Gangster Squad

Starring: Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, Emma Stone, Nick Nolte, Giovanni Ribisi, Robert Patrick, Anthony Mackie, Michael Pena
Directed by: Ruben Fleischer
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Drama
2013

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: In 1940s Los Angeles, Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) rules the town as its most powerful mob boss. A detective (Josh Brolin) is called to form a squad of cops who will go to war against him.

Review:

Tim: I really tried to like Gangster Squad. This is a film with an incredible cast, loosely based on a true story, and a period piece- the gritty world of 1940s Los Angeles on display. There's so many elements here that suggested this would be a very good movie. Unfortunately, while the right elements are in place, something was off about the way they all came together. In the end, this is a film I found mildly enjoyable, but it's not a success. This is a decent movie that had every reason to be much better.

The best part of the film is the cast. Sean Penn gives a menacing portrayal of Mickey Cohen. The best compliment I can give Penn is that I never felt like I was watching him. Penn disappears into this character, and brought him to life. I really, really liked his portrayal. Josh Brolin heads up the film, and I thought he was fine. He didn't really do anything special, but he was serviceable in the lead role. The movie would have been better had it made Brolin's character more interesting. Ryan Gosling brought a good deal to the film, although his voice just threw me off. It came across as weird, and I wondered if he was doing it on purpose, or if it was natural. Other than that, Gosling as least brought some charisma to the film. Nick Nolte was a nice addition in a small supporting role. I loved seeing Robert Patrick here, and he had a few fun moments on screen. I was really excited to see Michael Pena, but he has next to nothing to do. Giovanni Ribisi is always a welcome addition. Emma Stone felt miscast to me. I never really believed her in this role, and never felt like she worked well with the rest of the cast. She and Gosling have chemistry together, but that was more likely due to their filming Crazy Stupid Love together than anything this film did. She just seemed too young for the role. I like Anthony Mackie, but wish he had more to do. While director Ruben Fleischer doesn't fully utilize his cast, it's impressive nevertheless.

I felt like the story just barely held my attention. There's something very interesting about cops operating without their badges, going to war verses serving and protecting. The idea was interesting, but the execution was lacking. I never felt truly excited about anything they did. Fleischer didn't give us a reason to be fully invested in these characters, and so their achievements were muted. I wanted to care, but the film wasn't compelling enough to make me. The movie occasionally felt a bit too paint-by-the-numbers. It was a bit predictable, and didn't show us anything we haven't seen numerous times before (and the others did it better).

Most of this film was pretty decent. I can't really think of a single moment that I hated. Unfortunately, there's nothing particularly special about anything that happens, either. This movie was completely middle of the road. While watching it, I desperately wanted the film to do something that would impress me- really, anything that would be memorable. Unfortunately, nothing like that occurred. There's a reason this movie was released in January- it's flashy, but underneath, there is no real heart, no soul. Director Ruben Fleischer is a bit hit-or-miss, and this film just missed the mark.

I don't want to appear too harsh with this film. I did derive some enjoyment from Gangster Squad. The cast is fairly strong, and it's fun seeing them all together. Shoot 'em gangster movies are always fun, to an extent. Unfortunately, this film squandered its opportunities. It had nothing underneath its outside shell. While I didn't hate this film, I ultimately felt quite disappointed with the final result. This is the type of movie that rolls out of Hollywood all the time- far too weak and forgettable to make you sit up and take notice.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 6.5


If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Zombieland, The Black Dahlia, L.A. Confidential, Crazy Stupid Love