Gangster Squad

[Tonker]

On paper, this film should have been outstanding - Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Giovani Ribisi, Nick Nolte and Emma Stone comprise a good start for whatever film you might be thinking of making, and organised crime and post-war LA should have been a slam dunk in terms of story and spectacle.  Unfortunately, it's too short and never tries to do more than scratch the surface.  There's absolutely nothing in the way of character development - we're talking real comic-book stuff - and what little motivation is provided for any of the characters is almost laughably flimsy.  As far as I could make out, the whole story - the rise and fall of Mickey Cohen - takes place over a couple of weeks from start to finish, so it's basically just a highlight reel.

That said, it does look great and it's fun, fun, fun.  Gore and humour are present in spades, and although the whole thing is eye-rollingly predictable, you don't really care because it's not taking itself too seriously, either.  If you're sitting in a train (as I was) and have ninety minutes spare during which you don't want to be challenged in any way, this film is ideal.  I enjoyed it, and as long as your expectations are suitably low, you will too.

Oh, yeah - nearly forgot: Sean Penn is a doss cunt.  Fuck that guy.

[flannj]

This is why James Ellroy should write everything.