Gangster Squad.

FLIX!

So you have this cast; a cast with amazing people in it. Sean Penn for crying out loud. This guy is always great. Josh Brolin no slouch either. And other names like Robert Patrick, Nick Nolte, Ryan Gosling, and Emma Stone. And a host of great character actors. Toss in Ruben Fleischer, a director with some action genre experience: "Zombieland" and "30 Minutes or Less". And the final ingredient found here: a budget large enough to re-create 1949 Los Angeles flawlessly. Great movie, right? Well...........

As mentioned this movie takes place in 1949 Los Angeles which is under the control of criminal empire Czar Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn). Police Chief Parker played by Nick Nolte, realizes that Cohen's criminal tentacles reach to very high levels in the Police Department, so he hatches a scheme to assemble a rogue team of cops to go after Cohen's empire and drive him out of Los Angeles. He calls on Sgt. John O'Mara (Josh Brolin) to put the team together. He does, and with his wife's help he is able to select someone from nearly every stereotype. There is a black cop, the Latino cop, the crusty old cop, the nerd cop, and of course the handsome cop - (hey, somebody has to try and carry on the obligatory love story counter plot line.) They will remain anonymous and will work outside the parameters of normal police work. A Gangster Squad.

This movie looks great. The period automobiles, as well as the clothes and hairstyles all add to the feel of the film. I especially loved the creation of a nightclub "Slapsy Maxies". It was opulent and had a real feel of this time gone by. Lots of detail was studied and this included a musical number by "Carmen Miranda". Nice indeed.

But here's where the film starts to leave a bit to be desired. Screenwriter Will Beall (a cop turned writer) has written a story "Inspired by true events." No, Will, inspired by The Untouchables. Now, it's not that cops can't be writers ala Joseph Wambaugh, Serpico, me... it's just that Beall's relative inexperience shows here. He creates a Mickey Cohen who is very one dimensional; mostly brutal, but opportunities for more than that were missed. Believe me, Sean Penn could handle all the depth you want to give him. The storyline is meandering and isn't sure where it's headed. Practically to the last frame. There is no drama in the bringing down of Cohen, instead we get the mug shot of Cohen with a voice over explaining that he was ultimately killed in prison. There are shoot-outs that seem blase, and the final fight scene goes on and on and on. Alright already! We get it. Big finish with fisticuffs!

So basically this film looks great, but kinda of hits that final frame with a thud.
See it if you must, but don't pass up "Lincoln", or "Django Unchained" to see it.