Gangster Squad (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Gangster Squad

| image = Gangster Squad Poster.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Ruben Fleischer

| producer = {{ubl|Dan Lin|Kevin McCormick|Michael Tadross}}

| writer = Will Beall

| based_on = {{Based on|Gangster Squad|Paul Lieberman}}

| starring = {{ubl|Josh Brolin|Ryan Gosling|Nick Nolte|Emma Stone|Anthony Mackie|Giovanni Ribisi|Michael Peña|Sean Penn}}

| music = Steve Jablonsky

| cinematography = Dion Beebe

| editing = {{ubl|Alan Baumgarten|James Herbert}}

| production_companies = {{ubl|Village Roadshow Pictures|Lin Pictures{{cite web|title=Gangster Squad (2013)- Financial Information|work=The Numbers|access-date=4 March 2021|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Gangster-Squad-The#tab=summary}}|Kevin McCormick Productions}}

| distributor = Warner Bros. Pictures

| released = {{Film date|2013|1|7|Grauman's Chinese Theatre|2013|1|11|United States}}

| runtime = 113 minutes{{cite web|title=GANGSTER SQUAD (15)|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/BFF290035/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119235025/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/BFF290035/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 19, 2012|work=British Board of Film Classification|date=November 13, 2012|access-date=November 13, 2012}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget = $60–75 million{{Cite news|url=https://www.filmla.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/2013-Feature-Production-Report-w-Release-030614_1394125127.pdf|title=2013 Feature Film Study |last=FilmL.A. |date=March 1, 2014|access-date=June 21, 2016}}

| gross = $105.2 million{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=gangstersquad.htm |title=Gangster Squad (2013) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=November 9, 2016}}

}}

Gangster Squad is a 2013 American action thriller film directed by Ruben Fleischer and written by Will Beall, based on a non-fiction book by Paul Lieberman. The film stars Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Nick Nolte, Emma Stone, Anthony Mackie, Giovanni Ribisi, Robert Patrick, Michael Peña, and Sean Penn. Set in 1949, a group of real-life LAPD officers and detectives called the Gangster Squad are assigned to bring down crime kingpin Mickey Cohen.

After the script spent several years on the Black List, production began in September 2011 around Los Angeles, lasting through December. The film was originally set to be theatrically released on September 7, 2012, but the movie theater shooting in Aurora led Warner Bros to delay the film's theatrical release until January 11, 2013, allowing the production team to perform re-shoots to overwrite the old sequence from which the gangsters open fire at the at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

Gangster Squad received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $105 million worldwide.

Plot

In 1949 Los Angeles, crime boss Mickey Cohen has become the most powerful figure in the underworld in California and intends to expand his criminal enterprise to encompass the entire West Coast. The LAPD has not been able to stop his ruthless rise, as he has eliminated witnesses, hired dirty cops to protect his activities, and avoided prosecution through spreading corruption in the justice system.

Determined to put an end to Cohen and his dirty business empire, LAPD Chief Bill Parker creates a covert undercover unit, tasked with dismantling Cohen's dirty enterprise. The unit, composed of officers who do not carry badges and are authorized to act outside of the law, is led by the skilled World War II OSS veteran Sergeant John O'Mara.

With the help of his wife Connie, O'Mara recruits fellow war veteran Detective Jerry Wooters and four incorruptible misfit officers. These are knife-wielding Lieutenant Coleman Harris, wire tapping expert and family man Conwell Keeler, outlaw sharpshooter Max Kennard, and Kennard's rookie protégé Navidad Ramírez.

Despite initial setbacks, such as a casino raid thwarted by corrupt Burbank cops, the Squad strikes several successful blows at the heart of Cohen's operations, including shutting down his lucrative wire gambling business. They break into Cohen's mansion and Keeler plants a bug in the back of a television. As a result, Cohen believes someone has betrayed him and lashes out at those inside his dirty business empire, including his etiquette tutor Grace Faraday.

Wooters and Faraday have entered into a secret romantic relationship, and he tries to help her escape from Cohen, enlisting the help of mutual friend and gangster Jack Whalen. Realizing the attackers have never stolen his money, Cohen deduces they are cops and realizes that they have bugged his house.

