Review of Killing Them Softly (2012) by Keenan S — 28 Aug 2015

I really don't get the flak that Killing Them Softly gets, honestly. Despite receiving fairly solid response from critics, audiences gave the film a vicious beat down, criticizing its pacing, familiar ideas about gangster films, and sledgehammer-to-the-face politics regarding its vehemently anti-capitalist message. Many seemed to feel that the film was too blunt, too cliched, and also a mouthpiece for a director many viewed as narcissistic in his tone and direction of the film.

Sure, the film is flawed. It certainly feels familiar to other gangster films, and its not as smart as it thinks it is, but even as someone who is certainly NOT anti-capitalist and leans more the right in politics (Though I do have my liberal moments), I rather enjoyed Killing Them Softly as both a crime film, and also as a political piece that has a lot to say about the at times, cruel nature of capitalism and the flaws (Which can also be quite ugly) of the American way of life. Then again, I have enjoyed many hated films, including fellow anti-capitalist film, Cosmopolis (Which got even worse response, and I feel is also very underrated), which came out the same year. While I may not agree with some of the things the film has to say, I had a hell of a good time with it.

Set in the year 2008 (The film reminds you of this by playing speeches made by Barack Obama and George W. Bush during that particular presidential race focusing on the economy), the story focuses on three stupid, low-grade gangsters who plan to rob a gathering of mobsters at a poker game. In order to get away with this plan, they know that the gangster that hosts this poker game - Markie Trattman - once did an inside job where his poker game players were robbed and collected the money for himself, and managed to get away with it, despite suspicions.

So, they believe that all the blame will go to him, which will inevitably get him killed, while they get off scot-free and take the money split among them to pursue their own interests, like hookers and drugs.

Though inexperienced, the two men sent to carry out this plan manage to pull off the heist. However, their plans don't go quite as planned when a professional hitman named Jackie Cogan is brought in by high-ranking mob officials to figure out who pulled off this heist which single-handedly crippled the underground criminal economy and kill them, even though they are squeamish about this sort of task, much to the annoyance of Cogan who has no qualms about brutally murdering people.

Now Cogan must track down these men, and take out anyone who is a liability to the criminal underworld, while the story also takes time to focus on the bumbling robbers, a drunken associate of Cogan's named Mickey Fallon, Cogan's talks with the mafia's go-between man, Driver, and other people.

The story is not particularly original and comes with a number of familiar hallmarks that anyone who has watched even just a few gangster films will be able to pick up on immediately. But what the story lacks in originality, it makes up for in energy, quirky characters, funny humor, political intrigue, and obligatory violence that comes with the turf. It's a delicious combination of these ideas, that while a bit unwieldy and stuck up at times, no less is a very entertaining combination that was certainly not boring (At least not to me). It managed to be both a combination of fun, but also some thought-provoking intrigue, even though its blunt messages leave some things to be desired at times. But, if you're looking for a fun gangster film, this film should provide enough of a good story to keep you interested.

Brad Pitt was probably the best actor of the bunch, especially with his gritty, awesome performance as Jackie Cogan - the badass, cold-hearted motherfucker of a killer. That's not to say the other cast members were slouches, however. Scoot McNairy (Who was quite good in the indie film, Monsters, as well) played the bumbling Frankie quite well, as well as Ben Mendelsohn as the heroin-addicted Russell (The other bumbling robber). The film also features a performance by James Gandolfini as Mickey Fallon (In one of his last performances), the drunken whoremonger/has-been hitman who was very entertaining. The performances are quite good across the board.

As far as entertainment goes, I'm not sure why people found it to be so boring. Sure, it's cliched, but it's also a lot of fun, in my opinion. You've got political intrigue, interesting characters, bloody violence, funny humor, and very solid overall storytelling that makes good use of its ideas, even when cliched. It packs a mean, bloody punch. It's a messy film, but one that even when it stumbles, still fascinates and intrigues. However, its political messages are sometimes too blunt, which causes the film to stumble at times. Sometimes, the film thinks that it's smarter than it actually is.

When it came to the humor, I was laughing a lot. I laughed at the ridiculous shenanigans of the bumbling robbers, but also all the scenarios that Jackie Cogan found himself in when dealing with such oddball characters and pussy mobsters who don't want to get their hands dirty with killing. It's very morbid and dark, but no less hilarious.

Killing Them Softly is a severely underrated film that doesn't deserve the beatings it gets from audiences. It's certainly not perfect, nor is it as smart as it thinks it is, but I still found it to be a well made, terrifically acted, hilarious, violent, and politically compelling film. Though hated by many now, I think that it has a lot of potential to be rediscovered as a cult classic in say, the next 20 to 30 some odd years. Hopefully, it will get the appreciation it deserves in future years.