"Killing Them Softly" - Brutal, but was it good brutal?

Okay, so I finally watched "Killing Them Softly." Heard it was supposed to be like, a really dark crime thriller. And yeah, it definitely delivered on the dark part. I actually didn't know anything about it going in, honestly I don't even know who directed it, I just saw Brad Pitt was in it. Pitt's always watchable, right? Anyway, the plot is basically some idiots rob a poker game which causes a total mob meltdown, and Brad Pitt is hired to clean up the mess. I liked the whole vibe of it, very grimy and kinda hopeless, you know? James Gandolfini was seriously amazing. That scene with him in the bar, drunk and just ranting? So good. It was also interesting how much of the movie was just people talking. Like, sometimes it felt like I was watching a stage play instead of a crime movie. The violence was shocking when it happened, especially that hit on Frankie (Scoot McNairy). Ouch. That whole sequence was just super intense, the rain, the slow-motion...yikes. And the ending with Pitt quoting Obama? I didn't totally get it, honestly, but it was definitely thought-provoking. I think my biggest issue is that it felt kinda long. Like, it could have been tighter, you know? Also, maybe it was just me, but sometimes the heavy-handed symbolism felt a bit much. But overall, I'd say it's worth checking out if you're into gritty crime dramas. It's defintely not a 'feel good' movie, but it sticks with you for a while. Maybe a bit too bleak for my usual taste, but I can see why people dig it. Anyone else feel the same? Or am I just missing something huge? haha