Gangster Squad

This old fashioned film noir with a contemporary tint, is director Ruben Fleischer's latest feature, a fast-moving action-drama, based on Paul Lieberman’s book Gangster Squad, and inspired by the battle for Los Angeles that took place from the mid-1940s through the '50s.

Concerned with the city becoming increasingly corrupt, Los Angeles Police Chief Parker (Nick Nolte) entasks Sgt. John O'Mara (Josh Brolin) to form a secret squad to rid the city from mobster Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn). Closest to Mickey are his right-hand man, gangster Karl Lockwood (Holt McCallany) and Grace Faraday (Emma Stone) who catches the eye of Sgt. Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling). With the help of his pregnant wife Connie (Mireille Enos), O'Mara assembles his secret squad of cops formed by Sgt. Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling), Officer Coleman Harris (Anthony Mackie), wiretapping technician Officer Conwell Keeler (Giovanni Ribisi), Officer Max Kennard (Robert Patrick), and Officer Navidad Ramirez (Michael Peña).

The all star cast delivers strong performances. Sean Penn stands out as mobster Mickey Cohen having an incredible appetite for power and savagery. Convincing are also Josh Brolin as the energetic and principled Sgt. John O'Mara, Ryan Gosling in the role of the disengaged and charismatic Sgt. Jerry Wooters, and Emma Stone as the beautiful Grace Faraday.

Providing texture and a rich feel to the feature are the Los Angeles landmarks, such as the iconic Union Station, Hollywood sign, and the historic City Hall. Along with Maher Ahmad's production design, Dion Beebe's cinematography, Mary Zophres' costume and Ariel Velasco-Shaw's visual effects immerse the viewer in the era while delivering a balanced contemporary and period setting.

Notwithstanding a few clichés, the feature gets you hooked to the screen with non-stop intense action, flying bullets, chases, and heavy violence. The feature is absent of dull moments, is engaging, and fun to watch.