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‘Gangster Squad’ makes for a solid gangland Western

By Roger Moore
MCT

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Warner Bros. Pictures: Emma Stone as Grace Faraday and Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters in “Gangster Squad.”

The Old West died hard in the City of Angels. And in the years after World War II, battle-hardened veterans came home to a town “under enemy occupation,” when the only way to fight off the Mob was with a six gun, your two fists and the right hat.

Movie review

3 1/2 (out of five stars)

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Cast: Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Josh Brolin, Anthony Mackie, Robert Patrick

Rated: R for strong violence and language

Running time: 1 hour, 50 minutes

What did you think?: Offer your opinion of the film.

  • Anthony Mackie (from left) as Officer Coleman Harris, Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters, Michael Pena as Officer Navidad Ramirez, Giovanni Ribisi as Officer Conwell Keeler, Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara and Robert Patrick as Officer Max Kennard in “Gangster Squad.” Anthony Mackie (from left) as Officer Coleman Harris, Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters, Michael Pena as Officer Navidad Ramirez, Giovanni Ribisi as Officer Conwell Keeler, Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara and Robert Patrick as Officer Max Kennard in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Nick Nolte as Chief Parker in “Gangster Squad.” Nick Nolte as Chief Parker in “Gangster Squad.”
  • James Carpinello (from left) as Johnny Stomp, Sean Penn as Mickey Cohen and Evan Jones as Neddy Herbert in “Gangster Squad.” James Carpinello (from left) as Johnny Stomp, Sean Penn as Mickey Cohen and Evan Jones as Neddy Herbert in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters in “Gangster Squad.” Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Michael Pena as Officer Navidad Ramirez in “Gangster Squad.” Michael Pena as Officer Navidad Ramirez in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Director Ruben Fleischer with Robert Patrick on the set of “Gangster Squad.” Director Ruben Fleischer with Robert Patrick on the set of “Gangster Squad.”
  • Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara and Mireille Enos as Connie O’Mara in “Gangster Squad.” Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara and Mireille Enos as Connie O’Mara in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Emma Stone (from left), director Ruben Fleischer and Ryan Gosling on the set of “Gangster Squad.” Emma Stone (from left), director Ruben Fleischer and Ryan Gosling on the set of “Gangster Squad.”
  • Anthony Mackie as Officer Coleman Harris in “Gangster Squad.” Anthony Mackie as Officer Coleman Harris in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Josh Brolin (from left) as Sgt. John O’Mara, Robert Patrick as Officer Max Kennard, Anthony Mackie as Officer Coleman Harris, Michael Pena as Officer Navidad Ramirez, Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters and Giovanni Ribisi as Officer Conwell Keeler in “Gangster Squad.” Josh Brolin (from left) as Sgt. John O’Mara, Robert Patrick as Officer Max Kennard, Anthony Mackie as Officer Coleman Harris, Michael Pena as Officer Navidad Ramirez, Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters and Giovanni Ribisi as Officer Conwell Keeler in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Sean Penn (from left) as Mickey Cohen, Holt McCallany as Karl Lockwood, Emma Stone as Grace Faraday and Jon Polito as Dragna in “Gangster Squad.” Sean Penn (from left) as Mickey Cohen, Holt McCallany as Karl Lockwood, Emma Stone as Grace Faraday and Jon Polito as Dragna in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters in “Gangster Squad.” Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Sean Penn (left) as Mickey Cohen and Jon Polito as Dragna in “Gangster Squad.” Sean Penn (left) as Mickey Cohen and Jon Polito as Dragna in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Director Ruben Fleischer on the set of “Gangster Squad.” Director Ruben Fleischer on the set of “Gangster Squad.”
  • Giovanni Ribisi (from left) as Officer Conwell Keeler, Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara, Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters, Anthony Mackie as Officer Coleman Harris, Michael Pena as Officer Navidad Ramirez and Robert Patrick as Officer Max Kennard in “Gangster Squad.” Giovanni Ribisi (from left) as Officer Conwell Keeler, Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara, Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters, Anthony Mackie as Officer Coleman Harris, Michael Pena as Officer Navidad Ramirez and Robert Patrick as Officer Max Kennard in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Sean Penn as Mickey Cohen in “Gangster Squad.” Sean Penn as Mickey Cohen in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Ryan Gosling (left) as Sgt. Jerry Wooters and Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara in “Gangster Squad.” Ryan Gosling (left) as Sgt. Jerry Wooters and Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Giovanni Ribisi as Officer Conwell Keeler in “Gangster Squad.” Giovanni Ribisi as Officer Conwell Keeler in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Michael Pena (from left) as Officer Navidad Ramirez, Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters, Robert Patrick as Officer Max Kennard, Anthony Mackie as Officer Coleman Harris and Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara in “Gangster Squad.” Michael Pena (from left) as Officer Navidad Ramirez, Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters, Robert Patrick as Officer Max Kennard, Anthony Mackie as Officer Coleman Harris and Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Ryan Gosling (from left) as Sgt. Jerry Wooters, Michael Pena as Officer Navidad Ramirez and Robert Patrick as Officer Max Kennard in “Gangster Squad.” Ryan Gosling (from left) as Sgt. Jerry Wooters, Michael Pena as Officer Navidad Ramirez and Robert Patrick as Officer Max Kennard in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara in “Gangster Squad.” Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Emma Stone as Grace Faraday in “Gangster Squad.” Emma Stone as Grace Faraday in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara in “Gangster Squad.” Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Sean Penn (left) as Mickey Cohen and Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara in “Gangster Squad.” Sean Penn (left) as Mickey Cohen and Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters in “Gangster Squad.” Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Emma Stone as Grace Faraday in “Gangster Squad.” Emma Stone as Grace Faraday in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Josh Brolin (left) as Sgt. John O’Mara and Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters in “Gangster Squad.” Josh Brolin (left) as Sgt. John O’Mara and Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Josh Brolin (left) as Sgt. John O’Mara and Nick Nolte as Chief Parker in “Gangster Squad.” Josh Brolin (left) as Sgt. John O’Mara and Nick Nolte as Chief Parker in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Ryan Gosling (left) as Sgt. Jerry Wooters and Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara in “Gangster Squad.” Ryan Gosling (left) as Sgt. Jerry Wooters and Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters in “Gangster Squad.” Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Ryan Gosling (from left) as Sgt. Jerry Wooters, Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara, Michael Pena as Officer Navidad Ramirez, Robert Patrick as Officer Max Kennard and Anthony Mackie as Officer Coleman Harris in “Gangster Squad.” Ryan Gosling (from left) as Sgt. Jerry Wooters, Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara, Michael Pena as Officer Navidad Ramirez, Robert Patrick as Officer Max Kennard and Anthony Mackie as Officer Coleman Harris in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Josh Brolin (left) as Sgt. John O’Mara and Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters in “Gangster Squad.” Josh Brolin (left) as Sgt. John O’Mara and Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Ryan Gosling (from left) as Sgt. Jerry Wooters, Michael Pena as Officer Navidad Ramirez, Robert Patrick as Officer Max Kennard, Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara and Anthony Mackie as Officer Coleman Harris in “Gangster Squad.” Ryan Gosling (from left) as Sgt. Jerry Wooters, Michael Pena as Officer Navidad Ramirez, Robert Patrick as Officer Max Kennard, Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara and Anthony Mackie as Officer Coleman Harris in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Sean Penn (from left) as Mickey Cohen, Holt McCallany as Karl Lockwood and Emma Stone as Grace Faraday in “Gangster Squad.” Sean Penn (from left) as Mickey Cohen, Holt McCallany as Karl Lockwood and Emma Stone as Grace Faraday in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Emma Stone as Grace Faraday in “Gangster Squad.” Emma Stone as Grace Faraday in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Mick Betancourt (left) as Detective Sgt. Will Hendricks and Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara in “Gangster Squad.” Mick Betancourt (left) as Detective Sgt. Will Hendricks and Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Robert Patrick as Officer Max Kennard in “Gangster Squad.” Robert Patrick as Officer Max Kennard in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters and Emma Stone as Grace Faraday in “Gangster Squad.” Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters and Emma Stone as Grace Faraday in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Josh Brolin (from left) as Sgt. John O’Mara, Giovanni Ribisi as Officer Conwell Keeler and Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters in “Gangster Squad.” Josh Brolin (from left) as Sgt. John O’Mara, Giovanni Ribisi as Officer Conwell Keeler and Ryan Gosling as Sgt. Jerry Wooters in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Director Ruben Fleischer (left) and Sean Penn on the set of “Gangster Squad.” Director Ruben Fleischer (left) and Sean Penn on the set of “Gangster Squad.”
  • Josh Brolin (left) as Sgt. John O’Mara and Anthony Mackie as Officer Coleman Harris in “Gangster Squad.” Josh Brolin (left) as Sgt. John O’Mara and Anthony Mackie as Officer Coleman Harris in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Director Ruben Fleischer (left) and Josh Brolin on the set of “Gangster Squad.” Director Ruben Fleischer (left) and Josh Brolin on the set of “Gangster Squad.”
  • Sean Penn (left) as Mickey Cohen and Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara in “Gangster Squad.” Sean Penn (left) as Mickey Cohen and Josh Brolin as Sgt. John O’Mara in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Holt McCallany (left) as Karl Lockwood and Sean Penn as Mickey Cohen in “Gangster Squad.” Holt McCallany (left) as Karl Lockwood and Sean Penn as Mickey Cohen in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Sean Penn as Mickey Cohen in “Gangster Squad.” Sean Penn as Mickey Cohen in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Michael Pena (left) as Officer Navidad Ramirez and Anthony Mackie as Officer Coleman Harris in “Gangster Squad.” Michael Pena (left) as Officer Navidad Ramirez and Anthony Mackie as Officer Coleman Harris in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Sean Penn as Mickey Cohen with Emma Stone as Grace Faraday in “Gangster Squad.” Sean Penn as Mickey Cohen with Emma Stone as Grace Faraday in “Gangster Squad.”
  • Director Ruben Fleischer (left) and Ryan Gosling on the set of “Gangster Squad.” Director Ruben Fleischer (left) and Ryan Gosling on the set of “Gangster Squad.”

