Killing Them Softly

All set to write a piece on one of James Gandolfini's last film projects Killing Them Softly after viewing it last night, I wake up today and turn on the news and learn of his passing at the age of 51.  First off, a moment of sadness, respect, and deep admiration for one of the best character actors of his generation and acclaimed television stars who I believe truly changed the "game" in his role as Tony Soprano.  That being said, he was no less effective in this role, portraying the wore out boozing hitman Mickey, subcontracted by fellow hitman Pitt to help eliminate the robbers of a high stakes card game.   The movie is interesting for sure in it's caper premise, laced throughout with black humor and showcasing the current American political-economic overtones of the day and how they also permeate the criminal community.  We're meant to see the parallels within this world and how it is in essence no different in many ways to how banks, government, businesses, and people in general restructure and respond to an economic crisis.  But what made Killing them Softly really stand out for me, are it's strong dialogue and cast performance.   Many movies aren't often made this way anymore, especially in a criminal drama where in this case dialogue moves the film along and takes center stage to comparatively little to no action.