I saw this after a friend recommended it. Great review, exploring the depths of what is shows esp, the killing scene & the emotional breakdown after he is dead. Thanks
This review was great. I just watched this movie and loved it, for all of the characteristics you described in this video. You relayed everything wonderfully, and I look forward to more!
Awesome. Even though it would have been more emotional had Paul Bettany played old Gangster, some have pointed out that it almost makes Gangster's memory of the past appear idealized. Also, the fizzle at the end adds to the feeling of emptiness - it's an implosion rather than an explosion. But it's fabulous that you reviewed both this and Manhunter, two slightly obscure films.
@elleoneiram Thanks, some very good points. If you're an ugly old man (no offence to MM) then who better to cast in your flashbacks than Paul Bettany? Reminds me a little of Fightclub, perfectly casting Brad Pitt as an everyman's ideal of the masculine self. And I agree this film climaxes with an implosion rather than explosion. I like the fact that the showdown is verbal rather than a shootout or something. It's very fitting to the drama.
Excellent review mate. I've always found myself rather repelled by gangster movies, it took me years to make myself watch Scarface, I think it's to do with just not liking that kind of character. You've made me want to see this though, it sounds suitably dark
Very interesting. When I saw that at the movies back then, and I just have seen it once, I didn't like it. Surely I was expecting something a bit more light hearted and less depressing. Something in the spirit of Guy Ritchy or the early Danny Boyle. But from time to time I find myself looking back to it. The movie left an impression somehow. It was just not lovable.
@DocHackenbush It doesn't appeal to everyone. I didn't know too much about this film on first view either, I was expecting the same as you and it does begin quite jokey. It's a real surprise just how serious and dark it gets once the film gets going.
I liked it OK after the first viewing but it's one of those films that's really grown on me over the years. Like a fine wine, it matures with age.
The 'gangster' in this film is one of the scariest characters I've ever seen on screen, a total black hole of a human being made even more frightening by the thought that such characters may actualy exist. It's great the way that the film does not glamourise the 'villians' in the same was 'snatch' or 'lock stock' does. These are not cheeky chappies, they are horrible, nasty b##tards!
@Criminology2009 Yeah. it's not often you get a film with a main character you just can't root for or sympathise with at all. (intentionally anyway. There are films where you're supposed to root for the hero but they're just too vile and obnoxious.)
@cambellfan22 You're right. Besides McDowell's inclusion into the cast and the part with Gangster beating Lennie Smalls to a happy-go-lucky pop song (like the Singin' in the Rain scene in Clockwork), Roger Ebert points out in his review that close-ups of Gangster are "often photographed with his eyes glaring up from beneath lowered brows, which was the signature look Stanley Kubrick gave Alex." =)
@cambellfan22 (and @KajiCarson) def agree. And incidentally, part of the marketing was aimed at A Clockwork Orange fans with a specific trailer in ACO screenings when it was finally rereleased in the UK. (You can find it on youtube searching gangster no 1 teaser.)
This review made me see the film, and I agree, it's a very jarring and powerful piece of cinema. While I would have liked for the film to explore Gangster's past through flashbacks, one might argue that the absense of any references regarding his motivations to becoming a mafia goon truly crystalizes him as a symbol of evil. The scene with him terrorizing Eddie is truly intense: the wolf not eating the lamb, but horrifying him into total submission. This was Gangster's only source of pleasure.
@KajiCarson Thank you. Yeah, the interogation scene is great with some amazing performances. Eddie just crumbles under Gangster's intimidation. The director said that they used that scene as an audition piece and he was impressed with how Paul Bettany played it, just quiet and threatening, where as most actors were just shouting and getting agressive. I like the way so much is portrayed in the subtlest of gestures.
excellent review. i haven't seen this one, but I do enjoy British Gangster films. The Long Good Friday is arguably the best, and The Krays is an excellent one, too.
@thebrb30000 Thanks, and agreed, The Long Good Friday is great. Not actually seen The Krays since I was young, on it's initial VHS release, but I remember liking it well enough. prob about time to revisit it :-)
Thank you for the wonderful review...you make great points all. Will check out your other reviews.
hera2511 3 weeks ago
@hera2511 Thanks :-)
davidscribe 3 weeks ago
Good stuff!
KasparKrieg 4 months ago
7 out of 10.
Ebareebaveebeedee 5 months ago
Quite frankly you are the best movie reviewer I have comes across any where. Honest. Really took me back to this film.
emmthreejonny 6 months ago
@emmthreejonny Thank you. You make me blush! :-)
davidscribe 5 months ago
I saw this after a friend recommended it. Great review, exploring the depths of what is shows esp, the killing scene & the emotional breakdown after he is dead. Thanks
metalfacedoom7 6 months ago
@metalfacedoom7 Thanks. :-)
davidscribe 6 months ago
This review was great. I just watched this movie and loved it, for all of the characteristics you described in this video. You relayed everything wonderfully, and I look forward to more!
cornobbler 8 months ago
@cornobbler Hi there, thanks for the comment and the sub. Glad you liked the movie :-)
davidscribe 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
What, with Scotland Yard breathing down my neck fuck off..
