Review of Gangster Squad (2013) by Jonathan M — 24 Dec 2013

With an ensemble cast including the likes of Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin, and others, you would expect a Scorsese-like (or -lite) gangster period piece. Instead, it's a rather two-dimensional take on a very promising storyline with characters you can't invest in and gratuitous violence with a healthy lack of realism.

It's as if the film has trouble deciding whether it wants to be a neo-noir or a fleshed out drama. Despite the misses, Gangster Squad still makes for enjoyable viewing for the casual moviegoer.