Register  |  Sign In
View unanswered posts | View active topics It is currently Fri Mar 29, 2024 6:02 am



Reply to topic  [ 13 posts ] 
 Gangster Squad 

What grade would you give this film?
A 8%  8%  [ 1 ]
B 58%  58%  [ 7 ]
C 25%  25%  [ 3 ]
D 8%  8%  [ 1 ]
F 0%  0%  [ 0 ]
Total votes : 12

 Gangster Squad 
Author Message
loyalfromlondon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 6:31 pm
Posts: 19697
Location: ville-marie
Post Gangster Squad
Gangster Squad

Image

Quote:
Gangster Squad is a crime film directed by Ruben Fleischer, from a screenplay written by Will Beall, starring an ensemble cast that includes Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Nick Nolte, Emma Stone, and Sean Penn.

Based on the story of LAPD officers and detectives forming a group called the "Gangster Squad unit" who attempt to keep Los Angeles safe from Mickey Cohen and his gang during the 1940s and '50s. The film was originally set to be released September 7, 2012, but in the wake of the 2012 Aurora shooting, the film was bumped to a January 11, 2013 release date by Warner Bros. Pictures.

_________________
Magic Mike wrote:
zwackerm wrote:
If John Wick 2 even makes 30 million I will eat 1,000 shoes.


Same.


Algren wrote:
I don't think. I predict. ;)


Fri Jan 11, 2013 11:17 am
Profile
Pure Phase
User avatar

Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:33 am
Posts: 34865
Location: Maryland
Post Re: Gangster Squad
This may be an early candidate for the dubious title of year's most misunderstood film. It is not The Godfather nor is it Chinatown. Instead, Gangster Squad is a child's comic-strip dream of the period crime film, and on this level, it is a blast. Josh Brolin is our intense, square-jawed crusader, and a smooth Ryan Gosling is his cooler-than-the-North-Pole Doc Holliday. Attention is drawn to the luscious production design and almost musical rhythm of the stylized dialogue as the duo and their men wage war against a gangster played by Sean Penn in a glorious and mad performance I found electrifying and in line with the tone of the enterprise in general. Rather than damn this film for failing to provide a realistic, substantial, and thoughtful dramatic experience of the highest caliber, I praise it as a colorful, exciting, and light-on-its-feet pop delight and a solid early-year curiosity.

B+

_________________
ImageImageImage

1. The Lost City of Z - 2. A Cure for Wellness - 3. Phantom Thread - 4. T2 Trainspotting - 5. Detroit - 6. Good Time - 7. The Beguiled - 8. The Florida Project - 9. Logan and 10. Molly's Game


Sat Jan 12, 2013 2:35 am
Profile
Forum General
User avatar

Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2004 1:53 pm
Posts: 8626
Location: Syracuse, NY
Post Re: Gangster Squad
Yeah, this one really surprised me. I didn't know what to expect from it, but I was pleased with what I got. It was incredibly entertaining and the acting was great from everyone. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are perfect in their roles and Josh Brolin and Sean Penn are great as well. It's very fun, stylish and entertaining. Definitely recommended.

8/10

_________________
Top 10 Films of 2016

1. La La Land
2. Other People
3. Nocturnal Animals
4. Swiss Army Man
5. Manchester by the Sea
6. The Edge of Seventeen
7. Sing Street
8. Indignation
9. The Lobster
10. Hell or High Water


Sat Jan 12, 2013 2:46 am
Profile YIM WWW
Extraordinary
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2005 7:13 pm
Posts: 11015
Location: Warren Theatre Oklahoma
Post Re: Gangster Squad
GANGSTER SQUAD

This movie was a passable time waster. It felt like I was watching Mobsters or some other lower level gangster picture. A friend thought it was like an Untouchables copycat and it kind of reminded me of that too. I certainly can't argue that Sean Penn certainly acted his role to the Nth but Brolin was bleh and Gosling and Stone seemed like caricatures. Nobody was really interesting except for Penn in this film. It was a bit more violent than I thought it would be. It also felt like a lesser Dick Tracy too. Just not very good overall. Minimally entertaining.