Do me a favour..!!
RevolverRaj 8 months ago
Looks like a really interesting film. Thanks for the review David.
gsogoz 11 months ago
Awesome. Even though it would have been more emotional had Paul Bettany played old Gangster, some have pointed out that it almost makes Gangster's memory of the past appear idealized. Also, the fizzle at the end adds to the feeling of emptiness - it's an implosion rather than an explosion. But it's fabulous that you reviewed both this and Manhunter, two slightly obscure films.
elleoneiram 1 year ago
@elleoneiram Thanks, some very good points. If you're an ugly old man (no offence to MM) then who better to cast in your flashbacks than Paul Bettany? Reminds me a little of Fightclub, perfectly casting Brad Pitt as an everyman's ideal of the masculine self. And I agree this film climaxes with an implosion rather than explosion. I like the fact that the showdown is verbal rather than a shootout or something. It's very fitting to the drama.
davidscribe 1 year ago
Excellent review mate. I've always found myself rather repelled by gangster movies, it took me years to make myself watch Scarface, I think it's to do with just not liking that kind of character. You've made me want to see this though, it sounds suitably dark
lampyman101 1 year ago
@lampyman101 LOL liking the main character doesn't really come into it with this film.
davidscribe 1 year ago
Very interesting. When I saw that at the movies back then, and I just have seen it once, I didn't like it. Surely I was expecting something a bit more light hearted and less depressing. Something in the spirit of Guy Ritchy or the early Danny Boyle. But from time to time I find myself looking back to it. The movie left an impression somehow. It was just not lovable.
DocHackenbush 1 year ago
@DocHackenbush It doesn't appeal to everyone. I didn't know too much about this film on first view either, I was expecting the same as you and it does begin quite jokey. It's a real surprise just how serious and dark it gets once the film gets going.
I liked it OK after the first viewing but it's one of those films that's really grown on me over the years. Like a fine wine, it matures with age.
davidscribe 1 year ago
Great review Dave.
The 'gangster' in this film is one of the scariest characters I've ever seen on screen, a total black hole of a human being made even more frightening by the thought that such characters may actualy exist. It's great the way that the film does not glamourise the 'villians' in the same was 'snatch' or 'lock stock' does. These are not cheeky chappies, they are horrible, nasty b##tards!
Criminology2009 1 year ago
@Criminology2009 Yeah. it's not often you get a film with a main character you just can't root for or sympathise with at all. (intentionally anyway. There are films where you're supposed to root for the hero but they're just too vile and obnoxious.)
davidscribe 1 year ago
this movie and the character played by paul bentley has that clockwork orange feel to it
cambellfan22 1 year ago
@cambellfan22 You're right. Besides McDowell's inclusion into the cast and the part with Gangster beating Lennie Smalls to a happy-go-lucky pop song (like the Singin' in the Rain scene in Clockwork), Roger Ebert points out in his review that close-ups of Gangster are "often photographed with his eyes glaring up from beneath lowered brows, which was the signature look Stanley Kubrick gave Alex." =)
KajiCarson 1 year ago
@cambellfan22 (and @KajiCarson) def agree. And incidentally, part of the marketing was aimed at A Clockwork Orange fans with a specific trailer in ACO screenings when it was finally rereleased in the UK. (You can find it on youtube searching gangster no 1 teaser.)
davidscribe 1 year ago
This review made me see the film, and I agree, it's a very jarring and powerful piece of cinema. While I would have liked for the film to explore Gangster's past through flashbacks, one might argue that the absense of any references regarding his motivations to becoming a mafia goon truly crystalizes him as a symbol of evil. The scene with him terrorizing Eddie is truly intense: the wolf not eating the lamb, but horrifying him into total submission. This was Gangster's only source of pleasure.
KajiCarson 1 year ago
@KajiCarson Thank you. Yeah, the interogation scene is great with some amazing performances. Eddie just crumbles under Gangster's intimidation. The director said that they used that scene as an audition piece and he was impressed with how Paul Bettany played it, just quiet and threatening, where as most actors were just shouting and getting agressive. I like the way so much is portrayed in the subtlest of gestures.
davidscribe 1 year ago
excellent review. i haven't seen this one, but I do enjoy British Gangster films. The Long Good Friday is arguably the best, and The Krays is an excellent one, too.
thebrb30000 1 year ago
@thebrb30000 Thanks, and agreed, The Long Good Friday is great. Not actually seen The Krays since I was young, on it's initial VHS release, but I remember liking it well enough. prob about time to revisit it :-)
davidscribe 1 year ago
@davidscribe I don't think The Krays ever got a DVD release here in the states, which is pretty inexcusable, IMO. It's a fascinating film
thebrb30000 1 year ago