One thing is for sure: Gangster Squad (in theaters now) certainly makes a bang. However, its powerful shots have a lackluster follow-through. This crime film based on true events follows the story of a secret police outfit in charge of taking down gangster Mickey Cohen, who is on a mission to take over Los Angeles. Historians will most likely note the extreme creative license screenplay author Will Beall took on this true story, but audiences looking for an action-packed two-hours probably won’t notice the inconsistencies.

The movie was originally supposed to be released in September of last year, but after the theater shooting in Aurora, CO the date was pushed back. Sensitive scenes of a violent shooting through the screen of Grauman’s Chinese Theater were cut in the wake of the event and a chunk of the film had to be reshot in order to replace them. 

The film, directed by Ruben Fleischer, certainly pays tribute to classic noir elements, but loses substance in its stylization. Not only is the focus on the production elements and artistic choices in filming, but this film is also definitely not for the fair-hearted or weak-stomached. Even within the first 5 minutes the gruesomeness will have you squirming. Don’t think the ride is over just yet, because there is as much blood shed and torture packed into the 112-minute run time as possible. 

The best thing about this movie is its ensemble. Starring Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Nick Nolte, Emma Stone, and Sean Penn, no performance falls short of delivery even with a substandard script. Unfortunately the screenplay wastes its incredible star-studded cast on dismal material. While Penn proves his impressive range once again as gangster Mickey Cohen, the most memorable performance is Mireille Enos, who plays Sargent O’Mara’s (leader of the LAPD Gangster Squad) wife. Enos, who is best known for her roles on HBO’s Big Love and AMC’s The Killing, is remarkably able to break through the stunted script even with her character’s supporting status. If her performance is any sign of her potential this role could be her breakthrough to bigger things.

The dialogue is full of punchy one-liners for many of these seasoned actors, but overall the script only touches the surface of a story that obviously holds multiple layers. Where Fleischer set up the gang’s recruitment scenes much like Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven, the mimicked nature of this sequence fails in comparison. Overall, nothing from Gangster Squad is original. Those who have seen and appreciated any great gangster classic will be sorely disappointed. 

The film lacks deep character development, and the steamy Gosling-Stone scenes we’ve all been waiting for were cut unsatisfyingly short. 

However, Gangster Squad’s costuming, cinematography, and production elements were beautiful. Even the ending credit sequence is impeccably executed. The exquisite shots are just as eye-catching as the gory violence that dominates a majority of the film’s run time. If the script had lent some of these disturbing moments to more character interaction, the film might have seen a better outcome. Unfortunately the screenplay is too caught up with heavy handed portrayals of crime and violence. The film is certainly artistic, just not in the way moviegoers will hope for. 

Reach Staff Reporter Elisabeth Roberts here.