The Allegory In Killing Them Softly

[@JasonDolson]

The most accurate depiction of taking a punch I have ever seen. Many fight scenes just have people shrugging off punches like they are nothing. This perfectly encapsulates the true weight and veracity of taking a real punch.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

It's particularly realistic how much harder it is to take a punch when you're over 50. The bell gets rung a lot easier and shaking off a solid punch when you don't have as much muscle on your frame can't be ignored. Ray Liotta was pushing 60 in that film I believe.

[@muiresuilgorm3452]

Bless him.​@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017

[@Chosen9038]

Im 29, i got in first fight with my brother and i got bruised ribs very easily. Punches in hollywood is bs. ​@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017

[@LuLe232]

You're spot on, apart from the fact that people responsible for the economic crisis got bonuses instead of bullets.

[@RomanvonUngernSternbergnrmfvus]

Criminals ironically hold people more responsible for screwing up when compared to Wall Street. Go tell the cartels or the mob you lost a million and see if you get 2 million from them to “bail you out”.

[@Zodroo_Tint]

Exactly. Those guys own the government.

[@smartyjonez5470]

Wow. You’re so witty and cool

[@jameshigginbottom3314]

My neighbor John..who was sixty and retired ..was.a retired federal bank examiner told me in2009 that if americans knew how far the corruption and billions that were stolen went to polticions..that was stolen..their would be a second revolutuon..just like 1776.

[@LuLe232]

@@JunkSilver-fg2mg Wow! So, first of all, you know nothing about me. Second, while in principle I agree that everybody is responsible to a degree, that degree varies. A rich investment banker who ignores the rules to make more money, is a lot more responsible than a working man who took out a housing loan that he ultimately couldn't pay off. The very idea that they are both equally responsible is insane.

[@mr.blonde5344]

Mickey represents the "baby-boomer" generation. Great video!

[@BLXXDLXRD777]

Good catch

[@jorlowsky469]

The beating of Ray is one of the most uncomfortable beatings in cinema, in my opinion. But you can’t look away because it’s acted out so perfectly. Brutal tho

[@DetectiveTrupo203]

Why put Markie through it, I said.

[@johnvandelft6813]

I kinda feel like there's a juxtaposition between the street and corporate America. The street has real consequences, and unfortunately corruption in government isn't taken seriously. The politicians police themselves with little or no accountability. On the street everyone is accountable...my two cents.

[@dudestep]

Too Old To Die Young episode 1 explores a similar theme

[@handymanhoney-do6881]

Watched it with my 16 yr old son who’s about to study film/screenwriting in college. He particularly likes mob/crime movies and was utterly blown away by the film. He said it had more layers than lasagna and that he never heard such complex sound--especially all the rain and dripping/running water.

[@pab1381]

You guys should watch Boardwalk Empire if you haven’t. It’s amazing.

[@FallopiumFilms]

@@pab1381 agreed

[@pahwraith]

Show him uncut gems.

[@mb5ggX2SyFMM]

How about Road to Perdition?

[@cagneybillingsley2165]

behind what is an engaging crime thriller is in reality just another run of the mill leftist anti capitalism whine fest

[@wickedjr70]

Why this movie isn’t a Scorsese-level masterpiece, I’ll never know. I was immediately affected by it, and every time I see it, it gets better.

[@GiantLD]

Scorsese movies are way better, that’s why

[@onlyStardust-82]

Not 2 mention Score's latest bomb 😉

[@bigpictureguys8415]

I thought it was over the top with its message. Zero subtly but good movie overall

[@WithoutRemorse12]

This movie flopped

[@jonesey251]

11:38 the street shooting is one of many great throw away moments in the movie. I love how Jackie completely ignores the argument, doesn't even glance over to see if it's going to escalate to the point of gunfire he might be caught in. Capped off with the perfectly timed yawn, he doesn't even flinch when the shots happen ... definitely not his first rodeo

[@SacredKaw]

Let's take that scene and incorporate the theme that Jackie is Obama. He can walk through the crime ridden streets of the inner cities without fear and with our care.