Grade - C

_________________
2009 World of KJ Fantasy Football World Champion
Team MVP : Peyton Manning : Record 11-5 : Points 2669.00
[b]FREE KORRGAN

45TH PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.A. DONALD J. TRUMP
#MAGA #KAG!
10,000 post achieved on - Posted: Wed May 16, 2018 7:49 pm


Sat Jan 12, 2013 11:02 am
Profile
Rachel McAdams Fan
User avatar

Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:13 am
Posts: 14544
Location: LA / NYC
Post Re: Gangster Squad
An incredibly entertaining popcorn movie. This isn't trying to be high art - it's pulpy and both knows and relishes in that fact. All of the actors are great in their roles (especially a scenery-chewing Sean Penn), though I have to admit that I was the most interested when Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone were onscreen. I did think Mirielle Enos was wonderful and I loved her character. It reminded me a lot of Ocean's Eleven in its execution except with a thousand times more violence :P This is definitely worth checking out. B+


Sat Jan 12, 2013 5:07 pm
Profile YIM
007
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 11:43 pm
Posts: 10986
Location: Wouldn't you like to know
Post Re: Gangster Squad
So, what you're all saying is, is that I should see this movie?

_________________
Image


Sat Jan 12, 2013 5:56 pm
Profile
loyalfromlondon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 6:31 pm
Posts: 19697
Location: ville-marie
Post Re: Gangster Squad
It's solidly entertaining and goofy as hell, but there is an interesting and serious ode to the gangster movie genre here, buried underneath all the pulp. Unfortunately, it's nearly indiscernible, especially since the theatre shooting scene (which certainly would've added to the film's cinematic referencing) was replaced by a bland Chinatown shootout. It's too bad, because this actually could've been a fascinating meta-gangster flick, as concerned with the filmic representation of true crime as anything else.

As a side note, Emma Stone seems totally out of her element here and not very pretty to boot. I generally don't understand her appeal, but at least in stuff like Easy A she's charming and likeable. Here it just seems like she's playing dress-up.

_________________
Magic Mike wrote:
zwackerm wrote:
If John Wick 2 even makes 30 million I will eat 1,000 shoes.


Same.


Algren wrote:
I don't think. I predict. ;)


Sun Jan 13, 2013 4:33 pm
Profile
Rachel McAdams Fan
User avatar

Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:13 am
Posts: 14544
Location: LA / NYC
Post Re: Gangster Squad
I hope the original theater shooting scene is included on the DVD/Blu-ray release.


Sun Jan 13, 2013 4:40 pm
Profile YIM
Extraordinary
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 12:25 am
Posts: 18843
Location: San Diego
Post Re: Gangster Squad
Oh, so the Chinatown scene was the replacement? Was wondering that.

Film isn't bad but not memorable. I saw it earlier and I'm already forgetting about it.


Mon Jan 14, 2013 2:20 am
Profile
Wallflower
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 4:53 am
Posts: 34875
Location: Minnesota
Post Re: Gangster Squad
This movie was awesome. So entertaining and a pleasant surprise. This is an underrated popcorn movie. The production design is terrific and the performances are fun.

I'd give it a B+, but was almost tempted to go with an A-.


Sun May 12, 2013 12:02 am
Profile
We had our time together
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 4:36 am
Posts: 13269
Location: Vienna
Post Re: Gangster Squad
publicenemy#1 wrote:
Film isn't bad but not memorable. I saw it earlier and I'm already forgetting about it.


Sums it up perfectly.


Sun Jun 02, 2013 11:29 am
Profile WWW
Forum General

Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:48 pm
Posts: 8942
Location: Houston, Texas
Post Re: Gangster Squad
It was decent, but no Untouchables or L.A. Confidential. Entertaining for the most part with some solid performances from Brolin, Penn, and Gosling.

Very forgettable though.


Sun Jun 02, 2013 2:00 pm
Profile
now we know
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:31 pm
Posts: 67000
Post 
Gangster Squad

Good film. Quite cool with some great lines from Ryan Gosling and some good action. Sean Penn, as much as I hate him, was fantastic. The film was a little dark, though. Bad lighting.

B/B+

_________________

STOP UIGHUR GENOCIDE IN XINJIANG
FIGHT FOR TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE
FREE TIBET
LIBERATE HONG KONG
BOYCOTT MADE IN CHINA



Thu Feb 13, 2014 10:11 am
Profile WWW
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Reply to topic   [ 13 posts ] 

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 37 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group.
Designed by STSoftware for PTF.