'Killing Them Softly' Movie Reviews: Brad Pitt Shines

Andrew Dominik's dark film about low life and the mob debuted in theaters this weekend.

"Killing Them Softly" is the latest in a long line of movies showing the relationship between the mafia and business. In this case, the year is 2008, and business is bad, but the film isn't--it's an entertaining adaptation of a George Higgins book. Higgins had a fantastic ear for dialogue, and this movie focuses on a yacky group of low lifes in a city that could be New Orleans or Boston. When two small-time criminals (Scoot McNairy and Ben Mendelsohn) rob a mafia-protected poker game run by Markie (Ray Liotta), the local mob boss (Richard Jenkins) hits hit man Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt) to right the wrong. He, in turn, brings in his associate Mickey (James Gandolfini) to help out.  Here's what the critics are saying: "Killing Them Softly" is…

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Dinner and a Movie

Brad Pitt Has Never Been Better Than in 'Moneyball'

The latest Brad Pitt film throws a real curveball at the conventional sports-movie, but is it Oscar worthy?

Brad Pitt sets out to revolutionize the game of baseball in the real-life story turned movie "Moneyball." Pitt plays Billy Beane, the Oakland A's general manager who hired math whiz Peter Brand (played by Jonah Hill) to help revolutionize the game of baseball. There is not a lot of time spent on the field in this film; it is really all about Beane and how he created a winning organization not with roster talent, but by using statistics called sabermetrics. It is the story of a time when nerds took over what had always been a jock's world and hit a grand slam. "Moneyball" stands on its own with a strong supporting cast of personalities in a timeless David and Goliath story. Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the team manager at odds …

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