[@monk7139]

Its chicago

[@jonesey251]

@@monk7139 actually it's supposed to be Boston, but filmed in New Orleans for some reason

[@monk7139]

@@jonesey251 the scene is a metaphor for this country ignoring inner city violence most notable Chicago

[@jonesey251]

@@monk7139 interesting take ...especially if we run with the idea of Jackie being Obama, one of the things he was severely (and rightfully) criticized for was seeming to ignore Chicago unless he need to reference it to score political points

[@kamlufilms]

Killing Them Softly is one of those films that grows on me every time I watch it. And I watch it plenty. Great video.

[@joed7185]

This film went either under the radar or completely over everyones head upon first release. It's a great film

[@okay8165]

“I’m livin in America and in America your on your own America’s not a country it’s just a business”

[@DetectiveTrupo203]

Now fuckin pay me

[@Blorkion64]

I love this movie too. Since it came out I've watched it more times than I can count. Its absolutely incredible. Also, as an ex heroin addict the scenes with Russell high or using drugs is extremely realistic. The way they capture his senses fading in and out is spot on. When he ties off and then licks the blood off his arm is also spot on. The actor who played Russell did his research before playing this role which I appreciate.

[@sosafreeman3143]

Congrats on the sobriety! 💪🏾. When Russ sees that bright ass light….legit?

[@Blorkion64]

@@sosafreeman3143 possibly, in the sense that everyone's high is different. For me I would lose consciousness and sometimes start to dream. Or in my mind I'm sitting there totally coherent observing my surroundings but in reality I'm nodded out drooling in my lap. I think the bright light might be trying to portray sensitive hearing or vision. When I got high my hearing got very sensitive. If someone was talking too loud my ears would start ringing. But like I said everyone experiences it differently.

[@bekilturgut]

Its Ben Mendelsohn. Great Australian actor. See “animal kingdom” too, one of his movies. He is always a character

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

Yeah they got the nodding out thing pretty spot on, except there aren't any fancy visuals when you nod; everything goes black. Of course if you stay out long enough you might have hallucinatory dreams, but in my experience that only happened in the first few times I got high. Soon enough there are no fireworks and getting high is just about staving of withdrawal. It's not worth it, especially now that fentanyl is the only drug out there. What a shitty high that is.

[@gaz4840]

@@bekilturgut hes also in Beautiful Kate, another top aussie film

[@KalvinMoschkau]

Another great analysis. I watched this movie recently and appreciate it much more now. What the film stands for is pretty apparent, but there is some nuance there I missed which you brought to light. Thanks!

[@ThousandairesClub]

*Brad walking into the bar as the black dude talks shit and gets shot in the background is LAYERS of everything. I could write a 100 page essay just off that 20 seconds of film.*

[@ShinM.]

It's not _that_ deep.

[@okolona1]

Minorities suffered more during the Sub Prime Lending Crisis

[@aarongoldstein8472]

@@ShinM. i think it would be tough to do that without a lot of fluff

[@ShinM.]

@aarongoldstein8472 it would be impossible without being incredibly repetitive, over-wrought, and or use a an extremely large font/size.

[@AdamOMcMurphy]

​@@ShinM. I felt the hyperbole was clear, dude? They just think the scene is cool.

[@zombiediet]

This movie is criminally underrated

[@OliBandDaFunkyBunch]

This dude basically shows the best parts of the movie and talks well on it. I really enjoy this essay if you don't want to sit through the whole movie again

[@geessaess1707]

Tony soprano is old school, very allegorical.

[@tony_dogs]

The sacred AND the propane!

[@thetraveler1182]

Richie was *Old School*

[@geessaess1707]

@@thetraveler1182 rachie who? Aprile?

[@thetraveler1182]

@@geessaess1707 You got a bad memory Beansie...

