Gangster Squad

thekingsguard · 01-18-2013, 12:32 PM

Nice fun little movie, especially if you're a fan of pulp era gangster films or film noir. Plus, there are worse ways to spend $8 bucks than cops vs robbers with Emma Stone/Ryan Gosling to spice things up.

lefty23 · 01-18-2013, 06:59 PM

I didn't like this as much as I thought i was going to. It did get me to rewatch L.A. Confidential, so that was 1 positive.

ElJeffe · 01-18-2013, 07:44 PM

I'm really interested in seeing this, based largely off Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, who are both completely fantabulous. I am less excited about watching Sean Penn play Cartoon Sean Penn, but I can get past that.

lefty23 · 01-18-2013, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElJeffe

I'm really interested in seeing this, based largely off Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, who are both completely fantabulous. I am less excited about watching Sean Penn play Cartoon Sean Penn, but I can get past that.

I was kind of in the same boat as you when i went to watch it. I think Gosling does a good job, but unfortunately the script didn't give Emma much to do. She does look great when she's on screen though.

Manuel Royal · 01-18-2013, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElJeffe

I am less excited about watching Sean Penn play Cartoon Sean Penn, but I can get past that.

When I saw the preview, I thought Sean Penn looked like a Dick Tracy bad guy.

Remember the first trailer, from last summer? It included a shootout in a movie theater, with characters blasting right through the movie screen with Thompsons. Then that asshole shot up the movie theater in Colorado, and they not only took that out of the trailer, they took it out of the movie, and shot new scenes to work around it.

Bebop · 01-18-2013, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lefty23

I was kind of in the same boat as you when i went to watch it. I think Gosling does a good job, but unfortunately the script didn't give Emma much to do. She does look great when she's on screen though.

This would typically be the kind of movie I'd make a point of going to see. Sean Penn is for me, one of the best actors in the business. But I am not at all surprised to see that you were disappointed. It does ring of something not altogether authentic. What was your disappointment really? Where do you think it missed?

lefty23 · 01-19-2013, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bebop

This would typically be the kind of movie I'd make a point of going to see. Sean Penn is for me, one of the best actors in the business. But I am not at all surprised to see that you were disappointed. It does ring of something not altogether authentic. What was your disappointment really? Where do you think it missed?

I'm usually a big sean penn fan too with the exception of just a few films, but he actually doesn't get as much screen time as I expected.

Really, there are too many disappointments to list/discuss (especially without giving away key moments in the film), but the main problem is i don't think the director or the actors knew what kind of a film they were making (dick tracy or LA confidential). It was sort of in between and just didn't work for me.

There were a few fun moments in it, and i actually really enjoyed the first 10-15 minutes, but it went downhill from there. I will mention that the Brolin character has to be the worst leader of any police 'squad' that i've ever seen and this movie had one of the worst climaxes i've seen in a while.

Bebop · 01-19-2013, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lefty23

I'm usually a big sean penn fan too with the exception of just a few films, but he actually doesn't get as much screen time as I expected.

Really, there are too many disappointments to list/discuss (especially without giving away key moments in the film), but the main problem is i don't think the director or the actors knew what kind of a film they were making (dick tracy or LA confidential). It was sort of in between and just didn't work for me.

There were a few fun moments in it, and i actually really enjoyed the first 10-15 minutes, but it went downhill from there. I will mention that the Brolin character has to be the worst leader of any police 'squad' that i've ever seen and this movie had one of the worst climaxes i've seen in a while.

Yeah, just from the trailer, it does look a little cartoonish. Too bad, a good cast. I think Ryan Gosling is good, too. I was watching that Oprah/Armstrong thing last night, and wondering how many screenwriters were rushing to their keyboards, and who could play the lead. Ryan Gosling was one guy I saw.

Gynn · 01-21-2013, 07:32 AM

The trailer was unintentionally funny, at least for my audience. I think I'll wait for Netflix.

tpolen · 01-23-2013, 08:21 PM

We saw it last weekend - knew the reviews weren't very good, but we all enjoyed it. I agree Sean Penn is one of the best actors out there, but the facial prosthetics looked comic-bookish. Always Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone fans - that girl is going places.

BeatrixKiddo · 01-24-2013, 06:48 AM

I enjoyed it, but a friend told me the movie is completely inaccurate as far as actual history.

playground_king · 01-26-2013, 05:20 AM

I enjoyed the movie, but it was just average.

StevenHarvey1990 · 01-29-2013, 10:48 PM

Was certainly engaging but like lefty23 said, it was a bit topsy turvy in tone and style. Cheap thrill.

01-18-2013, 12:32 PM	#1
thekingsguard Soldier, Scholar, Writer, WebVoyeur Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Richmond, Virginia, USA Posts: 200	Gangster Squad Nice fun little movie, especially if you're a fan of pulp era gangster films or film noir. Plus, there are worse ways to spend $8 bucks than cops vs robbers with Emma Stone/Ryan Gosling to spice things up. __________________ This is my website, Korsgaard's Commentary. Please, read my works, tell me what you think, and be sure to share it and come back again!

01-23-2013, 08:21 PM	#10
tpolen New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: KY Posts: 34	We saw it last weekend - knew the reviews weren't very good, but we all enjoyed it. I agree Sean Penn is one of the best actors out there, but the facial prosthetics looked comic-bookish. Always Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone fans - that girl is going places. __________________ Books & Such www.teripolen.com

01-24-2013, 06:48 AM	#11
BeatrixKiddo I like to write and stuff... Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gotham City, baby Posts: 4,062	I enjoyed it, but a friend told me the movie is completely inaccurate as far as actual history. __________________ Do not look here...there is nothing to see.

01-29-2013, 10:48 PM	#13
StevenHarvey1990 practical experience, FTW Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 102	Was certainly engaging but like lefty23 said, it was a bit topsy turvy in tone and style. Cheap thrill. __________________ "Movies don't create psycho's, movies make psycho's more creative"

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01-18-2013, 06:59 PM	#2
lefty23 figuring it all out Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 66	I didn't like this as much as I thought i was going to. It did get me to rewatch L.A. Confidential, so that was 1 positive.

01-18-2013, 07:44 PM	#3
ElJeffe figuring it all out Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 82	I'm really interested in seeing this, based largely off Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, who are both completely fantabulous. I am less excited about watching Sean Penn play Cartoon Sean Penn, but I can get past that.

01-21-2013, 07:32 AM	#9
Gynn Wandering worlds Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Noth Posts: 658	The trailer was unintentionally funny, at least for my audience. I think I'll wait for Netflix.

01-26-2013, 05:20 AM	#12
playground_king practical experience, FTW Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 662	I enjoyed the movie, but it was just average.