Image courtesy oldfocals.com
What can I say? I’m a sucker for gangster movies.
Some people may tell you that Gangster Squad is all style and no substance, that is has a lackluster script, and that it doesn’t really add anything to the genre.
Ok, yeah, that’s all kind of true. But is it entertaining? Absolutely.
I thought that the style was very cool. Clearly they were going for the film noir/Warner Bros.’ gangster atheistic, and they nailed it. The script, the performances, costumes, music, sets, all of them created a gritty, moody affair. There were solid performances as well, particularly from Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, and Mireille Enos.
No, this movie isn’t going to de-define the genre, it isn’t an in depth character study, and it isn’t going to win any awards. Gangster Squad is a gangster movie, and doesn’t try to be anything else.
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If you’re expecting an Oscar-winning drama out of Gangster Squad, expect to be disappointed. If you’re expecting a fun movie that doesn’t require a lot of thought, then expect to be entertained.
Rating: 7/10