**Cogan: Killing Them Softly: A Comprehensive Analysis**

Introduction

Cogan: Killing Them Softly is a 2012 American neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Andrew Dominik and written by Dominik and Brad Pitt. The film stars Pitt, Ray Liotta, James Gandolfini, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn, and Richard Jenkins. The film follows Jackie Cogan (Pitt), a professional hitman who is hired to investigate and clean up a botched poker game.

The film is based on the novel of the same name by George V. Higgins. It was released in the United States on September 21, 2012, and received generally positive reviews from critics. The film was praised for its performances, particularly Pitt's, as well as its direction, writing, and cinematography.

Plot Summary

The film opens with Jackie Cogan (Pitt) being hired by Markie Trattman (McNairy) to investigate a botched poker game in New Orleans. Cogan learns that the game was robbed by two men, Frankie (Liotta) and Russell (Gandolfini). Cogan is ordered to find and kill the two men.

Cogan tracks Frankie and Russell to New Orleans, where he learns that they are planning to rob another poker game. Cogan follows the two men to the game and kills them both.

After the killings, Cogan is approached by The Driver (Jenkins), a hitman who was hired by Trattman to kill Cogan. The Driver tells Cogan that Trattman is afraid of him and wants him dead. Cogan agrees to meet with Trattman, but he is ambushed by Trattman's men. Cogan kills Trattman's men and escapes.

Cogan then goes to see Trattman, who is hiding in a hotel room. Cogan tells Trattman that he knows why he wanted him dead. Trattman wanted Cogan to kill Frankie and Russell, but he also wanted Cogan to investigate the botched poker game and find out who was behind it. Trattman believes that the person behind the poker game is the one who wants Cogan dead.

Cogan agrees to investigate the botched poker game. He learns that it was orchestrated by a man named Mickey (Mendelsohn). Mickey is a powerful criminal who is involved in many illegal activities. Cogan confronts Mickey and tells him that he knows what he did. Mickey admits to the botched poker game and the murder of Trattman's men.

Cogan then kills Mickey and his men. He then returns to Trattman's hotel room and tells him that he has killed Mickey. Trattman is relieved and thanks Cogan.

Characters

Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt): A professional hitman who is hired to investigate and clean up a botched poker game. Cogan is a cold, calculating, and efficient killer. He is also a man of few words.
Markie Trattman (Scoot McNairy): A mobster who hires Cogan to investigate the botched poker game. Trattman is a small-time criminal who is in over his head.
Frankie (Ray Liotta): One of the two men who robbed the poker game. Frankie is a career criminal who has been in and out of prison.
Russell (James Gandolfini): One of the two men who robbed the poker game. Russell is a violent and dangerous man.
The Driver (Richard Jenkins): A hitman who is hired by Trattman to kill Cogan. The Driver is a professional killer who is good at his job.
Mickey (Ben Mendelsohn): A powerful criminal who is behind the botched poker game. Mickey is a ruthless and dangerous man.

Themes

The film explores several themes, including violence, crime, and redemption.

Violence is a central theme in the film. Cogan is a professional hitman, and he uses violence to solve problems. The film does not glorify violence, but it does show the consequences of it.

Crime is another major theme in the film. The film shows how crime can corrupt people and how it can lead to violence.

Redemption is a minor theme in the film. Cogan is a killer, but he is also a man who is capable of redemption. The film shows how Cogan can find redemption through violence.

Critical Reception

Cogan: Killing Them Softly received generally positive reviews from critics. The film was praised for its performances, particularly Pitt's, as well as its direction, writing, and cinematography.

Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 79% based on 202 reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The site's consensus reads: "Cogan: Killing Them Softly is a stylish and well-acted neo-noir thriller that delivers on its promise of violence and suspense."

Metacritic gives the film a score of 70 out of 100 based on 40 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews."

Analysis

Cogan: Killing Them Softly is a well-made and engaging neo-noir thriller. The film has strong performances, particularly from Pitt, and its direction, writing, and cinematography are all top-notch. The film also explores several important themes, including violence, crime, and redemption.

One of the things that makes Cogan: Killing Them Softly stand out is its violence. The film is not gratuitous with its violence, but it does show the consequences of it. The film shows how violence can corrupt people and how it can lead to more violence.

Another thing that makes Cogan: Killing Them Softly stand out is its performances. Pitt is excellent in the lead role. He creates a character that is both cold and calculating, but also capable of redemption. The rest of the cast is also excellent, with Liotta, Gandolfini, McNairy, Mendelsohn, and Jenkins all delivering strong performances.

Overall, Cogan: Killing Them Softly is a well-made and engaging neo-noir thriller. The film has strong performances, particularly from Pitt, and its direction, writing, and cinematography are all top-notch. The film also explores several important themes, including violence, crime, and redemption.

Conclusion

Cogan: Killing Them Softly is a well-made and engaging neo-noir thriller that is worth watching. The film has strong performances, particularly from Pitt, and its direction, writing, and cinematography are all top-notch. The film also explores several important themes, including violence, crime, and redemption.