Gangster Squad

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(2013)

Genre: Action/Drama

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Writers: Will Beall, Paul Lieberman

Producers: Bruce Berman, Ruben Fleischer, Dan Lin, Kevin McCormick, Jon Silk, Michael Tadross

Synopsis: Los Angeles, 1949. Ruthless, Brooklyn-born mob king Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) runs the show in this town, reaping the ill-gotten gains from the drugs, the guns, the prostitutes and-if he has his way-every wire bet placed west of Chicago. And he does it all with the protection of not only his own paid goons, but also the police and the politicians who are under his control. It's enough to intimidate even the bravest, street-hardened cop...except, perhaps, for the small, secret crew of LAPD outsiders led by Sgt. John O'Mara (Josh Brolin) and Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling), who come together to try to tear Cohen's world apart. -- (Written by Warner Bros.)

Cast:

• Josh Brolin
• Sean Penn
• Ryan Gosling
• Emma Stone
• Nick Nolte
• Anthony Mackie
• Michael Peña
• Giovanni Ribisi

IMDb - Gangster Squad

The Rum Diary

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(2011)

Genre: Comedy/Drama

Director: Bruce Robinson

Writers: Bruce Robinson, Hunter S. Thompson

Producers: Christi Dembrowski, Johnny Depp, A.J. Dix, Tim Headington, Graham King, Peter Kohn, Robert Kravis, Patrick McCormick, Anthony Rhulen, Greg Shapiro, William Shively, George Tobia Jr., Colin Vaines

Synopsis: Based on the debut novel by Hunter S. Thompson. Tiring of the noise and madness of New York and the crushing conventions of late Eisenhower-era America, Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp) travels to the pristine island of Puerto Rico to write for a local newspaper, run by downtrodden editor Lotterman (Richard Jenkins). Adopting the rum-soaked life of the island, Paul soon becomes obsessed with Chenault (Amber Heard), the wildly attractive Connecticut-born fiancée of Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart). Sanderson is one of a growing number of American entrepreneurs who are determined to convert Puerto Rico into a capitalist paradise in service of the wealthy. When Kemp is recruited by Sanderson to write favorably about his latest unsavory scheme, the journalist is presented with a choice: to use his words for the corrupt businessmen's financial benefit, or use them to take the bastards down.  -- (Written by FilmDistrict)

Cast:

• Johnny Depp
• Aaron Eckhart
• Amber Heard
• Richard Jenkins
• Giovanni Ribisi

IMDb - The Rum Diary

Short Review: Supposed to be extremely different from the original Hunter S. Thompson book, which will be disappointing for some. But for those like myself who have not read the original material, it is quite an enjoyable film.

Contraband

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(2012)

Genre: Action/Drama

Director: Baltasar Kormákur

Writers: Aaron Guzikowski, Arnaldur Indriðason, Óskar Jónasson

Producers: Tim Bevan, Liza Chasin, Eric Fellner, Evan Hayes, Bill Johnson, Baltasar Kormákur, Stephen Levinson, Mark Wahlberg

Synopsis: Chris Farraday (Mark Wahlberg) long ago abandoned his life of crime, but after his brother-in-law, Andy (Caleb Landry Jones), botches a drug deal for his ruthless boss, Tim Briggs (Giovanni Ribisi), Chris is forced back into doing what he does best- running contraband-to settle Andy's debt. Chris is a legendary smuggler and quickly assembles a crew with the help of his best friend, Sebastian (Ben Foster), for one final run to Panama and back, hoping to return with millions in counterfeit bills. Things quickly fall apart and with only hours to reach the cash, Chris must use his rusty skills to successfully navigate a treacherous criminal network of brutal drug lords, cops and hit men before his wife, Kate (Kate Beckinsale), and sons become their target. -- (Written by Universal Pictures)

Cast:

• Mark Wahlberg
• Kate Beckinsale
• Ben Foster
• Giovanni Ribisi
• Lukas Haas
• Robert Wahlberg

IMDb - Contraband