Gangster Squad
Starring: Josh Brolin, Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone
Directed By: Ruben Fleischer
Reviewed by Danielle Muir
[rating: 3/5]
Boasting a cast with impressive pedigrees and a trailer brimming with swag, Gangster Squad looked as though it would be one of the most effortlessly cool, stylish films of the year. And maybe it was this high expectation that caused its downfall – because despite the promise it showed, the squad falls decidedly flat.
In 1950’s Los Angeles, Mickey Cohen is god. Having slaughtered his way up the food chain, he’s now untouchable to cops and the general public who want to keep their bodies free of bullets. Brolin, an ex-war vet who can’t give up the fight, rallies a squad designed to bring the Cohen empire down by any means necessary. Leaving the badges at home, they wage the war to win back Los Angeles.
The premise is exciting, and the actors certainly fit the bill for their characters (Penn especially brilliant as loose cannon Mickey Cohen) but the whole affair just fails to enthral. The squad is comprised of an interesting skill-set mix but Brolin makes for a bland leader. It’s a shame to see a script that has such potential to ooze style and substance fall victim to the not-overly-fussed. There are definitely some highlights that saves Gangster Squad from two-stardom – the comedic moments are amusing, especially when the gang miserably fail at their inherently serious tasks. But these moments are scattered, with an uninspiring sequence of killings and takedowns sandwiching the film together.
Despite the obvious intent to experiment with the cinematography and colour scheme from the norm, which I admire, the former packs less punch than desired. Whilst each scene is bursting with rich tones, from the turquoise of Slapsy Maxie’s to the primary colours of Grace’s (Stone’s) attire and fiery locks, pulling stunts such as stopping each frame as a photograph flashes is more disjointed than impressive. But there’s a good healthy dose of slo-mo in there to keep me satiated.
The characters get jipped in the progress department – apart from Mickey whose motive is backed by the believable premise of wanting more than his impoverished beginnings. The affair between Grace and Jerry seems rushed for the sake of being able to fulfill the next plot point, and the squad don’t really seem to be given the time to understand each other before they rush into their first bloodbath. This is due to Brolin taking the reins and charging onward, his character still hanging onto the need to fight despite his service being up, which does produce frustration.
Despite its flaws the final showdown has some character, and everything’s wrapped up in a neat little pocket. Gangster Squad has its highlights, but seems to have become content in its material rather than striving for that extra level of development – entertaining for a while, but eventually you just want to watch Django Unchained again instead. Don’t expect the punch the trailer delivered.
