Rating of
2.5/4
Gangster Squad review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 02/07/13
Ruthless business minded gangster Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) takes over LA. Chief Bill Parker (Nick Nolte) informs dignified competent Sgt. John O'Mara (Josh Brolin) that he can put up a team to stop Cohen. He, together with his wife's suggestions, recruits Coleman Harris (Anthony Mackie), wire-tapper Conway Keeler (Giovanni Ribisi), sharpshooter Max Kennard (Robert Patrick). Kennard's partner, Navidad Ramirez (Michael Peña) and suave Sgt. Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling). The rival of Mickey Jack Dragna (Jon Polito) and many others suffer from the wrath of the gangster. Everything feels rushed from the get-go in terms of story-telling. An appropriate build-up and clever dilogue, this could have been a modern day The Untouchables.
Soundtrack was fair but the screenplay could have been better. It also lacks sufficient character development for the team and main antagonist. Having Sean Penn, Nick Nolte and Josh Brolin makes the acting believable and enjoyable to watch. Elements of The Untouchables (shoot-out at the stairs, forming a team to get a single person), The Godfather (shoot-out tat the house of O'Mara) and Bonnie and Clyde (love angle between Jerry and Grace Faraday played sincerely by Emma Stone but lacks conviction). It however doesn't manage to have an impact compared to the aforementioned mafia/gangster related movies. Cinematography, action and certain performances were wonderful. Overall, Gangster Squad is an average gangster flick that shows the value of cops and that violence never pays off in the end.
