Today’s quick review: Killing Them Softly. Frankie (Scoot McNairy) and Russell (Ben Mendelsohn), a pair of small-time criminals, get in over their heads when they rob a mob poker game run by Markie Trattman (Ray Liotta) and try to pin the robbery on him. Trattman’s bosses send Jackie (Brad Pitt) to clean up the situation by any means necessary. With the help of Mickey (James Gandolfini), a washed-up hitman, Jackie begins the hunt for the two thieves.
Killing Them Softly is a crime drama about the fallout of a poorly conceived robbery. Frankie, Russell, and their scapegoat Markie all find themselves in the crosshairs when a cleaner for the mob comes after them. Killing Them Softly has a talented cast, a promising setup, and a dash of stylization that helps emphasize the differing personalities of characters. However, the movie is hampered by a bare-bones plot and drama that never clicks.
Killing Them Softly’s chief appeal comes from its characters. Frankie, Russell, Markie, Jackie, and Mickey are all very different types of criminal, and the bulk of the movie is spent exploring how they react to the chaotic situation around them. Frankie and Russell’s inept decisions contrast nicely with Jackie’s raw professionalism, Mickey’s midlife crisis, and Markie’s attempts to prove his innocence.
But the movie does not end up doing much with these characters. Frankie and Russell are sidelined by their own incompetence, too addled to do anything but wait for Jackie to catch up with them. The way Jackie works is interesting to watch, but he gets sidetracked by the drunken antics of Mickey in a plot thread that doesn’t amount to much. With neither Jackie nor his targets doing anything of importance, the tension between them largely goes to waste.
The movie’s attempts at stylization also miss the mark. Killing Them Softly uses abrupt cuts and a disconcerting soundtrack to build tension, but these techniques are overkill for the story it’s trying to tell. Other stylistic flourishes capture Russell’s drug use and flippant attitude but briefly push the film in a comedic direction. Finally, in an odd move, the film uses audio clips to draw thematic connections to the 2008 presidential election.
Killing Them Softly puts in the work to assemble a unique cast of characters, but its story and presentation are ultimately lacking. Those who can get behind its unusual stylistic choices and deeply flawed characters will get the most out of the movie. Those who are looking for a dynamic story where the characters get the chance to bounce off one another will be disappointed. Killing Them Softly makes a fair showing but is outclassed by similar films.
For a more elaborate tale of criminal enterprise gone wrong, try The Way of the Gun. For a taut crime thriller with a convoluted plot, try Blood Simple. For a more developed crime drama starring Ray Liotta, try Goodfellas.
6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for a promising setup that never comes into its own.