Gangster Squad

Gangster Squad

Rated R and Released 1/11/13

Reviewed 1/14/13 at Celebration Cinema North in Grand Rapids, MI

with Gary and friend Mark

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Gangster Squad has the look and feel of a wannabe oldish gangster film. It's Dick Tracy meets LA Confidential. Gary gave it 4 Js and Mark gave it 3 1/2.

My expectation was not that high, but I still gave it a 3. It was adequately exciting while the quality cast lends their presence to the film, but the story could have used some help as it felt pretty choppy.

It's 1949 Los Angeles and John O'Mara (Josh Brolin) is fixated on the demise of Mickey Cohen played by the superb Sean Penn. Nick Nolte plays the scruffy, raspy police chief who enlists O'Mara's help in cleaning up the city. It's a secretive operation and O'Mara has carte blanche rights to bring in his own team and the rules are - there are no rules. Sgt. Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling) is on team "good guys" and he is messing with Cohen's gal Grace, the svelte Emma Stone. It seems that little tidbit would have a bigger play in the movie but it seems to just get overlooked. When the guns start blazing, then the scenes vacillate back and forth between Cohen's rants at his gang for failing and the good guy/bad guy cops who are trying to take down the whole operation and not just Cohen himself. There are gifted actors in this but they don't get much room to expand in this squatty gangster film. Heavy on violence and not so heavy on creativity, Gangster is worth viewing if you don't expect The Untouchables or Scarface. You won't leave disappointed and might even be mildly entertained.

QUIET Rating system:

Quality: JJj

Understood story:  JJJj

Interest: JJj

Entertainment:  JJJ

Time:  JJJ