Rated
R (Violence, Sexual References, Pervasive Language, and Some Drug Use)
Running
Time: 1 Hour & 37 Minutes
Cast-
Brad
Pitt-Jackie Cogan
Richard
Jenkins-Driver
James
Gandolfini-Mickey
Scoot
McNairy-Frankie
Ben
Mendelsohn-Russell
Ray
Liotta-Markie Trattman
Vincent
Curatola-Johnny Amato
George
Carroll/Slaine-Kenny Gill
Sam
Shepard-Dillon
Directed
by Andrew Dominik
 |
My, that's a mighty big shotgun you have, Mr. Pitt.
|
America,
the land of opportunity…except it isn't. Four years since the financial crisis,
the economy still hasn't fully recovered as it limps along while the gap
between the rich and poor continues to widen. Compared to other first-world
countries, America has the highest level of inequality and it's only a matter
of time before the bubble bursts (like the housing market). Set amidst the 2008
Wall Street crash and President Barack Obama's subsequent election, Andrew
Dominik's latest film, "Killing Them Softly," likens the cutthroat politics
of corporate capitalism to the seedy underbelly of the criminal underworld. Despite
only directing two films in the last
ten years (2000's "Chopper" and 2007's "The Assassination of
Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"), Dominik's work has made quite an
impression on critics and his third film, based on George V. Higgins' 1974
crime novel Cogan's Trade and
reuniting him with actor Brad Pitt, looks to continue that trend. Uncompromisingly
violent and darkly humorous, "Killing Them Softly" oozes style as it
paints a bleak, nihilistic portrait of modern-day America but its themes lack
subtlety and ultimately comes across as muddled within the story's context.
It's September 2008 and the Obama-McCain presidential election is in full swing
even as the country reels from a total financial meltdown. Set in Nowhere,
America, a small-time gangster named Johnny Amato (Vincent Curatola) recruits
ex-con Frankie (Scoot McNairy) to rob an illegal poker game held by Markie
Trattman (Ray Liotta) and hopes to get away with it by framing the mobster as
the culprit. Enlisting the aid of strung-out junkie Russell (Ben Mendelsohn),
Frankie manages to pull off the heist without a hitch. Driver (Richard
Jenkins), a middleman for the corporate-types who run the local mob, hires
hitman Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt) to clean up the mess. Russell fails to keep his
mouth shut about the robbery, putting him and Frankie on Cogan's radar.
Meanwhile, Cogan brings in old friend Mickey (James Gandolfini) for help but
the move instead complicates the job even further.
Although its running time is
a scant 1 hour and 37 minutes, "Killing Them Softly" is a
deliberately slow-paced affair despite the overly simplistic story. What's
immediately striking about the film is the style and there are a number of
visual flourishes that maximizes the impact of the violence, which are few and
far between yet delivers with the force of a sledgehammer. One of Cogan's hits
is presented in ultra slow-motion as the bullets fire from his revolver,
shattering the car window and fatally entering its target in a symphonic shower
of blood. A vicious beating will likely inspire walkouts. Despite being set in
late 2008, it exhibits a low-key vibe commonly found in crime dramas released
during the 1970s. Dominik eschews the Boston setting of the novel by choosing
to shoot the film in New Orleans, Louisiana for tax-incentive purposes but he
never explicitly names the city in which it takes place in, suggesting that it
could be anywhere…or nowhere. The town is often drenched in rain where violence
is commonplace; none of the characters react with surprise and there is no
police on the streets to enforce the law. Its nihilistic atmosphere is
emphasized by Greig Fraser's stylish cinematography and sound bites from
speeches made by George W. Bush and Obama replaces a traditional score.
Unfortunately, Dominik's juxtaposition of politics and organized crime feel
heavy-handed and lacks subtlety. Frankie is driven to a life crime due to the
failing economy while the ruminations between Cogan and Driver mimic the
backroom dealing that defines American politics. It's a dialogue-driven film
and while the numerous conversations between the various characters may come
off as meaningless on the surface, it represents a disillusionment that has
gripped the American populace where people have no qualms about stepping over
others in order to make a quick buck. The way James Gandolfini's Mickey rants
about his problems, drowning them in booze and sex, recalls a down-on-his-luck
worker. Even Cogan is frustrated by how his hands are tied by a boardroom-like
committee. There are a few scenes of dark humor, such as Russell's attempt to
collect the ransom money by kidnapping dogs or a conversation between him and
Frankie while high on heroin that is punctuated by moments of grim reality. The
problem with "Killing Them Softly" is that Dominik's message that the
American Dream is really an American Nightmare feels muddled and at times, a
little too on-the-nose. Not to mention that he's not exactly tackling a
revelatory subject or saying anything new. Still, there's enough food-for-thought
within the story to make the film worth a watch.
Reuniting with Dominik for a
second time, Brad Pitt plays Jackie Cogan as cool and detached; to avoid any
unnecessary tears from his victims, the hitman chooses to take his targets out
either from afar or close at hand with a minimum of fuss, hence the title. He's
backed up by a capable supporting cast that includes Richard Jenkins as the
mob's spokesperson and a memorable James Gandolfini who goes on a number of
drunken monologues that will leave mainstream audiences scratching their heads
but will entertain those who know what Dominik is getting at. Scoot McNairy and
Ben Mendelsohn shine as well with their awkwardly amusingly low-brow banter,
with lines like "These girls, you probably wouldn't want to rape them, but
the plumbing's just fine." However, McNairy's exaggerated high-pitch
accent does get distracting. Of course, no gangster film would be complete
without Ray Liotta, who's become a cliché at this point ever since
"Goodfellas."
Premiering at this past summer's Cannes Film Festival, "Killing
Them Softly" was released on November 30, 2012 to largely positive reviews
with 78% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics found it to be 'a darkly comic, visceral
thriller that doubles as a cautionary tale on capitalism, whose message is
delivered with sledgehammer force.' Unfortunately, audiences didn't see the
film as it bombed with only $7 million. I am puzzled as to why The Weinstein
Company would even go for a wide release considering the subject matter. Its
appeal was always going to be limited but that's not the film's problem, it's
the audience. There's a certain sense of irony reading the comments online,
where many continue to ignorantly equate box office success with actual
substance. "Killing Them Softly" is by no means a great film but it's
one that's still easy to recommend, not only for its distinct visual style but
also for what it says about American society as a whole, muddled as it may be.
Since it'll disappear from theaters soon, you might as well take the chance to
see it now.
Final
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
"This
guy wants to tell me we're living in a community? Don't make me laugh. I'm
living in America, and in America you're on your own. America's not a country.
It's just a business. Now fuckin' pay me!"
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