Summary
Los Angeles, 1949. Ruthless, Brooklyn-born mob king Mickey Cohen runs the show in this town, reaping the ill-gotten gains from the drugs, the guns, the prostitutes and — if he has his way — every wire bet placed west of Chicago. And he does it all with the protection of not only his own paid goons, but also the police and the politicians who are under his control. It’s enough to intimidate even the bravest, street-hardened cop… except, perhaps, for the small, secret crew of LAPD outsiders led by Sgt. John O’Mara and Jerry Wooters who come together to try to tear Cohen’s world apart.
Cast
Josh Brolin
John O'Mara
Ryan Gosling
Sgt. Jerry Wooters
Sean Penn
Mickey Cohen
Nick Nolte
Bill Parker
Emma Stone
Grace Faraday
Anthony Mackie
Coleman Harris
Giovanni Ribisi
Conway Keeler
Robert Patrick
Max Kennard
Michael Peña
Navidad Ramirez
Mireille Enos
Connie O'Mara
Troy Garity
Wrevock
Holt McCallany
Karl Lockwood
Sullivan Stapleton
Jack Whalen
James Carpinello
Johnny Stomp
James Landry Hébert
Mitch Racine
Evan Jones
Neddy Herbert
Josh Pence
Darryl Gates
John Aylward
Judge Carter
Jack Conley
Sheriff Biscailuz
Jack McGee
Lt. Quincannon
Jon Polito
Dragna
Austin Abrams
Pete
Michael Bacall
Comanche
Lance Barber
Comanche
Scott Beehner
Club Figaro Reporter
Mick Betancourt
Detective Sgt. Will Hendricks
De'Aundre Bonds
Duke Del-Red
Mac Brandt
Bruiser
Ambyr Childers
Milk Skinned Blonde
Dennis Cockrum
Elmer Jackson
Maxwell Perry Cotton
Keeler's Son
Jonny Coyne
Grimes
Max Daniels
Jeffrey Clark
Lucy Davenport
Slapsy Maxie's Singer
Darrell Davis
Officer Wyler
Anthony De Longis
Burbank Jail Thug
Christopher Doyle
Edgar Beaumont
David Fleischer
City Hall Reporter
Lucas Fleischer
Club Figaro Reporter
Mickey Giacomazzi
Hatchetman
Dale Gibson
Burbank Cop
Derek Graf
El Dorado Guard
Tom Hallick
El Dorado Investor
Don Harvey
Officer Funston
Austin Highsmith Garces
Patty
Matt Knudsen
Club Figaro Reporter
Anne Leighton
Crying Woman
Neil Koppel
Max Solomon
Michael C. Mahon
Citz Hall Reporter
Rick Marcus
Burbank Cop
Derek Mears
Bridge Goon
Cazimir Milostan
Desk Officer
Brandon Molale
Jimmy 'Bockscar' Knox
Anthony Molinari
Lorenzo Molinari
Michael Owen
Burbank Jail Thug
Riel Paley
City Hall Reporter
Michael Papajohn
Mike 'The Flea'
Esther Scott
Letty
Haley Strode
Keeler's Wife
Yvette Tucker
Carmen Miranda
Wade Williams
Rourke
Jeff Wolfe
Giovanni Vacarezza
Danny Wynands
Grenade Goon
Eboni 'Chrystal' Adams
Dancer
Nadyla Blakemore
Dancer
Mandy Coulton
Dancer
Michelle Current
Dancer
Tiffany Daniels
Dancer
Monifa Ellis
Dancer
Hilary Fleming
Dancer
Scott Fowler
Dancer
Melanie Gage
Dancer
Asiel Hardison
Dancer
Michael Higgins
Dancer
Scott Hislop
Dancer
Jermaine Johnson
Dancer
