KILLING THEM SOFTLY (B-)

Bottom Line: A good thing to remember is that no one in this methodically meandering, slow burn, Wall Street meets Mob Street crime caper actually gets killed softly – quite the opposite actually… And with its off-balanced blend of dark comedy vs. heavy violence and a slick, efficiently cool-as-a-cucumber performance from Brad Pitt, this grimy little flick attempts to compare and contrast a seedy mob world/USA confidence crisis – at all levels – across all capitalist institutions. For the most part, they succeed with the political parallels – but every now and then the dots being connected get a bit heavy-handed. America runs like a corporation – yeah, I get it. Destined to turn many away (too violent, too slow, too preachy), KILLING THEM SOFTLY remains an expertly acted, intriguingly written and effectively gritty look at multiple ‘corporations’ gone awry…

Starring: Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta, James Gandolfini and Richard Jenkins
Directed by: Andrew Dominic (THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD and CHOPPER)
Rated: R
Running time: 97 minutes
Story: Adapted from George V. Higgins novel and set in New Orleans, Killing Them Softly follows professional enforcer, Jackie Cogan, who investigates a heist that occurs during a high stakes, mob-protected, poker game. (Weinstein Company)

Trailer: www.killingthemsoftlymovie.com