Revelation

Killing Them Softly

Crit

A very well-made unpleasant film, with scenes of physical and emotional torture strung out to brutal length, as well as intimate studies of the poetics of ballistics. What makes it work is the almost Elmore Leonard-esque wiseguy dumbguy language--that, and the cool bravado of Brad Pitt's hitman.

But here's a practical question: if you're filming in and around New Orleans, why would all the place names mentioned be in greater Boston? And then, if you're intent on presenting New Orleans as Boston, why would you let us see highway signs at the intersection of U.S. 11 and 90?

Trailers

• Broken City--Russell Crowe as the comically coiffed corrupt mayor of New York, Mark Wahlberg as his lackey with a conscience.
• Dark Skies--Poor Keri Russell; it has come to this; call it Parastupid Activity V.
• Wait a minute: Dark Skies, Broken City--Wasn't that Jay McInerney's first novel?