Cohen gives false information to lure the Squad into an unsuccessful ambush in Chinatown while Keeler is executed by a hitman. When Faraday witnesses Cohen murder Whalen, she offers to testify against him. O'Mara forces the crooked Judge Carter to sign an arrest warrant before leading the Squad to the Park Plaza Hotel to arrest Mickey Cohen.

Cohen and his men engage in a lengthy shootout with the Squad, during which Wooters and Kennard are wounded. Cohen and his bodyguard Karl Lennox escape, but O'Mara rams their vehicle into a fountain. Navidad helps a dying Kennard shoot Lennox, saving O'Mara. Cohen and O'Mara fight each other in a brutal bareknuckle brawl while onlookers and reporters gather. O'Mara finally beats Cohen and has him arrested, ending his dirty business empire reigning over LA.

The film explains that the Gangster Squad has never been mentioned for its role in keeping the underworld from gaining a foothold in LA, and that its surviving members remain extremely secret 'till this day. Mickey Cohen is sentenced to life imprisonment at Alcatraz, where he is greeted with a lead-pipe beating by inmates who were friends of Whalen. Harris and Ramírez partner together to walk the beat, Wooters and Faraday continue their relationship, and O'Mara quits his job with the LAPD to live a peaceful and quiet life with his wife and newborn son.

Cast

{{castlist|

Josh Brolin as Sergeant John O'Mara, a World War II veteran-turned-cop with a reputation as an honest, hardworking, no-nonsense man. He is a decorated war hero with the Silver Star and two Purple Hearts. He is believed to have been a part of the OSS trained at Camp X, but his Army record is partially classified.
Ryan Gosling as Sergeant Jerry Wooters, an easygoing playboy and cop who initially struggles with the responsibility of fighting Cohen's organization but changes his mind when he sees how ruthless Cohen can be. He, too, is a World War II veteran, having served in the Pacific with the United States Army Air Force.{{cite web |url=http://www.buzzsugar.com/Ryan-Gosling-Sean-Penn-Josh-Brolin-Cast-Gangster-Squad-15907441 |title=Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, and Josh Brolin Join the Gangster Squad |last=Vestal |first=Shannon |date=April 21, 2011 |work=BuzzSugar.com |access-date=September 13, 2011 |archive-date=February 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226100744/http://www.buzzsugar.com/Ryan-Gosling-Sean-Penn-Josh-Brolin-Cast-Gangster-Squad-15907441 |url-status=dead }}
Sean Penn as Mickey Cohen, the most powerful mobster in Los Angeles, with a reputation for sadism and ruthlessness, whose ultimate goal is to expand his criminal empire to major cities back East.
Nick Nolte as Chief Bill Parker, who forms the Squad to take down Cohen{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2011/08/nick-nolte-joins-gangster-squad-164423/ |title=Nick Nolte Joins 'Gangster Squad' |last=Fleming |first= Mike |date=August 29, 2011 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=October 14, 2011}}
Emma Stone as Grace Faraday, Cohen's social etiquette teacher and quasi-lover who falls in love with Wooters{{cite web |url= https://variety.com/2011/film/news/emma-stone-rounds-up-gangster-squad-1118040460/ |title=Emma Stone in talks to join Gangster Squad |last= Sneider |first= Jeff |date=July 26, 2011 |work=Variety |access-date=September 13, 2011}}
Anthony Mackie as Lieutenant Coleman Harris, recruited into the Squad for his expertise in knife and gun fighting.{{cite web |url= https://www.slashfilm.com/anthony-mackie-joins-gangster-squad |title=Anthony Mackie Joins 'Gangster Squad' |author=Fischer, Russ |date=June 10, 2011 |work=/Film |access-date=September 13, 2011}}
Giovanni Ribisi as Officer Conwell Keeler, an electronics expert who joins the Squad to help them plant wiretaps{{cite web |url=https://www.deadline.com/2011/07/giovanni-ribisi-joins-warner-bros-the-gangster-squad |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710005743/http://www.deadline.com/2011/07/giovanni-ribisi-joins-warner-bros-the-gangster-squad/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 10, 2011 |title=Giovanni Ribisi Joins Warner Bros' 'The Gangster Squad' |date=July 6, 2011 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=September 13, 2011}}
Michael Peña as Officer Navidad Ramirez, Kennard's protégé{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/michael-pena-joining-sean-penn-ryan-gosling-josh-brolin-gangster-squad-28032 |title=Michael Pena Joining Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin in 'Gangster Squad' |last=L. Weinstein |first= Joshua |date=June 7, 2011 |work=TheWrap.com |access-date=September 13, 2011}}
Robert Patrick as Officer Max Kennard, a member of the Squad renowned for his sharpshooting skills
Mireille Enos as Connie O'Mara, John's loyal wife
Troy Garity as Wrevock, Cohen's top enforcer
Holt McCallany as Karl Lennox, Cohen's bodyguard
Sullivan Stapleton as Jack Whalen, a gangster and Cohen associate who is friends with Wooters
James Carpinello as Johnny Stompanato, Cohen's right-hand man
James Hébert as Mitch Racine
Evan Jones as Neddy Herbert
Josh Pence as Officer Daryl Gates, a rookie member and future chief of the LAPD
John Aylward as Judge Carter, a judge on Cohen's payroll
Jack Conley as Sheriff Eugene W. Biscailuz, the sheriff of Los Angeles County, tasked with protecting Cohen's gambling operation
Jack McGee as Lieutenant Quincannon
Jon Polito as Jack Dragna, a rival mob boss to Cohen
Wade Williams as Rourke
Ambyr Childers as Milk-Skinned Blonde
Mick Betancourt as Detective Sergeant Will Hendricks
Mac Brandt as Bruiser
Brandon Molale as Jimmy "Bockscar" Knox
Michael Papajohn as Mike "The Flea"
Jeff Wolfe as Giovanni Vacarezza
Anthony Molinari as Lorenzo Molinari
Austin Highsmith as Patty
Neil Koppel as Max Solomon
Austin Abrams as Pete
Lucy Davenport as The Entertainer at Cohen's nightclub Slapsy Maxie's
Dennis Cockrum as Chief Elmer Jackson, the Burbank Police Chief on Cohen's payroll
Haley Strode as Maria Keeler, Keeler's wife
Maxwell Perry Cotton as Charlie Keeler, Keeler's son
Frank Grillo as Tommy Russo, a criminal executed on Cohen's orders
Lucy Walsh as Manicurist