“Gangster Squad” is a gang-war drama built on Western conventions, a rootin’ tootin’, Camel-smokin’, whiskey swillin’ shoot-’em-up about a lawless period in L.A.’s history, when a small cadre of cops working outside the law, took on Mob boss Mickey Cohen in a fight for “the soul of Los Angeles.”

Josh Brolin ably handles the John Wayne role, the paragon of virtue, an incorruptible police sergeant tasked by the only honest police chief (Nick Nolte) to chase out mob boss Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn, pugnacious, ferocious).

Ryan Gosling is Jerry Waters, the cynical detective/gunslinger who will have to take sides, but is going to take some convincing.

Anthony Mackie’s the knife-throwing street cop from the black side of town. Robert Patrick is the aged pistolero and holdover from the “real Wild West.”

Michael Pena represents the city’s Hispanic underclass, a kid who needs to prove himself. And Giovanni Ribisi is “the brains,” the cop with the glasses and the Army-based knowledge of wiretaps. They’re a regular “Magnificent Six.”

“Who’s the tomato?”

That would be Emma Stone, playing the “dance-hall girl,” the mobster’s young moll “poached” by the handsome Jerry.

“Zombieland” director Ruben Fleischer may not do much with this pictorially that suggests “Western,” but he keeps the characters iconic, the morality straightforward and the action clean. Will Beall’s script is peppered with character “types”: gunsels with scars and World War II-vintage machine guns. Of course Jon Polito shows up, as he has in every gangster period piece since “Miller’s Crossing.” And Beall’s dialogue gives “Gangster Squad” an extra kick.

Insults: “He’s got a smart mouth, but he’s dumb where it counts.”

Compliments: “Push comes to shove, kid’ll stay behind his gun.”

This “inspired by a true story” tale has much in common with an earlier Nolte fedoras-and-fistfights cop picture, “Mulholland Falls,” named for a hillside where brutal cops sent gangsters tumbling after one of their “Get outta town” lectures. Brolin & Co. even pay a visit there.

All in all, “Gangster Squad” is a solid piece of work, and that solid piece of work Brolin anchors it in the kind of square-jawed moral rectitude that makes you wish Hollywood made more real Westerns, just for him. He’s fine in a trenchcoat and fedora. But somebody get that man a horse.