Review of Gangster Squad (2013) by Brendan S — 12 Nov 2014

I loved this based-on-a-true story American good vs. evil saga. Reminiscent of The Untouchables and LA Confidential, this gritty, stylish film is more melodramatic though. This is gripping entertainment, not realism. The all-star cast is great, both the stars and the supporting characters as well. Sean Penn's craggy features and real-life tough guy persona make him perfect for the role as crime boss Mickey Cohen. Josh Brolin is a good foil to Penn's character and a compliment to Ryan Gosling's character. Much like the characters played by Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce in LA Confidential, the are two very different types of cops. Penn's Cohen is better than even most Bond villains in his vision of domination.

Emma Stone I is certainly beautiful and a good femme fatale in this movie, torn between love and the gritty reality of the LA underworld. Robert Patrick, Michael Pena, and Haley Strode, among others, offered up memorable contributions. The squad's even multi-racial! I'd like to have seen more of Nick Nolte; he's fantastic in roles like this- see The Tin Red Line, Mulholland Falls, and the 2 48 hours movies. He even spoofs the type in Tropic Thunder.

"Los Angeles is my fu*#in destiny roars Sean Penn's Mickey Cohen, and you believe he means it. The destiny of LA is up for grabs in 1949, and no tactic is too brutal for either side to employ in this battle for supremacy. I identify with the cops, the streetwise enforcers from another era, reminiscent of Dirty Harry exclaiming, "I'm all broken up about his rights!".

The final shootout is good, but probably not not as memorable as Scarface .That film sets the standard for operatic shootout/death scenes. Recommended for action fans.