Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, and Amy Adams star in director David O. Russell's fictional period crime drama about a reckless FBI agent who recruits a con man and his alluring partner into a scheme to ensnare corrupt politicians and gangsters. (rottentomatoes.com)
The stylishly empty period crime drama Gangster Squad, from Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer, is ostensibly based on a true story, but it steals liberally from James Ellroy, Dick Tracy, and The Untouchables, and it seems hell - bent on topping its transparent inspirations in at least one crucial respect: the volume, intensity, and ubiquity of its wall - to - wall violence. (film.avclub.com)
So while I really wanted to enjoy what could have and should have been a stellar period crime drama, I found myself picking out problem after problem that could have very easily been fixed. (crunchonthis.com)