}}

Production

=Filming=

Principal photography began on September 6, 2011, in Los Angeles. Sets were located all over Los Angeles County, from north of the San Fernando Valley to south of the county border. Sets were also recreated in Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City.{{cite web |url=http://www.movieweb.com/news/the-gangster-squad-begins-production-in-los-angeles |title=The Gangster Squad Begins Production in Los Angeles |last=Gallagher |first=Brian |date=September 6, 2011 |work=MovieWeb.com |access-date=September 13, 2011 |archive-date=September 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930192103/http://www.movieweb.com/news/the-gangster-squad-begins-production-in-los-angeles |url-status=dead }} Filming wrapped on December 15, 2011.{{cite web |url= http://rubenfleischer.com |title=Day 71 - That's a Wrap!!! |last=Fleischer |first= Ruben |date=December 15, 2011 |work=RubenFleischer.com}}

=Theater shooting and reshoots=

The first trailer for Gangster Squad was released on {{nowrap|May 9}}, 2012.{{cite news |last=Vespe |first=Eric |url= https://www.aintitcool.com/node/55574 |title=Growling Nick Nolte? Check. Foxy Emma Stone? Check. Tommy Gun Movie Theater shoot out? Check! Gangster Squad trailer hits! |work=AintItCool.com |date=May 9, 2012 |access-date=May 18, 2012}} In the wake of the theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado, on July 20, it was pulled from running before films and airing on television, and removed from Apple's trailer site and YouTube due to a scene where characters fire submachine guns at movie-goers through the screen of Grauman's Chinese Theatre.{{cite web |url= https://deadline.com/2012/07/warner-bros-paired-dark-knight-rises-with-trailer-of-gangster-shooting-up-movie-theater-which-studio-didnt-take-down-until-i-complained-304239/ |title=UPDATE: Warner Bros Pulls Trailer Of Gangster Shooting Up Movie Theater |last=Finke |first=Nikki |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=July 20, 2012 |access-date=July 20, 2012}}{{cite web |url= http://www.eonline.com/news/331872/gangster-squad-trailer-yanked-from-dark-knight-rises-following-colorado-shooting |title=Gangster Squad Trailer Yanked From Internet, Dark Knight Rises Following Colorado Shooting |last=Macatee |first=Rebecca |date=July 20, 2012 |work=E! Online |access-date=July 21, 2012}}

