In 1940s LA, the town is being corrupted by an east coast gangster who not only has half the police on his books, but it would seem that in the heady post-war decadence one of the real challenges is convincing law enforcement that there’s any real reason to fight.

When a few mobsters turn up dead, the Chief of Police decides it is time to take action. Knowing half his men are on the turn, he is left with little choice but to recruits an off the books squad of war heroes and oddballs who are willing to do what’s necessary to make LA an increasingly unwelcoming town for crooks. And succeed they do… for some time at least.

Gangster Squad offers a slick looking production, loaded with some seriously high calibre talent. It embodies the decadence and the madness of the gangster run town, but lacks the grit that gives its predecessors in the genre a real edge. (There is also a hint of an over glamourised Americana, which becomes a little off-putting by the film’s end.)

Visually alluring yet underwhelming in terms of plot and character development, Gangster Squad had the promise of so much more, but couldn’t quite deliver.

Directed by: Ruben Fliesher

Starring: Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Josh Brolin

Rating: TBC

Runtime: 113min

Release Date: 10 January 2013

Reviewer rating: 3/5