Gangster Squad

Set against the gritty backdrop of late 1940s Los Angeles, a top-secret motley crew of police officers, led by Sgt. John O’Mara (Josh Brolin) and Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling), fed up with the corruption in the LAPD, band together and set about the take-down of mob boss Mickey Flannigan (Sean Penn), whose reign of terror in the city has left LA’s law enforcement with no other choice but to hit the gang with ruthless brute force.

Moving away from his usual genre of film, director Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland, 30 Minutes or Less) has still maintained a high standard of action but with a darker and more serious edge, pulling it off without losing any of the entertainment value found in his other works.

Not only does this movie deliver in both cast and story-line, but balances the grit with glamour. The film’s aesthetic is both slick and sultry, drawing bags of inspiration from the allure of 1940s Hollywood, giving the film a finely polished look. Certainly the film’s appeal is amplified by Emma Stone’s performance as both Gosling’s and Penn’s heartthrob in a love triangle twisted in good and evil. Not only does she look the part, but her seductive performance and romantic plot adds depth to what would otherwise be a standard shoot-‘em-up picture.

With its darker edge and period setting, this film is perfect for fans of Film Noir, as well as those who just enjoy a good old Gangster flick.

Jorja Ellison