It was later reported that the theater scene from the film would be either removed or placed in a different setting, since it is a crucial part of the film, and the film would undergo additional re-shoots of several scenes to accommodate these changes, which resulted in the film's release being moved to a later date.{{cite web |last=Franich |first=Darren |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/07/25/warner-bros-pushes-gangster-squad |title='Gangster Squad: Warner Bros. pushing back release date |work=InsideMovies.EW.com |access-date=September 14, 2012}} About a week after the Aurora shootings, Warner Bros. officially confirmed that the film would be released on January 11, 2013.{{cite web |url=https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/in-theaters-coming-soon/gangster-squad/075a4928-d88a-430d-a8ee-f623a0610423.html |title=GANGSTER SQUAD |work=WarnerBros.com |access-date=September 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731230902/http://www.warnerbros.com/movies/in-theaters-coming-soon/gangster-squad/075a4928-d88a-430d-a8ee-f623a0610423.html |archive-date=July 31, 2012 |url-status=dead }} Two weeks later, on August 22, the cast reunited in Los Angeles to completely re-shoot the film's main action sequence. The new sequence was set in a version of Chinatown, where the gangsters strike back at the Squad. Josh Brolin said he was not sad the original scene was cut and admitted that the new version was just as violent.{{cite web |last=Makinen |first= Julie |url= https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-warner-bros-gangster-squad-to-2013-after-dark-knight-tragedy-20120725,0,1514533.story |title=Warner Bros. moves 'Gangster Squad' to 2013 after shooting |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 25, 2012 |access-date=September 14, 2012}}{{cite web |url= http://in.reuters.com/article/usa-shooting-gangster-idINL2E8IQ94U20120726 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161027192625/http://in.reuters.com/article/usa-shooting-gangster-idINL2E8IQ94U20120726 |url-status= dead |archive-date= October 27, 2016 |title=Warner Bros. postpones 'Gangster Squad' movie after shooting |work=In.Reuters.com |date=July 27, 2012 |access-date=September 14, 2012}}{{cite web |author=The Associated Press |url= http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/gangster-squad-release-date-pushed-back-january-film-draws-comparisons-dark-knight-rises-shooting-aurora-article-1.1122478 |title='Gangster Squad' release date pushed back to January after film draws comparisons to 'Dark Knight Rises' shooting in Aurora |work=NY Daily News |date=July 26, 2012 |access-date=September 14, 2012}}

Release and reception

= Box office =

Gangster Squad grossed $46 million in the United States and Canada, and $59.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $105.2 million, against a production budget of $60 million.

The film grossed $17.1 million in its opening weekend, finishing third at the box office behind Zero Dark Thirty and A Haunted House.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2013/01/box-office-gangster-squad-opens-with-650k-for-possible-20m-and-1-in-tight-race-with-zero-dark-thirty-expansion-401994/|title=#1 'Zero Dark Thirty' Widens For $24M, 'Haunted House' Beats Disappointing 'Gangster Squad' For #2; 'Silver Linings', 'Lincoln', 'Life Of Pi' Get Oscar Bumps|website=Deadline Hollywood |date=January 13, 2013 |author=Nikki Finke|access-date=March 19, 2018}} It then made $8.6 million in its second weekend (including $10.1 million over the four-day MLK weekend) and $4.3 million in its third weekend.{{cite web |url= https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1180009985/weekend/?ref_=bo_rl_tab#tabs |title=Gangster Squad Weekend Totals|website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=April 11, 2020}}

= Home media =

Gangster Squad was released on DVD and Blu-ray on April 23, 2013 by Warner Home Video. The Blu-ray includes director's commentary from Ruben Fleischer and several segments about the real life men and stories of the Gangster Squad and Mickey Cohen.{{cite web|url=http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Disc_Announcements/Warner_Brothers/Gangster_Squad_Blu-ray_Announced_and_Detailed_/11282|title='Gangster Squad' Blu-ray Announced and Detailed|work=High-Def Digest|date=March 8, 2013|access-date=March 8, 2013}} As of June 2013, it had made $9.6 million from DVD sales and $6.7 million from Blu-ray, for a total of $16.3 million in sales.{{Cite web|url=https://m.the-numbers.com/movie/Gangster-Squad-The|title = Gangster Squad (2013) - Financial Information}}

=Critical response=

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 31% based on 207 reviews, with an average rating of 5/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Though it's stylish and features a talented cast, Gangster Squad suffers from lackluster writing, underdeveloped characters, and an excessive amount of violence."{{cite web | title = Gangster Squad (2013) | url = https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gangster_squad_2012/ | work = Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=December 13, 2018}} On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 40 out of 100, based on 38 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/gangster-squad |title=Gangster Squad reviews |website=Metacritic|access-date=November 12, 2016}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave it an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.

