As the narrative unfolds, “Killing Them Softly” follows Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt), a professional enforcer, as he investigates a heist that occurred during a high-stakes poker game. The film explores themes of crime, economic decay, and the harsh realities of the criminal underworld.
In the climax, Jackie identifies and eliminates those involved in the heist. His approach to “killing them softly” refers to his preference for eliminating targets from a distance to avoid emotional involvement. The violence is depicted with a stark and realistic tone, emphasizing the gritty nature of the criminal world.
In the resolution, Jackie meets with Driver (Richard Jenkins), the middleman who hired him for the job. They discuss the nature of crime, capitalism, and the disillusionment within the system. The film uses the crime narrative as a backdrop to comment on broader social and economic issues.
The ending of “Killing Them Softly” is marked by a sense of cynicism and a commentary on the harsh realities of capitalism and crime. The film concludes with a radio broadcast discussing the 2008 financial crisis, underlining the film’s critique of the interconnectedness between crime and economic decline. The final scenes suggest a bleak outlook on the characters’ futures and the systemic issues they grapple with.