[@jcoltrane8976]

I don’t know, you sound like you’re at the precipice of a crossroads.

[@WinstonHofler]

Love this film. Very low key and quite a commentary on the ‘08 economic crisis and how it affected everyone, even criminals. Great acting by everyone and Dominik’s direction is just phenomenal, especially after coming off the beauty and harshness of The Assassination of Jesse James. Hope he does more, because he’s criminally underrated as a director.

[@Xpwnxage]

From the poker heist and onwards, every scene is incredibly tense. It's a great movie, I love it too.

[@RomanvonUngernSternbergnrmfvus]

The way the economy crashed in 08 felt different for some reason like a little color got sucked out of the room, everyone and everything just got a little darker at that time. It’s hard to describe honestly.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

@@RomanvonUngernSternbergnrmfvus That's a great way of putting it. They don't call it a depression for nothing.

[@wickeywaanzla3015]

@@RomanvonUngernSternbergnrmfvus This is part of the reason shit has felt off since around '08

[@RoloT007]

Love this movie. Never have I met someone who even watched it let alone enjoyed it, until now. Thank you.

[@frimports]

This one is all about the cast, just perfectly cast. I really enjoy the black hat Pitt. Even as a bad guy he is so good. He even makes perfect sense. Anyone with half a brain knows that all the political noise is just that a distraction or shell game designed to divide and conquer the stupid by the real ruling class. In the end we are controlled by economics no matter how noble or pure we envision ourselves.

[@yellowg00se]

was literally just thinking about this movie this morning insane how this pops up into my feed

[@JDE1995]

Didn't appreciate this film on release. I was only 16 at the time. But since then, I've come to love it as I do all his films. I came here after watching Blonde, which I also loved. A monster of a filmmaker! Great analysis of the movie, mate. RIP James and Ray.

[@FallopiumFilms]

Thank you for reminding me that Blonde exists. I still need to watch

[@billelliott3507]

I remember watching this when I was probably 13 and really liking it. It felt like my then favorite movie drive, just with more dialogue, and more of a mob specific plot. I remember liking the atmosphere and cinematography. I definitely didn’t get the allegory, probably wasn’t aware enough of the recession. Fast forward to when I was probably 17, I saw somewhere online that a lot of people really didn’t like it. I thought, hey maybe I was just a kid and it had cool cars, dangerous men and rain, so 13 year old me liked it. Now I’ve come full circle, and after seeing this video and watching it again, it was good for all the reasons I liked it as a kid, and even better for all the stuff I couldn’t see my first time around. Excellent video man, definitely subscribing.

[@MaryMayhem3]

This channel and movie are both underrated. Your opinions are greatly appreciated. This movie was unreal and so was your explanation. Where was the Oscar?!?!?

[@zen-Tii]

I’ve watched the film a couple of times and, like I usually do with movies I really like, I’m reading the source material “Cogan’s Trade” by George V. Higgins. The dialog in the film is straight from the book, sometimes word for word. It’s not an easy read but if you like the film, it’s worthwhile.

[@wbg2209]

And Brad Pitt finally got his Academy Award for playing second banana to Leo DiCaprio. This is by far his best role ever.

[@Ktulut]

Brilliant analysis ! This absolute masterpiece of a Film Noir transcends its genre and captures the essence of the Zeit Geist, where the American dream turned to a nightmare to the Anerican middle class, Nation-state being replaced with Nation-market.

[@crazychase98]

A corrupt oligarchy where the nation is scammed of its nation hood and wealth. But close

[@pkmcburroughs]

I'm just glad someone is giving this movie some love for a change. I've seen it like four times, and I'll probably see it again someday.

[@KwangTheMongrel]

Mickey represents Americans.

[@jasonbeatty831]

Ive been screaming from the rooftops how fantastic this movie is since it came out. Nobody I know gives it a chance.