Reviewers at Spill.com gave it a "Rental," praising its stylish design but criticizing the dialogue, Emma Stone's underdeveloped "damsel-in-distress" character, and Sean Penn's laughable makeup.{{cite web|title=Gangster Squad - Audio Review|url=http://spill.com/Audio/AudioPost.aspx?audioId=1499|website=Spill.com|access-date=July 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127073546/http://spill.com/Audio/AudioPost.aspx?audioId=1499|archive-date=January 27, 2013}} IGN editor Chris Tilly wrote, "Gangster Squad looks great but frustrates because with the talent involved, it had the potential to be so much more", and rated it 6.3/10.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/01/09/gangster-squad-review|title=Gangster Squad Review|first=Chris|last=Tilly|date=January 9, 2013|work=IGN}} Richard Roeper gave it a B+, saying "Gangster Squad is a highly stylized, pulp-fiction period piece based on true events" and noted its strong performances.

Filling in for Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times, Jeff Shannon gave the film 2 stars out of 4, saying that Fleischer, better known for his comedic work, was "out of his element, and barely suppressing his urge to spoof the genre". He further criticized the stock characters and the film's generally uneven tone, but praised action highlights such as the car chase, and flashes of brilliance in Sean Penn's performance.{{cite web | date = January 9, 2013 | author = Jeff Shannon |title = Gangster Squad | url = http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130109/REVIEWS/130109981 |website=rogerebert.com}}

Historical accuracy

Although the film is inspired by the real-life LAPD Gangster Squad, much of it is fabricated.{{cite web |title=Gangster Squad: History on Film |url=http://historyonfilm.com/gangster-squad/ |work=HistoryOnFilm.com|access-date=February 18, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Gangster Squad" whitewashes the LAPD's criminal past |url=https://www.salon.com/2013/01/10/gangster_squad_whitewashes_the_lapds_criminal_past/|author=Andrew O’Hehir|work=Salon|date=January 11, 2013 |access-date=February 18, 2019}}

The film portrays Cohen organizing the murder of his predecessor Jack Dragna. In reality, Cohen largely sidelined Dragna as head of the Los Angeles crime family but otherwise left him alone; Dragna died of a heart attack in 1956.
The film shows Cohen's primary business as gambling, with prostitution and drug dealing as sidelines. In reality, Cohen's main racket was bookmaking; he detested drugs.
William Parker was only 45 in 1949, not in his 70s like Nick Nolte (Parker died at age 61 in 1966). He also did not create the Gangster Squad; it was created by Chief Clemence B. Horrall in 1946, and was largely an effort to improve the city's image, regardless of whether it actually pursued criminals.
The film concludes with Cohen being arrested in 1949 for murder and sent to Alcatraz. In reality, he was imprisoned in 1951 and again in 1961 for tax evasion. He was, however, attacked with a lead pipe while in prison, as depicted in the film.
While Anthony Mackie and Michael Peña are members of the film's Squad, the real Squad was entirely Caucasian.
While it is possible Cohen murdered Jack Whalen in real life, it was not at Whalen's home as depicted in the film. Whalen was shot in 1959 while at dinner with Cohen and three of his associates, and Cohen was not officially accused of it.
Cohen's bodyguard Johnny Stompanato was not shot as depicted in the film, but lived until 1958, when he was stabbed by Cheryl Crane, the daughter of his girlfriend Lana Turner.
The character of Max Kennard was based on real life lawman Doug "Jumbo" Kennard, who died after crashing his car as he drove under the influence of alcohol. He had already retired, and was not shot in the line of duty as in the film.
In the film, Conwell Keeler is the first member of the Squad to be killed. In real life, he outlived all of the Squad's other members, dying of a stroke in 2012.