension and let it loose.

So, there I was, munching kanelbulle and sipping on lukewarm kaffe, when something clicked. The corruption in the film eerily mirrored that of a local political scandal back in the day with Svenska Bank Fallet. Different countries, same issues—a dodgy politician promising change but delivering nada.

Our main guy, Captain Nascimento (played by the aforementioned Moura), has this brutal but charismatic edge. Think of a Swedish moose: daunting but majestic! He’s caught fighting corruption both inside the system and out. Reminds me a lot of a stroll through Slussen, navigating all those confusing new tunnels, except with guns… lots of guns.

The shootouts are insane and oh, that soundtrack! It’s like a samba beat punching you in the gut—can’t help but groove in your seat. I remember once attempting samba lessons in a smoky Stockholm basement and trust me, I have new respect for anyone who can pull off those moves.

Still, there’s something raw and sometimes uncomfortable about how real everything feels. Maybe that’s Padilha’s magic? It forces us to face these harsh realities, that not everything is lagom, as we say. You walk away with a mix of adrenaline and ponderings: Is this a future we’re all inching towards, or just isolated madness?

Watch it with your friends, maybe after a few rounds of köttbullar and lingonsylt. You know, to keep it Swedish.

Check the trailer below