[@parkerlewis5141]

Finally someone gives me an idea why critics hated this movie. I was too dumb to figure it out. Thanks

[@MyBaLLsBLoNg]

I can watch damn near anything!! But Ray Liotta getting beat up made me squint and shake my head. That shit was very intense. And the dudes talking in the car made me die laughing.

[@filmjourn]

My S-tier, absolute favorite underrated flick. So happy to find this video.

[@CarryTheThree]

This is a very well done analysis , and this is one of my favorite movies,.. as a person who has done some of the things portrayed in this film,.. i'd say , it was very realistic for how it goes down,.. they get it right,.. didn't feel political or anti, but rather, more like your last 4 sentences,.. That assessment was very Apt,.. America is a business,.. this one persons pursuit of happiness, playing by the rules set forth,.. everybody else around him aren't, which makes him the odd man out. you should have more views

[@ryanbesco8067]

One of the most underrated movies I’ve seen.

[@Swdsmn]

Some people can only understand things a certain way. Out of their eyes its solely a comment on politics when i think its really just a tragedy. "Look how ugly this all is." The desperation in reality and how grotesque and cruel things are. Honesty.

[@Greg400]

Absolutely

[@phatnana2379]

Scoot McNairy's "Somerville scumbag" accent is, by FAR, the best I've heard from an actor! Most people take it way over the top but Scoot sounded like a bonafide piece of Somerville trash! He sounds better even than Matt Damon and Ben Aflek who CLAIM to be from those streets Also, I believe the director is Australian so maybe it was just very new and exciting for him experiencing the financial crisis so he went a little over board with the politics

[@burtbiggum499]

I assumed the allegory was about how inefficient the government is compared to crime organizations

[@ClickKlack43]

That’s because there’s consequences to being inefficient in a private organized crime organization. If they don’t produce, they’re out. In government, which is a public organized crime organization, they’re rewarded whether they fail or succeed. In fact, failure is often an excuse to grab yet more power and money. They have no incentive to be effective or succeed. They’re insulated from the consequences of the free market. I’m not being hyperbolic when I say I have more respect for back alley muggers and prostitutes than government criminals. At least the mugger is honest about their intentions and at least the prostitute is trading in her own property. You can read Lysander Spooner, Frederic Bastiat and H. L. Mencken to explore these ideas more.

[@kaikaikool1973]

Little did you know they are their own crime organization

[@NumaanTahir]

At first I thought this movie was really slow because of the dialogue scenes but it started to grow on me to the point where that's why the movie is good. The dialogue is heavily grounded.

[@Harkness197]

This is a great video essay!! Love the work!

[@ATFprdepartment]

Rewatched it a few hours ago, completely forgot how good of a movie it was, one of my favorite mob/mafia movies of all time. It’s just so effectively shocking when it needs to be. Jackie killing Frankie in the car was something I originally fully expected, knowing full well that Frankie wasn’t going to live past the credits, but the longer he doesn’t kill him, the more you think he might actually be spared. But no-there’s your reality check

[@davidcarter8863]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who loves this film.

[@sugardaveyyepez134]

The intro to this movie was phenomenal 🔥

[@michaelcarter8120]

This is one of the most underrated films in history. I know that is said way too often but this movie should be on a ‘Top 100 Movies of All Time’ list. Besides the Financial Crisis allegory, it shows just how crime works. There isn’t a single person in the film with any redeeming qualities. They’re all just low-life losers. The man who wrote this, George V Higgins, served as Assistant Attorney General for Massachusetts and Assistant United States Attorney. He saw real crime. Crime isn’t glamours but dirty. And real crime is filled with people that you don’t want anything to do with. This movie was based on his book “Coogan’s Trade”. He wrote another book, “The Friends of Eddie Coyle” which was made into a movie by the same name. I highly recommend that movie as well.

[@RobertTevault-b1n]

This, like Heat, Lord of War, Killer Elite maybe.. There's just always going to be that set of movies that you'll come back to. It's perfectly gritty and so is this analysis. You nailed it.

