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Killing Them Softly

  • 2012
  • R
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
149K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,960
186
Brad Pitt in Killing Them Softly (2012)
Jackie Cogan is a professional enforcer who investigates a heist that went down during a mob-protected poker game.
Play trailer2:30
13 Videos
99+ Photos
CrimeDramaThriller

Jackie Cogan is an enforcer hired to restore order after three dumb guys rob a Mob protected card game, causing the local criminal economy to collapse.Jackie Cogan is an enforcer hired to restore order after three dumb guys rob a Mob protected card game, causing the local criminal economy to collapse.Jackie Cogan is an enforcer hired to restore order after three dumb guys rob a Mob protected card game, causing the local criminal economy to collapse.

  • Director
    • Andrew Dominik
  • Writers
    • Andrew Dominik
    • George V. Higgins
  • Stars
    • Brad Pitt
    • Ray Liotta
    • Richard Jenkins
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    149K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,960
    186
    • Director
      • Andrew Dominik
    • Writers
      • Andrew Dominik
      • George V. Higgins
    • Stars
      • Brad Pitt
      • Ray Liotta
      • Richard Jenkins
    • 489User reviews
    • 422Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 9 nominations

    Videos13

    U.S. Version -- #1
    Trailer 2:30
    Watch U.S. Version -- #1
    "Kill 'Em Softly"
    Clip 0:50
    Watch "Kill 'Em Softly"
    "Jackie and Frankie at the Bar"
    Clip 0:58
    Watch "Jackie and Frankie at the Bar"
    "I Don't Take Orders from You"
    Clip 1:08
    Watch "I Don't Take Orders from You"
    "Touchy Feely"
    Clip 0:50
    Watch "Touchy Feely"
    "What's This All About?"
    Clip 0:35
    Watch "What's This All About?"
    Killing Them Softly
    Clip 0:36
    Watch Killing Them Softly
    Killing Them Softly
    Clip 0:52
    Watch Killing Them Softly
    Killing Them Softly: Kill 'Em Softly
    Clip 0:51
    Watch Killing Them Softly: Kill 'Em Softly
    Killing Them Softly: Prepared
    Clip 0:31
    Watch Killing Them Softly: Prepared
    Killing Them Softly: Shakedown
    Clip 0:35
    Watch Killing Them Softly: Shakedown
    Killing Them Softly: Clip 1
    Clip 1:16
    Watch Killing Them Softly: Clip 1

    Photos191

    Ray Liotta in Killing Them Softly (2012)
    Ben Mendelsohn in Killing Them Softly (2012)
    Scoot McNairy in Killing Them Softly (2012)
    Ray Liotta in Killing Them Softly (2012)
    Ben Mendelsohn and Scoot McNairy in Killing Them Softly (2012)
    Richard Jenkins in Killing Them Softly (2012)
    James Gandolfini in Killing Them Softly (2012)
    Richard Jenkins in Killing Them Softly (2012)
    Brad Pitt in Killing Them Softly (2012)
    Rose Byrne at an event for Killing Them Softly (2012)
    James Gandolfini at an event for Killing Them Softly (2012)
    Josh Lucas at an event for Killing Them Softly (2012)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Brad Pitt
    Brad Pitt
    • Jackie
    Ray Liotta
    Ray Liotta
    • Markie Trattman
    Richard Jenkins
    Richard Jenkins
    • Driver
    Scoot McNairy
    Scoot McNairy
    • Frankie
    Ben Mendelsohn
    Ben Mendelsohn
    • Russell
    James Gandolfini
    James Gandolfini
    • Mickey
    Vincent Curatola
    Vincent Curatola
    • Johnny Amato
    Trevor Long
    Trevor Long
    • Steve Caprio
    Max Casella
    Max Casella
    • Barry Caprio
    Sam Shepard
    Sam Shepard
    • Dillon
    George Carroll
    George Carroll
    • Kenny Gill
    • (as Slaine)
    Linara Washington
    Linara Washington
    • Hooker
    Ross Brodar
    Ross Brodar
    • Poker Guy
    Wade Allen
    Wade Allen
    • Business Suit Agent
    Christopher Berry
    Christopher Berry
    • Cab Driver Agent
    Kenneth Brown Jr.
    • Security Force Agent
    Mustafa Harris
    Mustafa Harris
    • Bartender #1
    Dared Wright
    Dared Wright
    • Waiter
    • Director
      • Andrew Dominik
    • Writers
      • Andrew Dominik
      • George V. Higgins
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Turkish former minister of culture found the movie so offensive that he told the press that he wanted the age bar for this movie to be raised from 13 to 18 or, if possible, remove it from the theaters altogether.
    • Goofs
      After using his shotgun and putting it in the getaway car, Jackie wipes down the car of evidence but fails to retrieve his gun and his fingerprints on it.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Barack Obama (on TV): [on TV delivering his election victory speech] ... to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth that out of many, we are one.

