Unseen Cinema: “Gangster Land” – A Missed Opportunity
In our weekly “Off the Radar” segment, we spotlight films that, while not hitting Russian cinemas, might still pique your interest.
The roaring twenties in America. Vincenzo Gibaldi, a young Italian immigrant, finds himself in the boxing ring due to a lack of job opportunities. However, the Irish boxers are more popular with the crowds, leading him to adopt the alias “Jack McGurn.” With his new persona, he achieves moderate success and catches the eye of the Chicago mafia. Al Capone himself offers Jack a position as his bodyguard. Initially hesitant, Jack joins the gangsters after Bugs Moran’s gang murders his father, transforming into one of Capone’s most ruthless killers. Driven by vengeance, Jack closes in on Moran, becoming a sworn enemy of the rival gang leader. This intense rivalry culminates in the infamous “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.”
The era of gang wars and the Great Depression in the United States provides endless inspiration for filmmakers. Hollywood frequently produces both realistic biopics and fictionalized accounts, capitalizing on the abundance of heroes and anti-heroes, as well as the thrilling shootouts, raids, chases, and robberies that make for compelling screenplays. However, beyond historical events and colorful characters, a good film requires a capable director, a decent budget, and talented actors. Unfortunately, “Gangster Land” lacks all of these elements, making it skippable unless you’re a die-hard fan of men in fedoras wielding Tommy guns.
The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre: A Cinematic Staple
The “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” is one of the most notorious gangland events in American history. It has been the subject of dedicated films and has inspired scenes in numerous classics, such as “Scarface” and even “Some Like It Hot.”
We wouldn’t even recommend this film to history buffs, as the historical basis of the film is, to put it mildly, distorted or, more delicately, creatively reinterpreted. “Gangster Land” is based on the story of real-life gangster Jack McGurn, who rose to become Al Capone’s right-hand man and earned the nickname “Machine Gun” for his fondness for resolving conflicts with Thompson submachine guns. However, the filmmakers took liberties with the facts to enhance the drama. This “lying” culminates at the most crucial moment: detectives and the court failed to prove McGurn’s involvement in the murders of Moran’s men on February 14, 1929, but “Gangster Land” presents it as an established fact.
A Conflicted Protagonist
Of course, we’re not trying to excuse the criminal, but Jack “Machine Gun” McGurn already had a bloody trail of misdeeds to his name. There were plenty of reasons to judge him, and his short life (he was killed at 33) ended tragically. However, the filmmakers seem confused about their attitude toward the character. McGurn is portrayed as a naive youth, a young man in love, and a thinker gazing thoughtfully into a bleak future. Yet, just a minute later, he’s gunning down rivals, knocking out the teeth of a guy who complimented his fiancée, and urging Capone to act more harshly. A contradictory figure, to say the least, but it takes skill to portray such a complex character effectively.
Lackluster Performances and Production
The film’s screenwriter is Ian Patrick Williams, a television actor who has appeared in numerous notable projects, from “Dexter” to “ER.” “Gangster Land” is his feature-length screenwriting debut.
Unfortunately, “Gangster Land” lacks talent. Sean Faris, in the lead role, doesn’t exactly shine. He delivers his lines with the same vacant expression, whether professing love or uttering final words to his victims. There’s no sense of backbone or charisma, good or bad, in his character. The supporting cast doesn’t help much either. Milo Gibson, one of Mel Gibson’s many children, plays Capone but falls short of actors who have previously dared to portray the infamous Chicago gangster on screen. He’s unnecessarily hysterical and doesn’t come across as threatening. Peter Facinelli, well-known to “Twilight” fans, is a poor fit for the role of Irish thug Bugs Moran – he’s too aristocratic and intellectual. The inappropriateness of everyone on screen undermines the efforts of the rest of the crew, although the background isn’t particularly impressive either. The film has a distinctly “television” feel, and its scope is no larger than that of an average TV series.
Final Verdict
There’s no comparison to even relatively recent films like “Gangster Squad” and “Lawless” – “Gangster Land” is two steps behind, more straightforward, and more senseless. And we shouldn’t even mention “The Untouchables,” which, by the way, mentions both McGurn and Moran. Timothy Woodward Jr.'s film doesn’t even come close to Brian De Palma’s masterpiece. So, is it worth opening a bottle of cheap bootleg liquor when there’s always excellent aged whiskey at the bar? It’s a rhetorical question.