For me, 2013 has officially begun now. My first movie of the year... done! Gangster Squad.
This movie was in my watchlist for 2012 but with re-shooting done for certain parts, the movie was shifted to early 2013. And it's been a nice classy way to start off movie watching for another year. Gangster Squad takes us to the late 40's, in a mob run Los Angeles where to entrap one of the big bosses, Mickey Cohen, the LAPD decides there is only one way to stop him - go on a war path and shatter him. The movie attracted my attention for the ensemble cast that has been put together. While the main stage is taken by Josh Brolin, Sean Penn and Ryan Gosling with Emma Stone playing the femme fatale, the supporting cast also stands out, especially Nick Nolte and Robert Patrick (loved the scene where he hits the beer can repeatedly in the air). The movie's style is slick, the dialogues are crisply written, and what stands out is the production art with the feel of an older LA distinctly standing out.
There are some lines such as 'Say hello to Santa Claus' (if I do remember it correctly) which Sean Penn shouts out before going berserk with the gun in his hand shooting through a Christmas tree, that may have been as well remembered as 'Say hello to my little friend' screamed by Al Pacino in Scarfacre, if Gangster Squad could have achieved the fame of the latter. But sadly Gangster Squad does not manage to interweave everything perfectly well to achieve such recognition. There are some characters that lack in enough back story - poor character development, as some call it. The background score does not add enough to the mood of the film. The movie entertains, keeps you hooked, makes you scream and squirmish, and root for the good guys, but it falls short of giving you the goosebumps. Falls short of making you reflect back once you leave the dimly lighted theatre.
Nonetheless, it's a gritty movie, something that has enough in it to make the year begin on a good note. Watch it for the wonderful cast and the class they bring to the table. Ryan Gosling would make his female fans swoon once again as he plays the charmer to perfection, the one who has lost heart from the city and then regains it. Emma Stone comes across again as an actress who has enough mettle about her to take on varying roles, though a bit more depth in her character should have been added by the writers. The other support cast in the police squad are wonderful too in their bit part roles, adding credibility to the whole task at hand. But the movie finally boils down to Josh Brolin versus Sean Penn. Josh Brolin as the 'hero cop' who seeks justice, and delivers it at any cost, fighting against the system that is going against the very course it was meant to take, excels. His gruffy voice and enigmatic personality makes him a perfect fit for the incorruptible cop and the leader of the Gangster Squad. But Sean Penn, it has to be said, steals the show. I'm watching this guy after a long time. And his representation of Micky Cohen as a mean, aggressive gangster, madly driven to rise to the top of the crime world is superlative. It reminded me once again of the old Sean Penn, the one from Mystic River, or the one from Dead Man Walking. While his role in Gangster Squad would not be outrightly comparable with those award worthy performances, it's still good to see the big guy stepping in his big boots and delivering a chilling performance. Entertaining overall as I wait further for what the year has to offer!
No comments:
Post a Comment