Inspired by real events and based on a novel by Paul Lieberman that explores the efforts of a squad of LAPD in 1949 who are asked by the Chief of Police (Nick Nolte), one of the few policemen who could not be 'bought' by the Mob, to leave their badges at home and stop Mickey Cohen establishing his gangster networks.

Sean Penn instills intense ruthlessness and aggression into Cohen, so much so that his face mirrors the ugliness of his actions. By contrast, Josh Brolin as John O'Mara, the selfless man of honour who puts together the small group of men he considers to be appropriate for the task, is the epitome of decency.

The last member to join the squad (for reasons that become apparent), Ryan Gosling's Sgt. Jerry Wooters is constantly on a knife's edge, establishing a relationship with the scrumptious Grace Faraday (Emma Stone), who is never far from Mickey Cohen's side, as his 'etiquette tutor'. The scene in which Jerry literally bumps into Grace - and kisses her - when he and his colleagues are bugging Cohen's home, is audaciousness at the extreme. Stone and Gosling are good together, their chemistry tangible.

The violence is relentless with a non-stop stream of heavy fire and other thuggery, but always in line with the narrative. The realism is such that I felt I was an invisible bystander, ducking bullets as the action transpires. It is credit to Will Beall's screenplay and Ruben Fleischer's direction that the characters are developed enough for us to understand their motives and see the human side of things. It is fitting that the final confrontation between Cohen and O'Mara is not with guns, but with fists and in the final analysis, it is the law that takes precedence over both.

Gripping, ballsy, edge of seat cinema. [EDIT].


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