Gangster Squad

There’s a throwback atmosphere that permeates every frame of Gangster Squad, and it’s more than just cosmetic recollections of 1940s Los Angeles such as cars and costumes.

This opulent crime thriller from director Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland) deserves credit for its period re-creation that is detailed enough to recall both the grit and the glamour of post-war Hollywood film noir.

It’s unfortunate that the slick production isn’t matched by a formulaic script, based on a true-life book by Paul Lieberman, which turns repetitive instead of suspenseful despite the best efforts of a top-notch cast.

The story is centered on Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn), the notorious East Coast mobster who tries to extend his Mafia ties in Los Angeles during the late 1940s. As he builds connections and an army of henchmen, however, Cohen runs into John O’Mara (Josh Brolin), a police sergeant who accuses Cohen of murder.

Another detective, Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling), shares O’Mara’s desire to keep Cohen off the streets and his willingness to turn to vigilante justice to get the job done, as do a handful of others who agree to form the titular unit of dedicated cops whose shady tactics border on corruption as they head toward the inevitable final showdown.

The film originally was slated for release in fall 2012, but was delayed following the movie-theater shooting in Aurora, Colo., last summer. That incident prompted a scene involving a theater shooting in the film to be hastily re-written and re-shot.

Gangster Squad features plenty of noir staples, including the hard-boiled detectives, the woman (Emma Stone) whose loyalties are torn between good and evil, and the action sequences, which in this case consist of a series of trumped-up explosions and progressively more ultraviolent shootouts (with the good guys always having better aim, of course). It certainly represents an impressive collection of Tommy submachine guns for weapons enthusiasts.

The ensemble cast does its best to elevate the material, with capable actors filling out most of the supporting roles. Nick Nolte plays gruff police chief Bill Parker, while Brolin’s cohorts include Anthony Mackie, Michael Pena and Robert Patrick.

Ultimately, Gangster Squad could have used more narrative and historical context to go with its evocative visual style. Instead, it’s a story that feels timeless for the wrong reasons.

Rated R, 113 minutes.