Gangster Squad (2013)

Director: Ruben Fleischer
Starring: Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Nick Nolte

Source: Filmofilia

Gangster Squad follows dominant mafia leader Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) who emerged as a powerhouse in post-WWII Los Angeles. Many politicians and police authorities live in fear of offending Cohen, who is powerful enough to destroy lives with the snap of a finger. The opening sequence perfectly instills the same fear in the audience as we see Cohen instruct a ruthless manslaughter by tying the man’s hands and feet to two cars they drive away, tearing the man in half. Insert Sergeant John O’Mara (Josh Brolin), the clichéd good and honest cop who strives for justice, is personally instructed by Chief Bill Parker (Nick Nolte) to put an end to Mickey Cohen in a secret underground mission. This unofficial mission is upsetting to John’s pregnant wife (Mireille Enos), who has been pushing him to resign from his dangerous day job for the sake of their new family. In the end, the wife is the one who personally selects the detectives that eventually form the dream team gangster squad.