Gangster Squad

Ryan Gosling (right), Sean Penn (centre), Josh Brolin (left), Emma Stone (left)

What did I expect before watching Gangster Squad?

Well, considering all I knew prior to watching the
movie was its title, my expectations for the movie
were open. Although, the image I had constructed in
my head was a storyline close to The Godfather, with
the typical expectancy of an action-thriller, which included guns, explosion and a lot of violence. Though
the movie used the usual stereotypes that included
shoot outs, car chases and gruesome murders (especially within the first scene of the movie).
Gangster Squad tells the loosely based story of Los
Angeles in the 1940s, and mob ruler Micky Cohen
(Sean Penn) whose hold over the city runs deep in its
industry and its people, instigating fear in those who
work for or fight him, with dire consequences for any
who fail. The gangster lords empire is so high that the
police cannot touch him, and so the dead falls to Sargent John OMara (Josh Brolin) an ex-army veteran
who is tasked to leave his badge behind to do what
need to be done to save the city by the Chief, Parker
(Nick Nolte). The sergeant then recruits a small squad
of men with the same ideals as himself and who
will not fall to the mobs corruption, one of which
is a close friend and partner sergeant Jerry Wooters
(Ryan Gosling) and forms the Gangster Squad.

The period style the movie was filmed in was executed wall, in the costumes, settings and props. The
cinematography could be considered typical, but the
movie uses conventions in their lighting and shot
types that automatically show the audience the genre
of the film and what to expect. That includes dark
lighting, foreboding music, shot guns and a whole
lot of other stereotypes. These help convey the 1920s
atmosphere and the danger of the city.
Obviously with the title Gangster Squad you can be
guaranteed an action packed movie, with car chases and shoot outs designed to thrill the audience.
Although criticised by many as the typical Hollywood action movie, and for its predictable storyline,
Gangster Squad in my opinion is an easy watch,
with critically acclaimed actors form who it is easy to
see the chemistry especially between Ryan Gosling
and Emma Stone, all of which contribute to an hooking movie that makes you laugh, gasp and leaves you
with a message, although the movie may not leave
you contemplating some deep emotional moral, it
leaves you with the message in Josh Brolins leaving
monologue of justice, family and that good trumps