[@doveshouse]

Really great job on this video. You had some very thoughtful comments and statements. Well done sir well done

[@JackstandKing]

Just found your channel. Watched a few of your reviews on cinema and it felt like I myself made these reviews. You notice a lot of things I do and I love the deep dives that differ greatly from other reviewers. You earned a subscriber.

[@seacucumberable]

Holy shit, you write really well with uncommon precision. SUBSCRIBED BABY

[@titolovely8237]

the contrast with the counselor and brad pitt is amazing to watch. the counselor represents the boomers, the old guard, the delusional ones who have lost touch with how things on the street really work, mostly due to how wealthy theyve become. Pitt represents the new generation of people trying to make it. he sees the decrepit and dying system that he's trying to salvage, and the people surrounding that system are beyond delusional, so Pitt simply resolves to get what he can and move on. i see pitt's character as an homage to us millennials, who inherited a system that doesnt function anywhere close to how we were told it does by our elders. what we see on the ground is the drunken dude whoring around in his hotel. we see the poverty and desperation around every corner. we see the system for what it really is - cutthroat. in order to make it you've got to embrace how utterly alone you are and make the moves yourself, or else you'll end up just getting used like the two stooges who rob the poker game in the beginning. at the end Pitt's character realizes the opportunity that comes with the old guard's delusion. Pitt is now the shark and the shot caller - they need him and he can now start dictating the terms. the whole movie for me was the old guard presiding over a dying system and the younger people realizing what the whole thing really is - a business. the old guard want things to return to normal, but the younger, more savy people know the game's changed forever.

[@uppercutgrandma4425]

Biology and personal agency/consciousness is why we're "alone". The system is the only thing that keeps us together for as long as it does, abandoning that system =finding anew system that does the same, and will meet the same (if ever) ends. All roads still lead to Rome.

[@asspills]

Gotta disagree. We are literally social pack animals, whose primary survival niche is community/cooperation. We may be creatures of consciousness & agency, as you say, but it works because we come together & pool our specialized skills & strengths. We're friends & neighbours before we're ever a tribe or a civilization. The system, as it is, keeps us working like ants, feeding off our contributions, but *without* the sense of community & solidarity that normally motivates us to care about others (bc the ppl reaping the rewards of our labour & our society are not in our community, they're far up above it. We wouldn't work for their benefit if we still chose who to work with & for what. So, we're kept separate, alienated, and motivated selfishly). Our nature is not to be alienated from our neighbours nor our work. 'For no man is an island unto themselves.'

[@shanecunningham5802]

I can't believe such a great movie, with this cast got by the masses and public consciousness.

[@Ringadingding-y3i]

Because most yanks are simply too lazy to have to think this hard. Give them super hero's. Star Wars and a Barbie tribute. Now that's entertainment as far as the yank masses are concerned. Hollywood is a rotting corpse. It's all about keeping the flies off of it so they don't lay eggs. Amerikkkan Entertainment is now a mass maggot infestation.

[@themancaveclub]

Such a great, great film! One of my favorites of all time!

[@geessaess1707]

This fallopian kid is more creative than Spielberg.

[@FallopiumFilms]

I’m gonna give you a “heart” on this comment… and pray that you weren’t being sarcastic. For the record tho, I absolutely adore Spielberg and can only dream of having a percent of a percent of that man’s creativity.

[@geessaess1707]

@@FallopiumFilms it's not sarcastic at all. Given this film is about the mob and James Gandolfini is in it, I thought I would quote something from the Sopranos to give you a complement. Keep up the awesome work. You just might become one of the five families, joining the likes of Borko, Kino, Don Jr, and Cineranter.

[@FallopiumFilms]

​@@geessaess1707 As long as I get a baptism by fire

[@geessaess1707]

@@FallopiumFilms there will be sword and gun on the table when you are made. We will do it the right way.

[@GregoryArkadin-j5v]

Phenomenal video. Thanks. Can't wait to see it.

