Killing Them Softly

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Killing Them Softly

R

2012

1h 37m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

227 Reviews

45%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

When rival crook Johnny Amato (Vincent Curatola) hatches a plan to rob a card game run by mob lackey Markie (Ray Liotta), he picks a low-rent thug named Frankie (Scoot McNairy) to do the job. Frankie picks a less-than-ideal partner (Ben Mendelsohn) to help him, but despite their combined incompetence, they manage to make off with the mob's money. In retaliation, Markie's bosses hire Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt), a mob enforcer, to eradicate those responsible.

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Critics Consensus

Killing Them Softly is a darkly comic, visceral thriller that doubles as a cautionary tale on capitalism, whose message is delivered with sledgehammer force.

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Cary Darling

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com

12/03/2012

3/5

The anvils of obviousness rain down so hard and fast in New Zealand-born/Australian-based director Andrew Dominik's meditation on low-rent crime and American decline, that it might as well be a Coyote-Road Runner cartoon

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Christopher Orr

The Atlantic

11/30/2012

Like its source material, the movie is stylish, profane, intelligent, and eminently diverting. But as much as it is a delight that Dominik has disinterred Higgins's work, it is a mild disappointment that the result is not more substantial.

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Caryn James

James on screenS

11/30/2012

A disappointing, derivative noir that gets its spark from Pitt and Gandolfini's performances. Slight and pulpy, but it's aiming for arty and trenchant.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

09/20/2022

4/4

Although it’s bound to be divisive for its unconventional structure, ruthless tone, and the cynical nature of its message, Killing Them Softly is a rare, exceedingly enjoyable, bleakly comic noir story.

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Cory Woodroof

615 Film

07/06/2022

A dirty, furious little gangster flick with as much to say about capitalism as it does how futile a life it is to live in this world.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

01/21/2022

4/5

...ahead of the curve in terms of portraying the inherent nihilism of today's society...

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Paul O

@pjkeys Feb 8

This is supposed to be a crime movie with a critique of the American capitalist system in the background as it relates to the financial crisis of 2008. The crime aspects of the movie are entertaining as the plot unfolds but using gangsters as critics of the American dream, or lack thereof, is a little misguided as the characters lament on the dog eat dog of the American financial system. Maybe a view from actual law abiding citizens would yield a more realistic perspective.

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Gail H

@Gaila Feb 2

Loved this movie - even 2nd time around.

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Pongo K

Oct 14

Not very exiting, easy to forget. No real plot, just killing the culprits. Better to spend your time on something else.

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Jen W

@FrejaGaan Oct 8

A dirty, furious little gangster flick with as much to say about capitalism as it does how futile a life it is to live in this world

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Oaklee D

@ODie63 Aug 16

This story driven film is fantastic, it pulled me in and refused to let go. The cast were amazing and really made the film what it is. Definitely recommend it if you haven't watched this movie already as it will rock your socks off.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Aug 4

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Synopsis

When rival crook Johnny Amato (Vincent Curatola) hatches a plan to rob a card game run by mob lackey Markie (Ray Liotta), he picks a low-rent thug named Frankie (Scoot McNairy) to do the job. Frankie picks a less-than-ideal partner (Ben Mendelsohn) to help him, but despite their combined incompetence, they manage to make off with the mob's money. In retaliation, Markie's bosses hire Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt), a mob enforcer, to eradicate those responsible.

Director: Andrew Dominik
Producer: Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Steve Schwartz, Paula Mae Schwartz, Anthony Katagas
Screenwriter: Andrew Dominik
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Plan B Entertainment, Chockstone Pictures
Rating: R (Some Drug References|Pervasive Language|Some Drug Use|Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 30, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 30, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $14.9M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, DTS

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