Well, don't fret. If you can't see it on its original release date, I've got some suggestions to hold you over, from the major players in Gangster Squad.
Will Beall - the screenwriter was my first attraction to the film. His Los Angeles street cop novel L. A. Rex is some hardcore copshop action worth the time of folks wondering what a modern day James Ellroy book might look like (incidentally, David Ayer's End of Watch is also coming soon and right at the top of my anticipation list for the same reason). Beall's got other film work too. He's a writer on Castle and it looks like he's one name among a few (including Alex Garland) penning the adaptation of William Nolan and George Clayton Johnson' book Logan's Run (which was, of course, the basis for the classic film). Oooh, and look who's directing that adaptation - Nicolas Winding Refn, who made a main-stream splash adapting another novel last year - James Sallis's Drive.
Ryan Gosling - was the star of that Sallis adaptation, Drive, and though he's better known as bad news for leading ladies like Michelle Williams, Evan Rachel Wood or Sandra Bullock, Gangster Squad sees him re-teaming with Emma Stone who also provided a crucial element to director -
Ruben Fleischer's - debut feature Zombieland. And if you're thinking that, as excellent as the gore and humor was in that one, it hardly recommends Fleischer for a period gangster picture, I'll suggest you take a look at the trailer - it's got a stylish look to it for sure. Looks glossy like The Untouchables, but it might be closer to another -
Nick Nolte - flick, the Pete Dexter penned Mulholland Falls which saw Nolte overseeing an outfit of big, beefy, fedora-topped sharply-dressed L.A. cops none too concerned with following every little letter of the law - just enforcing it. There's shootin movies and hittin movies and this, kids is a hittin movie.
Mickey Cohen - as subject matter is always promising, and tho he's a great bit of background for the machinations of plot in Ellroy books, I'm not aware of books or films that revolve around him (he pops up when the subject is really Bugsy Siegel or Meyer Lansky - jeez, even his bodyguard Johnny Stompanato seems to get more attention). If you're interested in the Mick read The Big Nowhere or watch Harvey Keitel portray him opposite Warren Beatty in Bugsy. I'm interested to see what -
Sean Penn - brings to the role. He can chew scenery all he wants - I love him in At Close Range, State of Grace, Mystic River and Carlito's Way.
Los Angeles Period Crime Films - are one of the best traditions in Hollywood, and whether or not Gangster Squad will join the ranks of the best or not it's nice to know we've still got Chinatown, Big Sleep and L.A. Confidential. But perhaps the best thing to do rather than chew my nails in anticipation of the (possibly postponed) film release is just read the book by Paul Lieberman.
Jedidiah Ayres writes fiction and keeps the blog Hardboiled Wonderland.