Eva La Dare
Dancer
Stephanie Landwehr
Dancer
Tina Mayer
Dancer
Marcy McCusker
Dancer
Jacoby Mosby
Dancer
Chris Moss
Dancer
Jared Murillo
Dancer
Alycia M. Perrin
Dancer
Henry Chopper Platt
Dancer
Chandrae Roettig
Dancer
Dougie Styles
Dancer
Stephen Sayer
Dancer
Kelleia Sheerin
Dancer
Brett Sturgis
Dancer
Kevin James Sporman
Dancer
April Marie Thomas
Dancer
Forrest Walsh
Dancer
Lizzy Watts
Dancer
Charles Wiggins III
Dancer
Jason Williams
Dancer
Christopher Aber
Reporter (uncredited)
Pamela Adamic
Drugged-Out Girl (uncredited)
Michael Arturo
Dealer (uncredited)
Kojo Asiedu
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Robert T. Barrett
LAPD Cop (uncredited)
Bill Blair
Casino Gambler (uncredited)
Bob Bouchard
Movie Patron (uncredited)
Freedom Bridgewater
Bartender (uncredited)
Matt Callahan
Chinatown Shopper (uncredited)
Greg Cannone
Slapy Maxie's Waiter (uncredited)
Pamela Cedar
Gambler (uncredited)
Michael Jay Copeland
Water pitcher waiter (uncredited)
Eddie Davenport
Goon Gunman (uncredited)
Seth Di Marco
Goon (uncredited)
Isabel Dresden
Hedy Lamarr (uncredited)
Jeremy Dunn
Gangster (uncredited)
Ken Edling
Detective (uncredited)
Chelsea Edmundson
Cigarette Girl (uncredited)
Gray Ellis
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Cathy Fielding
Bookmakers' Secretary (uncredited)
Paige Flannery
Club Patron (uncredited)
Marilyn Foley
Chinatown Shopper (uncredited)
Leni Ford
Rich Widow (uncredited)
Kristin Gagliardi
Slapsy Maxie's Patron (uncredited)
Gill Gard
Slapsy Maxie's Doorman (uncredited)
Nancy Gassner-Clayton
Caroler (uncredited)
Debby Gerber
Plaza Runner (uncredited)
Tanner Gill
Hookey Rothman (uncredited)
Nick Gligor
Slapsy Maxie's Waiter (uncredited)
Sly Green
Club Patron (uncredited)
Louise Griffiths
Screaming Woman (uncredited)
Frank Grillo
Russo (uncredited)
Marie Grujicic-Delage
Fluzzy (uncredited)
Rebecca Hancock
Club Patron (uncredited)
Karen Harper
Caroler (uncredited)
Steve Hernandez
Carmen Miranda Drummer (uncredited)
Rebecca Honett
Cigarette Girl (uncredited)
Todd Honeycutt
Caroler (uncredited)
Courtney Howard
Club Patron (uncredited)
Elizabeth Howell
Lady of the Night (uncredited)
WB Brown II
LAPD (uncredited)
Chris Jackson
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Pat Jankiewicz
Nico (uncredited)
David Johnson
Club Patron (uncredited)
Sergio Kato
Officer Lane (uncredited)
Faye Kelly
Business Woman (uncredited)
Kristen Marie Kelly
Girl at Nightclub (uncredited)
Jess King
Thug (uncredited)
John William King
Casino Cowboy (uncredited)
Olivia Ku
Suzie Wang (uncredited)
Elaine Lockhart
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Amy Mader
Chinatown Shopper (uncredited)
Oscar Magana Jr.