[@traviswright9581]

There's a clear theme of nihilism throughout the movie; almost all of the characters share an attitude of hopelessness in one way or another. I think that the movie takes a sort of "it is what it is" approach to its take on American politics and economics, and it shows how different zeitgeists make do in their own ways. Either way, I love the movie. It's moody, it's dark, and it's as real as fiction can get before it becomes truth. Easily one of the most underrated of Brad Pitt's roles.

[@MrFlinchenstein]

I wouldn't say the theme is nihilism... more like disenchantment.

[@joshgladfelter9597]

I really enjoyed your video. I love the film, but never was able to quite put the pieces together about the deeper meaning. Very insightful.

[@FallopiumFilms]

I appreciate it

[@canisrex5142]

Outstanding video. I think you changed my mind.

[@Xpwnxage]

I like the way you breakdown movies, soft and eloquent, subbed. I loved this movie too. I just watched it for the first time last week. And I agree with you about what the movie. It felt like to me that it was just portraying the system and wasn't necessarily critiquing an institution or specific politician. It felt neutral.

[@wyattrussell7496]

James Gandolfini as Artie Lange

[@TonyMacroni633]

Lmaooo 😂

[@tony_dogs]

Hey Gar, it's Art... I can't come in today... I got in a fight with a whore in a hotel

[@TonyMacroni633]

@@tony_dogs 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽😂😂😂 I’m done.

[@TonyMacroni633]

@@tony_dogs two worlds I never thought would collide… thank you guys lol

[@CarltonMasonNorwood]

Now just imagine watching this in rehab in a room full of 60 other guys coming down or up off of every kind of medication substance and frustration that life has to offer. 😂 probably one of the top three greatest experiences in my life😂

[@ilikeoptter]

I concur with your assessment 100%! I only just saw this movie for the first time (2023). I don't often feel this way about a movie, but this film is a masterpiece.

[@Supersticio]

Ben Mendolson was not playing a herion addict. He was remembering the time he was. I'm so glad he gave it up..

[@royceisaacs111]

Killing them softly and out of the furnace are two of the most underrated dark movies from this era

[@bigpictureguys8415]

The Jefferson monologue sounds like every freshman in college who has a superficial understanding of history. Jefferson didn’t have the opportunity to end slavery but he gave abolitionists the dagger needed to kill it years later. He didn’t need to (was actually asked not to) put the words “all men are created equal” into a revolutionary document declaring independence. He consciously did that.

[@sherylcrowe3255]

Excellent analysis! Thank you!

[@WillN2Go1]

Good video. A minor problem with your well considered allegory is no one on Wall Street was prosecuted for 2008. Instead the Feds went after a small Chinatown bank where one loan officer was shaking down customers in a dialect no one in the family that owned and operated the bank spoke. They and the bank were exonerated. But yes, this is a terrific movie, a terrific book. George Higgins is a great writer. One of his books was about a couple old politicians in Massachusetts - they did one corrupt thing 18 years before and it comes back to haunt them. At the beginning they're sitting around talking about individuals they represented in their elective offices. Really heart warming, zero cynical power game nonsense. A couple of days after I read that scene I was doing photography for a candidate. While waiting for the candidate to show up to a coffee shop, a current L.A. City Council Rep was hanging with a former City Council Rep - the exact same conversation as was in the Higgins book. I respected both these pols before that, still do, but there was real love for other people, dozens of other people, by name. I wish I was half that generous. And Higgins got it exactly right.

[@scottswanson6946]

I have a different interpretation for the last scene. The card games boss to me represents our system or the "lie" that is propagated to people that our system is justice,fair and objective. Now Jackie represents what life in America really is " truth" especially during his iconic speech about jefferson. Jefferson may not have believed the words "all men are creates equal" due to the fact he kept slaves and had children with them. Jefferson also kept slaves that worked for him. I am also fascinated by the fact Jackie does negotiate his contract earlier and yet card boss still tries to screw him out of that money for whatever reason. Jackie represents all of the people and how we feel about the system and the cars boss represents the system as it truly functions just like the Jefferson allegory.

