Gangster Squad
9/12/13

Viewed with two 40s of Mickeys
and some Russian coffee
written directly afterward (and I have put on The Untouchables.  I'm listening to De Niro as I type)

This is the first time I've been able to sit down and watch the entire film.  It's probably like the fifth time I've tried.  In more than a few cases I've decided to just say "fuck it" and watch The Untouchables or The Godfather.  Both are superior films but both are not action films.  This is an action film.  It is well done and well acted and for a modern action film it's actually pretty good, if incredibly predictable.
I suppose the greatest problem with the film is the name.  That and perhaps Sean Penn, who(m?) definitely looks like he can throw a punch but his acting, per the norm, is bleh.  It's not like he's just doing it for the paycheck, like anything recent Harrison Ford's done, but, well maybe it is.  Anyway he actually tries (unlike Ford) so I'll give him that.
Oh and Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are hot.  That's all I have to say about that.
Robert Patrick does not desolve into liquid metal, so that's a negative, but he does evoke memories of 1960's Eastwood, which is (to my knowledge) kinda new to the Prohibition era realm of film.  That was pretty good (dare I say innovative), and it was difficult to count bullets while sipping my 40 but his six-shooter seemed to hold more than six.  It was never as bad as John Woo, but that's not saying anything at all.  You have but to ask and John Woo secretes bullets out of his ass.  Not a pretty picture but accurate.
All in all nice, albeit predictable, and worth seeing once at least.  If I had to say anything, though, it would be to point you towards Boardwalk Empire.  It's slower, and not action, but evokes the same time period so much better.  When there is action, it usually involves a character you care about and at all points you fear for his or her life, because after watching a few episodes you know everyone's life could be snuffed out at a moment's notice.  People say the same about Game of Thrones, and it does happen, but in more of a grandiose, somewhat predictable (especially if you read the books) way.  With Boardwalk there are no books and all are fair play, except for Nucky Thompson (as of this writing).  Anyone could drop at a moment's notice, as happens in Dollhouse (damn you Joss Whedon, you wonderful bastard).
I'm not gonna give scores or anything, because any film is subjective and depends on the audience.  Also I'm glad Roger Ebert's dead.  Just saying.  I'll see him in hell.
If you're a fan of action and period films this is pretty damn good.  If you're a fan of action and sci-fi, watch Dredd.  Not Judge Dredd with Stallone, for fuck's sake.  The new one.  It's like going back to the (I hate to have to say it but now original) Robocop.  It's brutal and funny and obnoxious and incredibly well directed and edited.  Maybe that's what I'll review next.  My plan is to get a handle of Taaka tomorrow so we'll see.
-here endeth the lesson.