Killing Them Softly

Name: Killing Them Softly
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: November 30, 2012
Duration: 97 min
Rating: 64
Cast: Ben Mendelsohn, Brad Pitt, James Gandolfini, Ray Liotta, Richard Jenkins

2012

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 42 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 277 Ratings

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6.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 277 Ratings

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KILLING THEM SOFTLY

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Movie Details & Credits

Weinstein Company, The | Release Date: November 30, 2012

Starring: Ben Mendelsohn, Brad Pitt, James Gandolfini, Ray Liotta, Richard Jenkins, Sam Shepard, Scoot McNairy

Summary: Adapted from George V. Higgins novel and set in New Orleans, Killing Them Softly follows professional enforcer, Jackie Cogan, who investigates a heist that occurs during a high stakes, mob-protected, poker game. (Weinstein Company)

Director: Andrew Dominik

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 97 min

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Awards & Rankings

52	#52 Most Discussed Movie of 2012
86	#86 Most Shared Movie of 2012

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Entertainment Weekly - Owen Gleiberman

Nov 28, 2012

Killing them Softly is a lurid and nasty little nihilistic hitman noir, with an ingenuity that sneaks up on you. Read full review

Boston Globe - Ty Burr

Nov 29, 2012

A bleakly comic, brutally Darwinian gangland saga that at times comes close to being this year's "Drive." It also does something that, if you're from around these parts, seems downright perverse. It takes the Boston out of George V. Higgins. Read full review

Salon - Andrew O'Hehir

Nov 30, 2012

This is a deliberately chilly and nerve-wracking experience, and one of the bleakest portraits of American society seen on-screen in the last several decades. Read full review

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) - Liam Lacey

Nov 29, 2012

A stylish, brutal affair that delivers grim atmosphere and punishing violence but loses impact in telegraphing its political punches. Read full review

The New Yorker - Anthony Lane

Nov 26, 2012

What is most disconcerting about Dominik's film is his choice of rhythm. We pass from reams of conversation, or cantankerous monologue, to throes of extreme violence, then back to the flood of words - most of them to do with buying, selling, slaying, whoring, or doing time. Read full review

Wall Street Journal - Joe Morgenstern

Nov 29, 2012

The film, for all its visual felicities, comes to life only sporadically. Read full review

Observer - Rex Reed

Nov 28, 2012

A filthy, pretentious, brutally violent and utterly pointless load of rubbish called Killing Them Softly. Read full review

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User Reviews

RobbinsFilms

Dec 1, 2012

Be warned, Killing Them Softly is an anti-thriller. Instead of gangster action, most of what you see is conversation. Or better yet, negotiation. Because the film is set in 2008 during the financial crisis, what these lowlifes are most desperately chasing, is just a bit more money. So evenBe warned, Killing Them Softly is an anti-thriller. Instead of gangster action, most of what you see is conversation. Or better yet, negotiation. Because the film is set in 2008 during the financial crisis, what these lowlifes are most desperately chasing, is just a bit more money. So even though the dialogue is razor-sharp and the performances are amazing, from an A list cast, most people don't want to watch negotiation for an hour and forty minutes. This is a more European take on the American crime drama, even though Andrew Dominik is Australian. The movie has a lot in common with Drive. And like that movie, this one will divide audiences between those put off by the angry tone, gruesome violence, and long periods of inaction. Which might be a problem if not for the incredible stylistic passion that bursts through every frame. Even when it's just two people talking in a bar, subtle camera movements, musical cues, and acting decisions always keep your attention.… Expand

5 of 9 users found this helpful54

AngusMilne

Jan 3, 2013

This is one of my favorite films of 2012 and lands at number 14 on my top films of 2012 list. Will probably be overlooked at awards season, but is definitely worth seeing for a few great performances and a solid narrative.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

LeonidasPeplis

Dec 3, 2012

If you are expecting gunfights,explosions and sex-scenes you were misled to the movie theaters by the trailer.Even though it was not what I fully expected I can say that enjoyed it.The dialogue was very sharp and fascinating and Brad Pitt didn't disappoint me.

4 of 7 users found this helpful43

Swati

Feb 9, 2013

The starting 25 minutes were mesmerizing. Sadly, it turned out to be just a revenge flick. It could have been so much more if they had actually tried to develop the characters before offing them one at a time.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

theoffice

Dec 1, 2012

"Killing them softly", the words and title, refers not to the act of murder... and on that note... people who rated this movie poorly did so because they expected a typical mind-numbing action shooter and therefore didn't get the over-arching connections/themes. Regardless, the movie was"Killing them softly", the words and title, refers not to the act of murder... and on that note... people who rated this movie poorly did so because they expected a typical mind-numbing action shooter and therefore didn't get the over-arching connections/themes. Regardless, the movie was alright but nothing to brag about. Plot revolves around a mafia group running a card game among all the bosses. This then gets robbed which leads to the bosses hiring brad pitt to kill the people who robbed them. Plot moves very slowly but the film is built to be a drama/dark comedy with the over-arching theme of comparing it to the way America runs. Interesting take in my opinion and once you get the connection they are trying to make with the USA it's not half bad. The government is killing its citizens softly with its policies and, as Pitt says, we are not untied and do not work as one... you're on your own. It is a cool cult movie and definitely worth a watch if you have the intellect. But honestly it's probably only worth a rent.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

geno2

Dec 6, 2012

Not worth the price of ticket--" F " word in every sentence---Pitt should have stayed with the kids--looks like a kid trying to play a tough guy!--walks through the role!

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

Smee

Jan 27, 2013

worst brad pitt movie ever,No significant story or purpose,empty dialogues and low budget film.Lucky i file shared this.Even a kid can write a better script than this.This type of movies should never made in future.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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