IMDB Summary : 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.
First time I saw the poster, I was hoping that it would be like Snatch, Brad Pitt would perform bad-ass. Honestly I don’t like mob movies (especially the old types like in the 50s or 70s). I’d rather watch mob movies set in the 80s up to now, where they don’t have to wear suits. They are more fun than watching Good Cop Bad Cop things.
The opening awoken my spirit as a film school student. Annoying sound, the Barrack Obama speech about the economy situation, cut to silence to the scene parts of people walk in slow motion. Cut close up to boots walking and face smoking and so on, got me hooked. Ok, let’s watch this movie.
Set in the year 2008, where America have problems with taxes and things were difficult. Tells a story about 3 mafias who you could call amateur, trying to take the benefits of an owner of an illegal gambling place, Frankie (Scoot McNairy). He foolishly admit when he’s drunk that he once robbed his own place. The situation used by the three mobsters to rob another casino place. The hunter is Cogan (Brad Pitt) who cannot kill a person in a close area, because he don’t want to get involved with his victim’s feelings. That’s why they called him “Killing Him Softly”.
For you who expect to find the typical action and thriller mafia movie, you won’t get it from this film. In my opinion, you will get a new experience on picturing a mob movie, a bit of a dreamy tone, quiet framing and pieces of life reflections, politics and economy. Also, surreal absurd conversations, making this mobster movie an artistic one with the touch of hard life wrapped beautifully.
This is quite a slow paced movie for mob genre, with plenty dialogues. But you’ll get a new perspective, like a jet coaster. Like Quantin Tarantino sitting next to you who couldn’t stop talking about mob stories, you dissolved to it until you forget that you’re riding a jet coaster.
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