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January 11, 2013

At the Movies: 'Gangster Squad' is a numbing barrage

By CHRISTY LEMIRE
AP Movie Critic

“Gangster Squad,” a pulpy, violent tale of cops and mobsters in 1949 Los Angeles, rides an uncomfortable line between outlandishness and outright parody, and it's difficult to tell which is director Ruben Fleischer's intention. Which is a problem.


Gangster Squad

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Cast: Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone

Rating: R

Running time: 113 minutes

While the film wallows in period detail and has some sporadic moments of amusing banter, it's mostly flashy, empty and cacophonous, and it woefully wastes a strong cast led by Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in barely developed, one-note roles.


 
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