Gangster Squad is one of those movies that look and sound great, but which do not hold up to close scrutiny or linger lovingly in the memory in the way the really good movies do. Gangster Squad is like the lite version of The Untouchables, with many similarities but without half the soul.
In post-World War II Los Angeles, gangster Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn, in a forceful performance) is hell-bent on taking over, and the only thing that will stop him is a clandestine force of cops, acting off the record, willing to act like criminals to defeat them at their own game. These cops are led by Sergeant John O’Mara (Josh Brolin), and include Anthony Mackie, Ryan Gosling, Robert Patrick, Giovanni Ribisi and Michael Pena. Eventually a big shootout takes place and Cohen and O’Mara face off in a boxing match near a fountain.
As directed by Ruben Fleischer, Gangster Squad is forced to overcome a great many clichés and stock situations. Anyone who has seen more than five gangster movies can easily guess what is coming and despite some really impressive art direction and armament values, the film just doesn’t deliver very much excitement. Thousands of bullets fly and very few hit anyone, although lots of stuff explodes. And the moral merit of the story (based on a true story, it claims) is questionable at best, though perhaps the end does justify the means. Moreover, like Fleischer’s previous film Zombieland, much of what transpires may be meant as satire; it’s tough to tell.
A couple of things stand out. Ryan Gosling has one great moment as he heads toward Cohen with deadly intent — that little scene with its slow-motion reaction shots and building crescendo of music is perfectly filmed, I think. Gosling however, with his casual manner and high-pitched voice seems strangely miscast as a 1949 cop. And Emma Stone, even dressed to the nines, seems too young and innocent for the role she is essaying. On the other hand, Sean Penn is something to see as Mickey Cohen, chewing the scenery with De Niro-esque aplomb in a fascinating make-up job; ultimately, I think he is terrific. But the film pales in comparison to other, better gangster movies, particularly De Palma’s The Untouchables, to which it genuinely seems to aspire. ☆ ☆. 5 February 2013.