Andrew Dominik’s “Killing Them Softly” may be a gangster movie, but like the great genre movies of classic Hollywood, the gangster element is just a means to explore relevant issues of our time. Taking place during the 2008 economic collapse and presidential election, the film repeatedly uses sound bites from President Barack Obama, Sen. John McCain and George Bush; it even features Obama’s presidential acceptance speech. “Softly” uses the economy of the gangster world as a microcosm for the American economy as a whole. While this may sound heavy-handed, “Softly” is still very entertaining and contains plenty of action and snappy dialogue for its critiques of modern capitalism. It’s an engrossing experience from beginning to end.

The film tells the story of a perfect plan that went wrong. Markie Trattman (Ray Liotta) runs a card game ring — one that he has robbed in the past. Small-timer Johnny Amato (Vincent Curatola) believes that if the game was ever robbed again, the mob would immediately blame Trattman, so he calls upon Frankie (Scoot McNairy), a well-meaning thief, to help him rob the game. After the robbery, hitman Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt) is hired to fix the situation and bring stability back to the mob’s economy.

“Softly” finds true brilliance in its human interludes. A large portion of the film focuses on Frankie and his heroin-addicted, prison friend Russell (Ben Mendelsohn) whom he recruits to help him in the heist. Their fascinating friendship, as well as Russell’s desperate attempts at fulfilling his own American dream, is filled with a heartfelt and disturbing poignancy.

The film also features a subplot with New York Mickey (James Gandolfini), a hitman too obsessed with alcohol and sex to accomplish anything. While the character has no essential bearing on the film’s main plot, his quietly tragic scenes are some of “Softly’s” strongest moments.

All of these subplots and characters work because of the excellent ensemble cast. Whether a big name like Pitt or a lesser-known actor like McNairy, all the actors mold into their roles with ease. There is no attempt to make the characters appealing, or even likable.

This movie is dark, but it matches the mood of the times. “Killing Them Softly” is a film that doesn’t apologize for its cynicism and frustration with the status quo.

Drew Gregory is a staff writer. Email him at [email protected].