New Zealand’s own Andrew Dominik directs this crime drama that tells the story of Jackie (Brad Pitt), a hit man, who has to restore order to the local criminal economy. Hits are made and money exchanges hands, all the while against the backdrop of the Obama-Cain presidential election. Economy versus community is the subtext explored here, and the fact that this plays out in a gang land setting makes the narrative all the more interesting to watch. Dominik’s knows how to shoot a gangster film with difference (Chopper, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford). He certainly knows how to pick his cinematographers, this time choosing to work with Greig Fraser (Bright Star) who masterfully weaves some stunning camera work that is on occasion surplus to requirements but nonetheless always provocative. Despite some patchy acting, I found Killing Them Softly an interesting take on its subtext.