Page 26 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • December 12, 2012 ‘Killing Them Softly’ is taut crime drama by Dennis Seuling “Killing Them Softly” sets up its tragic downward spiral of events when midlevel crook Johnny Amato (Vincent Curatola) sees an opportunity to rob a Mob-run, big-money card game with what he perceives is little risk. Because the host of the game, Markie Trattman (Ray Liotta), once robbed his own game and got away with it, Amato figures blame for the robbery will fall on him. Amato provides the logistics for the robbery and hires Frankie (Scoot McNairy), a dull-witted small-time thief, to carry it out. Frankie brings in drugged-out Russell (Ben Mendelsohn) to assist. The action really kicks in after the robbery. There are lots of ramifications. Why do the big-money games shut down? Will the Mob immediately suspect Trattman? Will the identities of the actual thieves be discovered? Will Johnny escape detection and live happily ever after? What will happen to the stolen money? Detailed discussions ensue between crack hit man Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt) and Mob middleman Driver (Richard Jenkins). They discuss who will have to be whacked and why, who will do the job, what it will cost, and how quickly the games can be put back on track. The Mob can’t make money when the games are shut down. What distinguishes “Killing Them Softly” from other crime films is its attention to the details. The viewer is party to the discussions and psychology of the underworld hierarchy. The movie takes place in the fall of 2008. Viewers are reminded of the government bailouts and the threat of another Depression with frequent TV clips of Barack Obama, who become president in January 2009, and others Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt) is a professional hit man in ‘Killing Them Softly.’ commenting on the fiscal crisis. Director Andrew Dominick draws a parallel between the uncertainty caused by the impulsive robbery that throws the delicate balance of the Mob off kilter and the larger picture of a government in financial turmoil. This parallel feels somewhat forced, but as a solid crime picture, “Killing Them Softly” is effective and constantly entertaining. Pitt plays a hit man/enforcer as businessman first, assas- sin second. He is smart, methodical, and efficient. He is also expensive. By contrast, viewers are introduced to imported hit man Mickey (James Gandolfini), a foul-mouthed hard drinker not unfamiliar with incarceration whose appetite for booze and women threatens to undermine the Mob’s plan. Gandolfini plays a less refined version of his Tony Soprano character, and is entirely convincing as a professional who has lost his edge. McNairy gives the most textured performance as a dumb mobster tripped up by his own greed and failure to think about consequences. Initially, one regards his Frankie as a dope who bites off a lot more than he can chew by hitting up a card game run by the Mob. Later, in a terrific scene in a bar with Pitt’s soft-spoken Jackie, McNairy’s Frankie not only sees the error of his ways, but is presented with a life-or-death choice that begins the movie’s exciting third act. By allowing the camera to remain on Frankie, director Dominick allows the audience to see his fear, regret, uncertainty, and resignation, all in a remarkable performance by McNairy. “Killing Them Softly,” rated R for graphic violence, strong language, drug and alcohol use, and sexual situations, is adapted from the novel “Cogan’s Trade” by George V. Higgins. In adapting the book into a screenplay, director Dominick has concentrated on the colorful language. The bad guys in this film are not grunting slobs. They command solid vocabularies, know how to intimidate with words, avoid violence when it becomes unproductive or inconvenient, and are concerned primarily with the bottom line. Make no mistake, the movie has more than its share of old-fashioned gangster mayhem, but it is presented stylishly and balanced with sharp, exceptional dialogue.