Review: Killing Them Softly

NEW YORK (WABC) -- This the Hollywood equivalent of the a bye week in the NFL. Big movies like "Twilight" and "Skyfall" are still playing to big crowds and plenty of holiday blockbusters like "The Hobbit" and "Les Miserables" still to come, but fans of Brad Pitt have a new film from him to enjoy.

Pitt stars as a hit man who speaks softly, but that doesn't make him any less cool nor any less violent.

"Killing Them Softly" is rated R for a reason, but in the midst of the mayhem is this very calm and equally restrained performance by Pitt. His character is recruited by mobsters after one of their card games gets disrupted.

Somebody's gotta pay, but who and how? The enforcer figures he'll need help from "New York Micky" played by James Gandolfini.

"Micky" carries his own baggage and watching these two great stars bring out the best in each other is a lot of fun.

"Killing Them Softly" is a film that just can't quite decide what it wants to be: a character study, a crime caper or a broader indictment of corruption?

Consistent attempts to draw comparisons between what's happening here with the meltdown on Wall Street in 2008 fell flat for me, but Pitt's acting is so assured I was reminded behind the tabloid headlines is a talented, thoughtful guy

There's also an action film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and a horror film called "The Collection" out this weekend, but this would be a good time to catch up to great films that have been out awhile like "Argo."

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Please visit Sandy Kenyon's blog for more entertainment news at wabc.typepad.com/whatsandysays

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