Funeral Mourner (uncredited)
Marlene Manes
Gangster Girl (uncredited)
Nancy McCrumb
Betty Page (uncredited)
Mason McCulley
Caroler (uncredited)
Michael Lee Merrins
#1 Uniformed Officer (uncredited)
Daniel Muller
Club Patron (uncredited)
Kat Munday
Drugged Out Girl #2
Jim J. Mundy
Club Patron (uncredited)
Nino Nava
Pilgrim (uncredited)
Stephane Nicoli
LAPD Officer (uncredited)
Michael Ouellette
Detective (uncredited)
Veronica Parks
Christmas Lady (uncredited)
Don Pecchia
Mob Boss (uncredited)
Geoff Pilkington
Angry Guy in Park (uncredited)
Josh Polizzi
Slapsy Maxie's Waiter (uncredited)
Carolina Provvido
Drugged-Out Girl (uncredited)
Ron Pucillo
Waiter #4 (uncredited)
Robert Ratinoff
Vehicle Driver (uncredited)
Dani Renee
Young Mother (uncredited)
Kara C. Roberts
Slapsy Maxie (uncredited)
Carl Rydlund
Tommy Tedesco (uncredited)
Bradley Sackin
Slapsy Maxie's Motorist (uncredited)
Tony Sagastizado I
Pilgrim (uncredited)
Gregg Sargeant
Gunman 3 (uncredited)
Meg Schaab
O'Malley Sister (uncredited)
Frank Scozzari
Mickey's Thug #1 (uncredited)
Robert Sisko
Slapsy Maxie's Waiter (uncredited)
Lauren K. Solomon
Casino Maid Marion (uncredited)
Scott St. Blaze
Slapsy Maxie's Waiter (uncredited)
Kate Stewart
Waitress (uncredited)
Nevan Stewart
Club Patron (uncredited)
Erica Stikeleather
Beautiful Woman (uncredited)
Tom Strahle
Slapsy Maxie's Guitarist (uncredited)
Sophia Strauss
Little Girl (uncredited)
Jennifer Thompson
Cigarette Girl (uncredited)
Levi Tinker
Grauman's Chinese Theater Patron (uncredited)
Christopher Tisa
Valet (uncredited)
John H. Tobin
Actor (uncredited)
Chris Toma
Club Patron (uncredited)
Alexis Toone
Tart (uncredited)
Amber Sharae Topsy
Sexy Woman (uncredited)
Holly Traister
Slapsy Maxie Patron (uncredited)
Lucy Walsh
Manicurist (uncredited)
Elyse Willis
Caroler (uncredited)
Kevin Young
Burn Victim (uncredited)
Melissa Anne Young
Beautiful Woman (uncredited)
Crew
Director
Ruben Fleischer
Novel
Paul Lieberman
Writer
Will Beall
Reviews
John Chard
March 9, 2014
7
Rat-a-tat-tat!
Gangster Squad is directed by Ruben Fleischer and written by Will Beal. It stars Josh Brolin, Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Nick Nolte, Anthony Mackie, Giovanni Ribisi, Robert Patrick and Michael Pena. Music is by Steve Jablonski and cinematography by Dion Beebee.
Los Angeles is being brought to its knees by crime boss Mickey Cohen (Penn). In one of the darkened offices of the police department, a special squad of officers is being assembled. Given free licence to bring Cohen and his operations down by any means necessary, the Gangster Squad fight fir with fire.
Loosely based on real life facts, Gangster Squad is a good old slice of machine gun etiquette. An all star cast get to play good guys and wise guys in The Untouchables tradition, even if that in itself can’t quite lift the film to the higher echelons of gangster movies past and present.
There’s absolutely nothing new here, it plays out as expected. Brolin and Gosling are the main smooth operators in the good guys camp, the former given the family man in danger sub-plot, the latter given the dangerous dame to fall in love with in the shapely form of Emma Stone, who as it happens is also dating Cohen! hmm...
Over in the wise guys department is Penn on full tilt sweary and hammy overdrive. It’s a very colourful portrayal, menacing and completely over the top. How the performance sits with you will greatly depend on how you find Penn as an actor when let loose on a cartoon characterisation.
It’s all very period pleasing, with a bustling late 40s L.A. hosting men with hats, trench coats and tommy-guns. Men who frequent the speakeasy bars as torch singers warble their stuff. There is nothing wrong with the production at all, except maybe when the dialogue veers to clunky. The action scenes are well crafted, loud, bloody and exciting, and the photography sparkles and the music soars.
If only the makers had put some thought into it, a bit of brains to go with the brawn. As a comic book type gangster piece, it works well on entertainment terms, elsewhere its lightweight and formula compliant , with the Ribisi, Patrick and Pena characters telegraphed a mile away. So, quite some way away from the great The Untouchables then, but better than Mullholland Falls. Make of that what you will. 6.5/10
Media
Recommendations
Only God Forgives
Parker
The Place Beyond the Pines
Silver Linings Playbook
The Hangover Part II
The Ides of March
Taken 2
Broken City
Back to the Future Part II
On the Other Side of the Tracks
Gantz
Paris-Manhattan
The United States of Leland
The Last Stand
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Bullet to the Head
The Fighter
Jack Reacher
The Gunman
