This film inspired by a true story takes place in Los Angeles, California, the year 1949.  Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) is the gangster in charge and no one not even the police will cross him.  He and his men are taking out some frustrations on a Chicago mob man in the LA hills ultimately to send a message to his associates before feeding the remains to some local coyotes. 
Sergeant John O’Mara (Josh Brolin) and his pregnant wife Connie (Mireille Enos) have been living in LA with the thought in mind to raise a family, enjoy the ocean breeze and live in the land of sunshine.  Even though Connie describes John as kind, honest and good in the sack she still fears for his life as an LA cop.  He works alongside his partner Sergeant Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling) as they try to protect the streets but when John decides to save a young girl from the hands of Cohen’s mob men everything begins to change.
Chief Parker (Nick Nolte) decides that the only way to further protect LA from the grips of Mickey Cohen and his men is to take down one by one his money making, gambling, drug and sex establishments in California.  So with the help of his wife, John starts his search to find a few good honorable men to form the “Gangster Squad” and permanently take down Cohen.  The search continued for fighters not scholars in order to attack Cohen’s crime organization bring them down to the ground.  If John gets his way LA will no longer be Cohen’s destiny but rather his tomb.
Six men which includes John, Officer Coleman Harris (Robert Patrick) the black man good with a gun but better with a knife, Officer Max Kennard (Robert Patrick), the cowboy with a hundred percent bulls eye at any target he decides to shoot, Officer Conway Keeler (Giovanni Ribisi) the man with the brains out to make his son proud, Officer Navidad Ramirez (Michael Pena) the Mexican with a thirst for truth and last but not least Sergeant Jerry Wooters who by the way happens to be sleeping with Cohen’s girlfriend, the beautiful Grace Faraday (Emma Stone).  She really resembles Jessica Rabbit in her red dress at Slapsy Maxie’s.  This is one actress that has come a long way in a short time in Hollywood and deservedly so since once again she shines in yet another lead role.
The Mystery men start to over-take Cohen and his criminal ring, acting not as cops but rather hiding their true identities.  Cohen believes that like a dog with rabies, there is no medicine so the only choice in this matter is to put the dog down.  The fighting really begins from this point on with not only gangsters, police and innocent people losing their lives but the beginning to what looks like the end for once a boxer now crime lord Mickey Cohen and it’s not looking like his bulldog Mickey Junior can even help his master now.  Unlike a cat a dog doesn’t have nine lives to use up but sometimes at least more than one!  In a city that is not quite paradise it truly is the city of angels.
I absolutely loved this period piece set in the 40’s, the costumes, song, dance and just the whole stylish appeal of a day in the life of west coast Americans battling the day and age of trying to live life and raise a family amongst the likes of some very ruthless gangsters.  Well directed and written this story is really much better than what the trailers profess it to be.  Beautifully cast with Penn playing the ultimate bad ass which he does so well even while looking like a character out of a “Dick Tracy’ film.  Brolin also fits right in to his part playing the man fighting for justice no matter what it takes when along by his side Gosling like Tonto to the Lone Ranger has his back every step of the way.  As supporting members the rest of the actors that fill in the mighty six to the “Gangster Squad” all are perfect making this film a must see filled with great visuals, a perfect score and a great story line mixed with enough gun fights to appeal to the guys but thanks to Stone she helps to draw in the female audience giving the story a bit of romance and intrigue to the plot.  Overall an exciting film that truly turned out much better than I expected it too.  Written with 3 paws out of 4 by Jon Patch.