[@Elknkam]

This was a excellent view and I actually love this film. Love the rain that was used in the film.

[@countdublevay7327]

You love this movie. Probably others as well. You know what i love? i love when a man loves something. i love listening to man talk about something he loves. Good work. Thank you.

[@anthonyelwick3600]

When jacky and Kenny meet it's actually the first time the actors have ever met. Brad pitt wanted that tension.

[@Nubenhoofer]

Scoot was PHENOMENAL. BP never disappoints, a true thespian.. but I could not believe that Scoot didn't become a household name after this movie. He should have won accolades.

[@Nubenhoofer]

Well put together assessment. There are definitely good reasons to build these conclusions. I think they did it JUST vague enough to allow viewers to apply it to their own subjective take on things, which is REALLY something in a crime movie! We need more writing like THIS in modern cinema.

[@CERTAIND00M]

Watching this movie for the first time was a rather surreal experience. It was filmed in New Orleans (my home) but unlike most movies that do the same, Killing Them Softly doesn't want to call attention to that fact. To that end, they intentionally shot in some of this city's least cinematic locations. Locations that rarely show up in movies but which actual New Orlean'ians see everyday. Like that cement corner lot where Scoot McNairy meets his dog-walking partner-in-crime? That's really the remains of a Katrina house's foundation and where I used to park like once a week while waiting to buy weed. Or the airport bar where Brad Pitt and James Gandolfini discuss the hit? I used to work at the airport and drink in that bar.

[@elsewhere_ash]

Amazing analysis; will definitely recommend this gem on my next video! Cheers!

[@williamgazca6641]

One of the greatest intros of any movie ever... Its mystifying.

[@hannatadesse2117]

This movie doesn't get the credit it deserves!!! I love it

[@sosafreeman3143]

First time viewer of the channel. Always loved this movie and wanted a fair review. 16:35 made me like and subscribe. Amazing take

[@heroesfan236]

Some of your best work yet.

[@yossibenayoun5642]

one of the most underrated films ever

[@BLXXDLXRD777]

This film is very symbolic, i think the main concept is money & economics and it really intrigues me how the woman are portrayed in the film.

[@Scalettadom]

I agree. This is one of my all time favorite movies.

[@nuxxy_]

watching 3 years late in the sea of sloppy essays....and its golden. this is exactly how i feel walking to my bum ass job counting how much i have for food

[@Malt454]

The film took a story about betrayal in the criminal community and tried to make it into a flawed allegory about America and its economics. One can say "this represents this" and try to say what it all means, but even our narrator here can't make all the pieces fit. Whether the "too on the nose" critics were entirely right or wrong, they had a point that the allegory maybe didn't always work as well as intended.

[@bennygerow]

Slow burn, very strong finish. Glad I gave it a chance after not really getting into the first half hour.

[@diogeneslantern18]

I've watched this at least half a dozen times. It is a fucking FANTASTIC film. I can't believe some dolts said they were bored by it.

[@jarden714]

Dillon....IS America. And in that last scene "take it up with dillon". The response..."Dillon is dead, he died this morning"...is the same as "America is dead, she died this morning".

[@theYoungPilots]

Brad Pitt played Jackie Gogan, a cynical thug, in Killing Them Softly. At the end of the movie Gogan watched Obama deliver his acceptance speech on the television behind the bar. “We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions and we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and forever will be, the United States of America.” The crowd applauded. “Next he’ll be telling us we’re a community, we’re one people,” Gogan said. “In this country we rise or fall as one nation, as one people,” Obama said, as if on cue. Gogan scoffed. He had a different vision of America. “This guy wants to tell me we live in a community. Don’t make me laugh, I’m living in America, and in America, you’re on your own. America’s not a country. It’s just a business. Now f***ing pay me.” Cut to credits as Barrett Strong sings Money That’s What I Want. “The business of America is business,” Calvin Coolidge said. We are a nation in service of business. We accept the axiom that what's good for business is good for America. This has become a tenet of faith. While Americans give lip service to Christianity, they practice capitalism.

