Review of Gangster Squad (2013) by Dillinger P — 24 Dec 2015

Life. What is life. We live in a time when life is not appreciated. It's not cherished. We are the cattle. And the city, the city is our master...So Gangster Squad is trying to be a classic noir film full of mystery, intrigue, well developed characters and twists and turns at every turn right. Wrong. Gangster Squad is the truck driver's version of modern classics like The Untouchables, Once Upon A Time In America, Carlito's Way to name a few. The film is complete and utter trailer trash. It's bound to be a top rental at dirty super gas stations along your state's major interstates. The only thing grosser to look at would be the trailer stop hookers.

Its' as if the producers and directors set out to make a period film but never have once watched any of the movies that inspire this idea. On paper all the parts are there. Good assortment of actors. Some character actors and old veterans. There is a pretty female love interest for the ladies. And presumably a huge budget to work with. One can image great scenes recreated to bring the beauty and shine of the 40's to life on the screen. Dare we say Oscar performances or the next Godfather? Nope. No way!

In a bland and cookie cutter story line we follow the main protagonist who's only real motivation is that he killed people in the war and can't stop it. Or did we miss something. One of the real draws to the trucker crowd which this most surly be aimed is to use guns to fight gun violence. It shows nothing of the time period, the sensibilities, attitudes or history these characters are running around in. It's not even that pretty to look at.

Most of the film is shot in this pseudo film noir style but it just comes across too dark as if they did not have enough lights on set. Everything becomes muddy and blends end. There is not enough contrast or interest to keep your attention for more than a few moments. We get very brief establishing shots and the normal flow of scenes are all focused too close in to make an epic feel of a movie which the director was trying to achieve.

At times the action is fun and exciting and you really want to get into it but the zoomed in camera angles make you want to turn away in fear of getting a seizure and puking on the person sitting next to you. One example is the car chase shootout. The camera bobbles and switches back and forth more quickly than a republican trying to avoid a question about climate change. These moves can either be stylized in which case people have really bad tastes that are making these new modern movies or that all the background is CGI and they want to hide it all so they are forced to film it in horrendous ways. How can the filmmakers sleep at night knowing this is the finished product? Audiences want to see a shootout. See a car chase. We don't' want to be in the car chase. We are not an actor in the movie we are sitting having you show and tell us a story. Basics.

It's a shame really. The focus on CGI for things like gunshot smoke and fire and things that break is absurd. This is a movie that needs not CGI. You can see clear examples of this in decade's worth or more watchable and enjoyable police and crime dramas. Even some Steven Segal films are better done this and that's something nobody wants to hear.

Best Actor.

The acting in this film is all over the place. While it feels natural at most parts there are some people that do better than others.

Josh Brolin plays the main lead, a cop who just can't seem to get away from being in WW2. He's a jar head and has no character development at all. We don't care about him, his perfect hair and teeth or his pregnant wife.

Worst Actor.

Tie.

Ryan Gosling plays another sergeant but unlike Brolin this time Gosling is almost as if he were impersonating somebody in the 40's. Much you would do about chiming up an impersonation of Groucho Marks as if everybody acted and talked like him. It never felt like Ryan was in the time period, it felt like he was acting. And that hammy accent he tried to pulled off. Every time he spoke I wished he'd get hit by a stray bullet. The fact that he instantly gets the mob bosses girl without even talking to her is mind-numbing. The pay-off is getting the girl at the end. Geez people.

What is Sean Penn doing in this role? It's like a spoof of Tom Cruise as Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder. That's all you will be thinking about has he lays down the most barbaric and Neanderthal like lines. Truck drivers will easily be able to repeat them on their CB radio. The problem with mobster movies is always making the boss seem like an idiot. They are not. They are incredibly smart. How do you think they can manipulate the system and get away scot free so often throughout history? Give the main villain more credit and make him a threat. It will make the audience hate him more and cheer the heroes on more. What's with Penn's face make-up? I know makeup artists gotta practice but save that for high school dance recitals.

Best Scene.

The hotel scene will remind you of how amazing The Untouchables really is.

Worst Scene.

The moment when Ryan Gossling's character practically steals Sean Penn's girl right in front of his eyes without every talking to her. Then when he does asks to sleep with her. It's a head-slapping, plot stopping point of the movie that's sadly so quickly in that by this time happens you should just hit stop.

This movie is so incredibly predicable and bland. A fun thing to do is fast forward the film and see how easily it is to pay attention and get the idea of.

Hits.

A nice cast list.

Premise is nice.

Action is fun, if you can actually see it.

Misses.

The plot. No character arcs.

Almost a spoof of noir films.

More bland that Wheaties.