If you are looking for CHINATOWN you will be disappointed. Give'em Hell Malone is closest to a comedy than a drama. It could easily be considered a satire on the PY genre.
First of all even if Malone, the mysterious/fatal lady and most of the bad guys are dressed like in the forties; the movie happens in the present with modern cars and cell phones.
Second the style, acting and dialogs are mostly absurdist's as most character behaviors.
There are a few problems problems.
The pacing is not good; it goes from extremely violent to long inaction moments. The drunken main character is difficult to be acceptable or sympathetic. In fact, Ving Rhames gets a more lovable character (even when he is a killer)
Elsa Pataky is not really good but perhaps not her fault. She was OK on other dramas; but here her character is confusing and I assume her acting is related.
Matchstick is boring after a while, does not look that terrifying and there are absurd situations when he is involved.
In brief; the script needs a lot of work so the end is frankly confusing and dissapointing
There are a few problems problems.
The pacing is not good; it goes from extremely violent to long inaction moments. The drunken main character is difficult to be acceptable or sympathetic. In fact, Ving Rhames gets a more lovable character (even when he is a killer)
Elsa Pataky is not really good but perhaps not her fault. She was OK on other dramas; but here her character is confusing and I assume her acting is related.
Matchstick is boring after a while, does not look that terrifying and there are absurd situations when he is involved.
In brief; the script needs a lot of work so the end is frankly confusing and dissapointing