      Driver: You hear that line? Line's for you.

      Jackie Cogan: Don't make me laugh. We're one people. It's a myth created by Thomas Jefferson.

      Driver: Oh, now you're gonna have a go at Jefferson, huh?

      Jackie Cogan: My friend, Jefferson's an American saint because he wrote the words, "All men are created equal." Words he clearly didn't believe, since he allowed his own children to live in slavery. He was a rich wine snob who was sick of paying taxes to the Brits. So yeah, he wrote some lovely words and aroused the rabble, and they went out and died for those words, while he sat back and drank his wine and fucked his slave girl. This guy wants to tell me we're living 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 fucking pay me.

    • Alternate versions
      There are two versions of this film. One is the theatrical release, and another the rough cut. Runtimes, respectively, are: "1h 37m (97 min)" and "2h 30m (150 min) (rough cut):.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Cannes Film Festival 2012 (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Dosruk
      (aka "Moon Dance")

      Written and performed by Carl Stone

      Published by Electro-Acoustic Music (ASCAP)

    User reviews489

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Solid, Hero-less, Unsentimental Crime Movie
    This movie was done in a style that was quite unique from your standard issue shoot 'em up or Scorsese gangster movie in a number of ways I found refreshing. It slowed down the pace of dialogue scenes to a relatable and believable level, made the violence far more realistic, and didn't overdo the music. Those who can't handle too much, or too realistic of violence won't like this movie.

    Some might feel the dialogue makes the movie drag just a bit, but if you like realistic filmmaking, they've made it feel as if you're sitting in on actual conversations. The scenes and cuts are long but are livened up with the fairly constant scummy-ness of the characters. James Gandolfini seemed to prattle on a little too much but I suppose that was the point.

    The violence can be summed up as unsentimental; much of it can be defined by the difficult achievement of not falling into played out Hollywood clichés. There are no heros in this movie as the director doesn't use cheap tricks, like voiceovers, disproportionate screen time, or happy music to convince you that one criminal is worth rooting for over the others. There is no glorification or demonization of violence, as it is depicted without the influence of music, and the audience can decide for themselves about what is being shown. There are no Schwartzenegger-style shoot outs, as the violence is usually sudden but brutal and loud. Every gunshot is closer to being as loud as real life, so you get a little jolt with every shot like being at a gun range.

    The use of music is also played down and important in making both the violence and dialogue distinct. There is some music which gives the movie some energy, but overall far less than the average Hollywood film. This adds an element of suspense as the music doesn't give away what is about to happen in every scene (like a movie with ominous music when something bad is about to happen, etc.). The lack of music also allows the audience a semblance of neutrality in what they are observing; characters are allowed to be likable without being good.

    This is the sort of movie you could expect if the hero was removed and you only had the villains and thugs left over--it is far less boring.
    helpful•245
    84
    • chase_g
    • Dec 17, 2012

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 30, 2012 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Cogan's Trade
    • Filming locations
      • Claiborne Avenue Bridge, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA(Jackie meeting with Driver under the bridge)
    • Production companies
      • Plan B Entertainment
      • 1984 Private Defense Contractors
      • Annapurna Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $15,026,056
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $6,812,900
      • Dec 2, 2012
    • Gross worldwide
      • $37,930,465
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • Datasat
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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