Gangster No. 1 (2000). Cert 18. Director -
Paul McGuigan. Writer -
Johnny Ferguson Starring -
Malcolm McDowell, David Thewlis, Paul Bettany & Saffron
Burrows.
Premise -
When an ageing gangster hears that his former mentor is getting out of
jail he reminisces about the previous 30 years and his rise to the top of
the underground. Riding the
coat-tails of Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, Gangster No.1 was
lost in a sea of shoddy British gangster flicks. Circus, Love Honour &
Obey, Essex Boys, Brother & Snatch were all vying for a piece of the
pie. As it turns out Snatch was the best of the bunch (probably because it
was Guy Ritchie repeating Lock, Stock). Gangster No. 1, however is for my
money better than the lot of them. I never
'got' Lock, Stock and Snatch. Sure, Ritchie is a mean technical director,
but the stories in both were lacking and some of the acting was
questionable at best. Gangster No.1 on the other hand has a technically
sound director, but can also boast quality acting and an intriguing
story. The film
is told for the most part using flashback in London of 1968. The period
setting is very well recreated, from the lush apartments of the head
gangster (David Thewlis) right down to the concrete dominated tenements of
the low level hoods. Good use of the times music as well, I was reminded
of Goodfellas on the odd occasion. Malcolm
McDowell as the old 'Gangster 55' as he's known is, as you would expect
excellent. McDowell has played many an off the hook psycho in his time so
he probably didn't have to dig too deep for the part. Playing his younger
self is Paul Bettany. Wow, this guy is amazing. I dug out my Clockwork
Orange tape and this guy could pass for McDowell when he was that age.
They got that spot on. Although not only does Bettany look like a young
McDowell, he has the same mad look in his eye with a flicker of someone
that will hack you to bits just for a giggle. David
Thewlis plays the head of the gang and he does it brilliantly. He has an
underlying campness that make sit all the more chilling when he goes off
on one. Saffron Burrows plays the standard gangsters moll and she is
serviceable enough, but doesn't really have much to do outside of looking
painfully thin. The
violence in Gangster No. 1 is plentiful and stylish. One scene is
particularly gruesome to watch. A man is tortured and killed, but rather
than show it in a normal fashion we see everything from the victims point
of view. The film is particularly gruesome, but I don't think
excessively so. It fits the subject matter that is being portrayed, this
kind of thing happened all the time in the London of the 60's. It should
be noted that the language is VERY colourful. If this was a Seasame Street
episode it would be presented by the letters F and C! It's not
all smelling of roses however. After the outstanding first hour or so we
go back to the present day and to McDowell as he confronts his old boss.
These scenes fell drawn out and don't sit well with the rest of the movie.
The ending is also a bit of a let down. Given the frenetic pace of the
rest of the movie, it's just a bit of an anticlimax. Gangster
No. 1 is a fine film and the best of the recent surge of British gangster
flicks. Worth a watch, just have the sick bag handy for the more gruesome
scenes! ;)
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7/10 for Gangster No.1. Poster Quote - Do me a favour. |