Starring Brad Pitt, Scoot McNairy
Directed by Andrew Dominik
Given that the only previous adaptation of a George V. Higgins novel was the revered 1973 crime drama The Friends of Eddie Coyle, its surprising that its taken almost 30 years for another filmmaker to mine Higgins back catalogue. Brilliantly transferring Cogans Trade from 70s-era Boston to post-Katrina New Orleans, writer-director Andrew Dominik illustrates how 2008s financial crisis affected Wall Street and the mean streets in equal measure.
The first denizens of the storm-ravaged city were introduced to are low-rent thugs Frankie (Scoot McNairy) and Russell (Ben Mendelsohn). Cajoled into knocking over a card game run by a hard-luck mook (Ray Liotta) and teeming with mobsters, they marvel that no one else had the brainwave. (Dominiks script is armed to the teeth with such instances of dark humour.) With the black market economy grinding to a halt, the unseen powers-that-be recognize that unprecedented and aggressive measures are required to get people back gambling. Cue the summoning of Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt) to set things straight.
Helming just his third feature in 12 years, Dominik continues to astutely navigate the complex relationships shared by men of violence. There isnt so much honour amongst his thieves and assassins as there is a strict code of conduct. And while Cogan may feel sympathy for both his kindred and quarry, he has no qualms about taking care of business. Rather audaciously, Dominik submits that this isnt just the callous state of the underworld but also of the nation as a whole. It may be a simplistic and cynical worldview but its not necessarily that wide of the mark. C.W.
