West Coast "The Untouchables" is the best way to describe the crime drama Gangster Squad starring Sean Penn (Milk) and Josh Brolin (Men in Black 3).

It's 1949 and Los Angeles is the backdrop to this fictional story about real life gangster, Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn). Cohen is the organized crime kingpin in Hollywoodland, as it was called until "land" was removed. Frustrated with the crime infestation of guns, drugs, prostitution and police corruption, LAPD sargeant John O'Mara (Josh Brolin) secretly enlists a squad of rogue cops to bring down Cohen's outfit and restore order to the City of Angels.

What makes this film a must watch are Penn and Brolin's performances. Penn delivers solid acting as a ruthless crime boss and Brolin as his unyielding antagonist. Ryan Gosling, as sargeant Jerry Wooters and O'Mara's right-hand man, makes a winning team with good chemistry. Although Gosling clicked with Brolin, there was something lacking with his onscreen paramour Emma Stone (The Amazing Spider-Man). Her character Grace Faraday didn't really have a purpose, until seemingly at the end of the film.

Another enjoyable aspect of the film was the editing that gave the feeling you were watching a comic book come to life. Overall, the action-packed crime drama delivers an entertaining experience and is well worth a watch.

(Image courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures)

Chicly Yours,
The Chic Spy