[@n.e.g.u.s]

I’m reading that a lot people didn’t enjoy this movie because it wasn’t as exciting as they assumed it would be. Yet, the movie has numerous cast members from The Sopranos, which from what I understand had a great script and that’s precisely what this film possessed. Personally, I believe that its phenomenal but of course this is just my opinion.

[@user-mi5hk9ih9b]

Cool video, thanks for making it. I wanted to talk about Gandolfini's character, because you seemed to have problems couching him into the allegory. I think Gandolfini's character represented the end of the US trade labor movement. The guy mourns the loss if his union (marriage) to Pitt's character, paranoid (and probably rightly) that Pitt's intervention might have led to its breakup. He's washed up, useless, and had a lot of power at one point. Contemporary America is plagued by this lack of working class institution. Since Clinton's Democrats banished the labor movement from the Democrats, now there is no real alternative to corporatism from either side. Thanks again for making the video.

[@FallopiumFilms]

Ooooh... this is a good comment. Thanks for this

[@TheCosmicFailure]

I think he also represents the men abused the union system.

[@MrFlinchenstein]

Very astute observation! Cheers

[@glumphyStoned]

When will an alternative to corporativism ever appear again? Are we doomed?

[@wadeedden4552]

Good review, gave me more insight to a movie I enjoyed. You are one who appreciates the role of criticism as it relates to art. You added to my experience of the art.

[@ianmangham4570]

The film tells us it's one big party Rep or Dem and we ain't invited. Great fkn movie 🎦

[@j4v3l73]

One of my favorite movies of 10s, I even then Read that book after watching, and watched other movies of Andrew Dominic.. chopper, assassination of.. Jesse James. Best heroin taking episode ever. RIP Ray Liotta 😢

[@iconofsin5886]

Many people have whined that the ending was just the director “preaching”. Rather this was just to fill in for an ending. Something to round everything in with then taper off. The movie is a story taking place in the days of the collapse. It is not about the collapse, but they want us to know what is happening around. Kind of like bringing the movie more to life. Treyarch did this when it made Black Ops 1 and Black Ops CW. They integrate so many real life events while it continues to be its own fictional story. They are made to be parallel to real life bottom line.

[@crillzburydoughboy331]

Great movie. Brad Pitt is one of the best, doesn't get full credit for it cause he's so damn handsome. His range is massive...from the stoner in True Romance to Tyler Durden and many stops in between. I hope he continues acting when he is really old, would be interesting to see his work once his looks have faded.

[@pab1381]

The most sawed off shotgun I’ve ever seen lol. I wasn’t sure if it was serious or not. 2008 is when I graduated high school and had some of the most fun times of my life. If I could go back I would for sure in a heartbeat.

[@shelbybrown8312]

Exactly man I've been watching this film since it came out probably once a year since then and I thought the idea of it's clear allegory or message or critique made it that much better to lay it out so plainly and still make it as good as it is I thought it was an amazing skill a filmmaking.

[@geoffbeidler]

So wasn't Mickey supposed to represent John McCain? The old veteran who might have been in line for the job long term, if he had been up to it?

[@FallopiumFilms]

That would make sense. I was thinking about it in terms of democrats, those on the same side… but I guess with what this movie is trying to say, they are all on the same side, no difference between D and R. So Mickey could certainly be John McCain.

[@timb4248]

I was thinking Dick Cheney? Used to be the man with the plan, but now kind of a disgraced joke, best know for a hunting accident.

[@philford1730]

I agree, I loved this film when I saw it and recommend it to people all the time.

[@antoinetang4437]

This is really great! Thanks!

[@aralnenjr.7408]

man i was 10 when I saw this, I definitely gotta give it another watch.

[@citrusforce]

Great video. Your conclusion was spot on.