KILLING THEM SOFTLY | FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

"KILLING THEM SOFTLY"
(2012) (Brad Pitt, Scoot McNairy) (R)

QUICK TAKE:: Black Comedy/Drama/Action: Two low-life criminals must contend with the aftermath of robbing a syndicate card game operation, including the hitman who's called to take care of matters.

PLOT:

Frankie (SCOOT McNAIRY) and his friend Russell (BEN MENDELSOHN) are two low-lives barely scraping by in New Orleans. When Frankie's criminal acquaintance Johnny "Squirrel" Amato (VINCENT CURATOLA) wants to hire him for a risky but seemingly foolproof robbery job, Frankie wants Russell as his accomplice and finally convinces Johnny they can pull it off.

The job is to knock off a card game operation managed by Markie Trattman (RAY LIOTTA). He runs the event for a criminal organization and unwisely admitted that years earlier he was the one who arranged for the game to be robbed. Johnny knows that if it happens again, Markie will be the obvious suspect and thus he, Frankie and Russell should get off scot-free.

The two bumbling thugs succeed, but Russell can't keep his mouth shut, thus giving the crime bosses a scent to follow. Their middle-man, known as the Driver (RICHARD JENKINS), hires hitman Jackie Cogan (BRAD PITT) to take care of matters. He doesn't believe in prolonging any of his victims' misery and believes in "killing them softly," but since he knows Johnny, he brings in washed-up hitman Mickey (JAMES GANDOLFINI) from out of town to do that hit.

From that point on, those involved in the robbery discover that they didn't manage to pull off the heist without deadly serious repercussions.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Older teens might show some interest, but that's probably it.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R: For violence, sexual references, pervasive language, and some drug use.

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