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Killing Them Softly

Play trailer Poster for Killing Them Softly R 2012 1h 37m Crime Drama Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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Killing Them Softly

Killing Them Softly

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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... Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ronnie M @spuncake 15h Too dragged-out for me. Never really got my full attention . I was waiting for something big to happen.......It never did See more Daniel L @RT24087858 Apr 6 Terrible movie. Incredibly boring. All dialogue and no action. Got half way through and nothing had happened. See more Thyaagu C @Thyaagu Mar 13 2.5 stars and half extra for Pitt alone. But if I break it down, what did the movie even do to earn those other two stars? Better let me not get into that part... See more 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. See more Gail H @Gaila Feb 2 Loved this movie - even 2nd time around. See more Pongo K @RT48921889 Oct 14 Not very exiting, easy to forget. No real plot, just killing the culprits. Better to spend your time on something else. See more Read all reviews
Killing Them Softly

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Cast & Crew

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Andrew Dominik

Director

Brad Pitt

Jackie Cogan

Scoot McNairy

Frankie

Ben Mendelsohn

Russell

Richard Jenkins

Driver

James Gandolfini

Mickey

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Killing Them Softly

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Killing Them Softly

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Movie Info

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, Action
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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