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Movie Brief: Gangster Squad

Movie Brief: Gangster Squad

January 20132271Views

Gangster Squad Poster

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.

3stars

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu9KUpcW2Ag[/youtube]

(Image courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures)

Chicly Yours,
The Chic Spy

The Chic Spy

The Chic Spy

Hello Agents of Chic, I'm your source for chic style and entertainment intel on fashion, film, and pop culture. From fashion trends and beauty products to movie reviews and celebrity interviews, I'm on a mission to uncover the chicest. A few faves on my radar include whimsical clutches, embellished flats, and gourmet macarons.

6 Comments

  1. There is kind of a violent scene in the beginning. I just closed my eyes … lol. There is violence, but I wouldn’t say it’s a gore fest. Violence-wise I would say it’s comparable to the movie “The Untouchables.”

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