Killing Them Softly [Blu-ray]

Brad Pitt plays a hitman, one of the better hitman movies that I've seen. Raw, gritty, almost true to life. Ray Liotta, did an excellent job in this film, RIP.

This movie has gotten a raw deal. It is a 5-star movie. The problem is it's an exceedingly subtle movie. Read through the mixed to negative reviews and you see one of two things (or both things): either the person thinks the movie is superficial politica, or they had expectations (because of the gangster genre) and were let down.Here's the thing. This movie is a recreation of the 2008 financial crisis. Every character in the movie represents a different group (like Richard Jenkins is obviously the American government). When you view the movie with this frame, as a parable, I think it takes on new dimensions. You're suddenly comparing characters and groups of characters (like the poker players) to their real-life equivalents (the poker players represent the American 1%). But you're also looking at the interaction between characters and then what that's saying about the interaction between the real-life equivalents. What do I mean by that? The final speech. I won't give it away, but a lot of reviewers and people who have seen the movie say the final speech is cheesy. Sure. Except when you view it through the frame of "Brad Pitt's character has a real-life equivalent", the final speech takes on a different dynamic. It isn't just some speech in a fictional narrative of some movie. It has a real-world influence, it represents something that's not fiction. Who does Brad Pitt's character represent? It's not a "who" rather than a "what". (Hint: it's the American Spirit). The question isn't "is the speech cheesy or not, is it bad or not, is it cool or not?" The question is: do you agree that the speech is representative of the 21st Century American Spirit? If not, why? If so, why? If you agree, does the speech make you feel a rush of pride or discomfort? Then you also have to analyze what it means that it's the avatar for the American Spirit that ends the movie with a surge of emotion. Is Andrew Dominick saying that despite all the **** from the 2008 crisis, the American Spirit will overcome it and win out? I think so.In other words: imagine taking the 2008 financial crisis and condensing it into a fairy tale wearing gangster clothes. That's what "Killing Them Softly" is.Don't expect a fast-moving gangster movie. Don't expect "The Departed" or "Goodfellas".Don't short-change the movie and think it's dumber than what it thinks it is. If it's not smarter than you, it's at least as smart as you.It's fine if you understand what the movie is doing and still don't like it. Maybe it really is too slow for you. Maybe you just don't like these kinds of movies. It's not a bad movie, though.Given time, people and critics and scholars will come to appreciate this movie. I hope you're one of them.

This was a film like no other. What we have here is the Mob, killers for hire, low men looking for easy money, and in the background, Barack Obama speaking of the country that needs to unite into one community. This is a recession, and in the city of New Orleans.I did not find any of these characters attractive, not in to be around, just grim and deadly. Brad Pitt plays a hitman, come to town to take care of three characters who mussed up the works. A poker game was hit and the minions who pulled the job need to be taken care of. Marie Trattman played by Ray Liotta is a man with a big problem. Richard Jenkins plays the driver, some sort of middle man who makes the deals. He hires Pitt and James Gandolfini as the hitman to make the mark. Gandolfini is havering relationship problems and is so depressed,he is drinking himself into a mess. Action needs to occur and Pitt is there to make sure it does.The message of this film appears to be two fold. One: America is a business, just like the Mob. Two: the Mob and Politics are sometimes one and the same. When there is a financial Depression, the Mob suffers as much as the country. Make if this what you will. Superb acting by all. Plenty of blood and violence for all looking for this sort of thing.Recommended. prisrob

When I watched the trailer for this movie, I took it for a good old-fashioned syndicate crime movie; i.e.: A couple up-and-comers make a mistake, and Pitt comes in and cleans house. That's what the trailer makes us think. But, that's not entirely what the movie is about, and anyone who is expecting an action-packed crime drama will be gravely disappointed. That's the con of the movie - that it doesn't deliver what we see in the trailer. But, if a viewer can keep an open mind, this film is awesome, and it's truly a cinematic triumph.Simply-put, this film represents recession-era American crime syndicates; how the recession affected the syndicates. Although it's Hollywood, it's still fairly accurate. Is it slow at times? Yes. But, that just makes it more realistic; the criminal underworld isn't as fast-paced as outsiders imagine. It's also brutal, extremely graphic and occasionally hilarious. When Gandolfini's character was introduced, I laughed hysterically for a good three minutes, and that was enough for me to love this movie. It's pure genius.Was there a political statement? Kinda. But, it adds to the story line. In 2008, America's economy tanked. When the public has less money, the syndicates have less money, and this was very well portrayed in this film. Add to that life crises, stress, burnout, alcoholism, marital problems, drug abuse and other every-day phenomena, and we're given an accurate expression of what it's like to be a wiseguy in what is literally a dead-end job during The Great Recession.But, like I said, if all you want is a crime-action-shooter, you'll be disappointed, and I'm guessing that's why many people apparently dislike this film.This is my new #1 movie of all time. Very plainly, it was beautiful, and I applaud Dominik and Pitt for their tremendous contributions ... and Gandolfini was an "Absolut" riot. Bravo!

Not an amazing movie but good solid performances with very watchable actors. Set during the Bush era and the news always seems to be on in the background. It's as if it wants to say something but falls short right up until the amazing out of place patched on monologue in the last 10 minutes that leave you wondering 'where did that come from?' It should have been The Departed but isn't, still worth a watch though.

This isn't the greatest of Brad Pitt's movies, but it's watchable but it does have the stupidest of endings

Slow, meandering, talkie. Not much action but much philosophic waffle about life and death. A Woody Allen film without the humour. A lifeless bland critique of the american dream turned sour.

love the film

Overall a pretty boring movie 😴