REVIEW: Killing Them Softly

Killing Them Softly
97 min
30 November 2012 (USA)

Jackie Cogan is an enforcer hired to restore order after three dumb guys rob a Mob protected card game, causing the local criminal economy to collapse.

Director: Andrew Dominik
Writers: Andrew Dominik (screenplay), George V. Higgins (novel)
Stars: Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta and Richard Jenkins

This film should be added to your gangster collection. The mafia movies you love like Casino, Goodfellas, Donnie Brasco, & The Departed. Killing Them Softly adds a modern touch on the gritty world of organized crime and the not so organized. Imagine the characters from Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels thrown into the world of The Godfather. Unique characters uneducated in the dark and very serious side of the mob. The plot is solid and simple but all the elements of the equation are top notch.

Set in present day; the economy is horrible. The mafias of the world are in a recession just like the rest of us. Killing Them Softly focuses on three individuals who rob an underground card game filled with a who's who of mob bosses and peons. After the heist they are tracked down by a heavy hitter by the name of Jackie Cogan; played sensationally by Brad Pitt. The film is laced heavily with political audio clips, video of presidents, meanings, and cynical views on government and order. It sets the perfect tone for the conflict of environment vs. man and in turn, man vs. man.

Scott McNairy and Ben Mendelsohn portray two of the three thieves and they are the epitome of annoying characters. One is a cracked out junkie who's appearance is revolting, the other is a paranoid pariah who is always in the wrong place at the right time. Both of them have annoying accents. The supporting cast, consisting of: Ray Liotta, Richard Jenkins, and James Gandolfini add different layers onto this character driven tale of crime and violence. Ray Liotta takes a turn playing a helpless patsy who is the complete opposite of his memorable character in Goodfellas and the vocal yet emotional character in Revolver.

Violence. You cannot make a mafia movie without violence and this movie delivers. The body count is low and the number of scenes depicting violence is actually quite few. But when the bullets fly or blood is spilt the cinematography is brilliant! The combination of excellent effects, sounds, and camera presence/ angles/ and usage should be looked at as a prime example of how things should be done. You don't need a movie filled with blood, gore, guns, and death; you just need the kills at the right moment with the right meaning behind them.

Music in this film speaks volumes, pardon the pun, to the underlying theme of the movie. Plus all of the sound bytes of Presidents and "Elected" Officials paint a bleak picture about our economy and country despite all the pretty adjectives and hand gestures they use.

I give Killing Them Softly a 4/5. Great mafia movie and definitely something to talk about.


-Daniel, Jedi Editor
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