The movie starts off in 1949, showing Micky Cowen (Sean Penn) a boxer and with the aim of becoming a big shot!
After the 2nd world war, in Los Angeles, he is become a mobster.
The film is narrated by John O'mara (Josh Brolin)! He is the cop! A sergeant to be exact. He is shown saving the life of an innocent girl who is about to be raped by Cowen's men.
Cowen is the don!! the police can't touch him, but O'mara is given the order to go after him with a small team (aka gangster squad but its not really called that) to destroy his plans and what he wants from LA.
In the meantime, Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling) begins to romance Cowen's girl, Grace Faraday (Emma Stone) and it seems like they're falling in love!
O'mara's wife (who is pregnant btw) hand picks the team (why??? You will see when you watch the film) which includes Conwell Keeler (Giovanni Ribisi), Coleman Harris (Anthony Mackie) and Max Kennerd (Robert Patrick). Ramirez (Michael Pena) joins the crew along with Max.
As the result of a calamity, Jerry also decides to join the team.
Together the squad brings down Cowen's businesses and his leading men. There are many good quality action sequences as well as some funny parts, so yes the film is quite entertaining.
O'mara's team finds out what Cowen's plan is and to stop that from happening they require Jerry to talk to Grace (which obviously you'll have to watch the movie to see what happens).
Cowen wants to control the entire west coast's betting which is A HUGE BUSINESS! As he says 'where the real money is'.
Keeler is the genius of the bunch and his efforts allow the team to pinpoint where Cowen's operations are.
SPOILER ALERT!The squad finds the hideout and burns all the money and everything else Cowen had! To be honest, these scenes are well portrayed in the movie.
Cowen realises that this 'squad' that has been sabotaging his plans, are infact police officers. He goes quite mad! Which leads to Grace fleeing from his house with the help of the maid.
Keeler and O'mara eavesdrop on a discussion of Cowen's and well... You'll have to see what happens next!
SPOILER ALERT!
It's a set up for the gangster squad by Cowen.
Keeler gets killed
O'mara's house is raided and his pregnant wife has to cover for safety, all on her own. She gives birth at this time, scared beyond belief.
Jerry's friend, who he entrusts with Grace's safe journey out of the city, is killed by Cowen himself as she watches from behind a bush.
Cowen basically wins as O'mara and his chief (who originally gave him the order for the gangster squad) are going to be dismissed and reassigned respectively. O'mara goes to meet Cowen but he is no where to be found.
O'mara's newly grown family leaves the city while he stays and tries to make a meaning out of 'Keeler's death'.
Grace escapes from Jerry's friend, Jack's house. She tracks down Jerry and tells him that she will be the witness to Cowen murdering a man.
The squad reunites for the last time to take down Cowen perfectly legally with an arrest warrant, AND with Grace as the witness.
SPOILER ALERT!
There is a very high impact, well directed final battle between the gangsters and the gangster squad, but the battle was won by the police.
In short, everything became calm, no mob ever tried to gain hold over Los Angeles again. O'mara left the force while the others continued on as loyal and honoured police officers.
O'mara is shown relaxing on a beach with his family, delighted in his city 'it's not perfect but it is the city of Angels'.
But all in all, it's a good movie, my only criticism is that the reason that Jerry joined the squad was extremely rushed and as a member of the audience may seem too sudden to absorb.
RATING SYSTEM
Performance 8/10
Direction 8/10
Story/Script 7/10
Action 8/10
Cinematography 7/10
Action 8/10
Cinematography 7/10
Music/Soundtrack 6/10
I would rate this film 7.3/10 "7.3 out of 10"Rating: Good, a must watch for anyone above the age of 15, but might not be everyone's cup of tea.
