Set against the backdrop of the 2008 Presidential election, America and its inhabitants find themselves in a precarious position. With the red guy promising to return the US to its former "glory", while the blue guy promises "change". I've inverted both because Killing Them Softly is a film that sets out to debate both these claims. The opening sequence is perfectly jarring in its juxtaposition of an Obama's speech with intermittent cutting between the decadence of a post-Katrina New Orleans - the direction America is headed is still up for debate. Meanwhile, there's some killing to do.
and they say money can't buy happiness
We are introduced to Frankie and Russel, two low time crooks who have fallen on harder times - the poor fuck Russel is Australian. They're promptly hired by Squirrel, played by Vince Curatola (Johnny Fucking Sac! for all you Sopranos fans), to roll over a high stakes poker game run by Markie Trattman. Markie is played by Ray Liotta, who clearly has let himself go somewhat since the glory days of Goodfellas; he's a disheveled shell of a gangster, hitting his own poker games to make quick bucks. Thus the set up seems perfect: Frankie and Russel rob the game, and immediately the finger points back to Markie. A victimless crime! Except that would make for one helluva boring mob film.
tony soprano playing tony soprano
Introducing Jackie, who puts the P.I. in Pitt and quickly the little scheme is uncovered. He is contracted by a nameless suit (played by Richard Jenkins), whose identity remains a mystery throughout the film, to turn the mess into a body count. He's going to need a bit of help though, so in flys James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano) to lend a helping hand. Reunited the first time since The Mexican - another great Pitt movie if you have a spare few hours - Pitt and Soprano sit in a bar (a table I would do anything to pull up a chair to) and discuss business in what is arguably the best scene of the film. Turns out Soprano is becoming disillusioned with the recession, and proceeds to drink + hooker himself into early retirement, sadly ruining the promise of a Tony vs. Johnny Sac finale for the Sopranos fans. Jackie is well and truly alone.
Obama style?
Y'see, in an economy fueled by gambling - be that stock breaking or business deals gone wrong, the mob style mentality of an unidentified corporate America has plunged the country into dire circumstances. To reuse an earlier phrase: there is no victimless economy. Thus the poker game/entire plot of Killing Them Softly is simply one big, meaty, Soprano filled analogy for contemporary America. Hell, maybe Pitt is even supposed to represent Obama? Ok, maybe that was pushing the analogy one step too far, but the effort was there. The film is a really interesting semiotically, and one that allows various readings, of which I'm sure there will be many. It also treats its audience to some sublime editing and some of the prettiest cinematography you ever did see in a quasi-gangster film - some of the death scenes are anything but soft.
KILLING THEM SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG...
Killing them Softly has a lot to say, I'm just not sure it's fully articulate to its audience. There will be some questionable reactions, and some of the dialogue can seem a little preachy at times - however, it's America so perhaps we can chalk that one down to environment. It's stylish, has plenty of action, lots of favourite mafia stars, and a dollop of a message to send to its viewers. The United States is going through its toughest economic period since the 80s, and there needs to be more films made like this one. Ultimately in a recession, crime still pays; just not as well.
42/50 STATES
