Oscar Outlook 2012: Killing Them Softly

Andrew Dominik adapted George V. Higgins' novel Cogan's Trade and directed the film adaptation retitled Killing Them Softly.  The only two films to his name so far are Chopper and The Assassination of Jesse James, also starring Brad Pitt.  The cast includes: James Gandolfini, Richard Jenkins, Ray Liotta, Sam Shepard, Johnny 'Sack' Vincent Curatola, and über yummy Scoot McNairy and Ben Mendelsohn.  Production team includes editors John Paul Horstmann and Brian A. Kates, cinematographer Greig Fraser (Snow White and the Huntsman, Zero Dark Thirty), and set decorator Leslie Morales (Stoker).  Oscar prospects appear to be very limited with an outside shot for Pitt; one of his costars like Gandolfini or Liotta may have a better chance in the supporting category.  I wouldn't rule out cinematography, script, or one of the sound categories.  Pete Hammond says the film is light on action and full of dialogue and Pitt delivers some of his best work in one might be an ensemble role.  Most of the critics I ran across sang its praises or really enjoyed it, with a few dissenters in the mix.

Scoot McNairy is sorry he distracted you
because he's so attractive

Here's what some others have to say:
The Telegraph >> Fits in with the great crime pictures of the 1970s.
Hollywood Reporter >> "Tasty," "political," and stylish.  Bloody, well-cast, "tight," "terribly smart."
Indie Wire >> "Anti-thriller for our times"  Praised the controversial film that might not be for everyone.
The Guardian >> "Nasty, gripping" and its slightly pessimistic tone is "outstandingly watchable."
Rope of Silicon >> "Excellent film that wasn't anything like" he expected.
Sasha Stone (AD/The Wrap) >> Loved the anti-capitalist film and welcomed its heavy-handed approach.
Twitch >> Compared it to the best film of last year: Drive.
Film School Rejects >> Standard response: heavy-handed and non-commercial, but worth the ride.  Great script, performances.  Compared film to Drive.

I would be hot even if I didn't stand
this way

Hayes at the Movies >> Well-edited, dark thriller.
Doddle >> Really liked the smart, eclectic humor.
Independent >> An engaging miasmatic mess.
We Got This Covered >> Compares this ambitious, but graphic film to Drive and suggests it will end up on a lot of critic's 2012 Top 10 lists.
First Showing >> Really enjoyed the "brutal," dark thriller, but was left feeling hungry for something more.
Dan Mecca (Movie Fone / The Film Stage) >> Indulgent, but worth multiple viewings.
Digital Spy >> More entertaining than smart.
Scene Creek >> Graphic, pessimistic.
toh! >> Competent, but empty.
CyniCritics >> All style, no substance with some sound supporting turns.

FYI: I'd report on Variety also, but you have to be a paid subscriber to see more than three articles a month (or some shit like that).  So, I don't think I will be checking in with them for much longer.  Smartly filmed on a surprisingly low (for an action film) budget of $18M over a year ago in New Orleans, TWC will distribute Softly in US the 21st of September after showing at Cannes.

[Images via IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, IMP Awards]

Brian A. Kate -
Sexy Editor

Also on the Radar:

Anna Karenina     Argo     Beasts of the Southern Wild     The Bourne Legacy     The Dark Knight Rises     Dark Shadows     Django Unchained     Gangster Squad     Great Expectations     The Great Gatsby     The Hobbit     Hope Springs     The Hunger Games     Hyde Park on the Hudson     Killing Them Softly     Lawless     Lincoln     Lola Versus     Lovelace     Low Life     Magic Mike     The Master     Les Misérables     Life of Pi     Moonrise Kingdom     The Paperboy     People Like Us     Prometheus     To Rome with Love     Ruby Sparks     Savages     Seeking a Friend for the End of the World     The Silver Linings Playbook     Smashed     The Surrogate     Trouble with the Curve     Won't Back Down 


The Avengers     The Amazing Spider-Man     Men in Black III