Gangster No. 1

"...a handsomely ugly affair, well dressed enough to make a few friends, but tough enough to make just as many enemies."

Bettany is fascinating as a sociopathic aspirant, and Thewlis is also great as the model of gangster glamour. McDowell, whom I usually love, is fine in his own sequences, but his narration occasionally muddles the force of the film, and the films many artificial editing techniques often fall flat and feel gimmicky. The solid story doesn't fare as well as it could because the script and editing are not as restrained as they should be.

Mesmerising performance from Bettany makes all the difference. Don't expect Richie-esque twattery; this is deeply unpleasant, ignorant, violent bastards being shitty at each other. Malcolm McDowell wobbles his normal line of hammy and good.

Scarface plus American Psycho minus the entertainment factor of both. I don't get why Paul Bettany ages into Malcolm McDowell but David Thewlis just ages into age makeup. I think you either gotta recast both or do makeup on both, this mix-and-match thing doesn't work.

oooh a London gangster film, how original

Paul Bettany was great. I was disappointed in Malcolm McDowell, and the last 30 minutes of the film.

A puzzling film that possibly raises more questions than it answers, and relies too heavily on violence and more specifically blood to make an impact. It does make it plain that 1960s London gangsters were better dressers than 'gangstas' of more recent vintage. More evidence of how the modern world offers more, but worse.

Extremely strong British cast can't save an extremely British script. I'd give it 10 more points if it came out 5 years earlier. I have to admit though that I should've at least heard of this before a coworker turned me on. It's not his fault though, he was wearing tight jeans. Huh?

Unhinged, menacing and brutal. Psychotic performances from Bettany and McDowell make it.

Not bad, not that great either iirc. Good cast, though.

In the end, no one wants Freddie's chair. Bettany/McDowell's sociopath doesn't really want any of the trappings of his success, but seemed to have found some meaning in struggle. When none remained, he was gone too. I don't know whether this film makes sense. Does sociopathy collapse in on itself?

A story about wealth, envy and, obviously, gangsters. Nothing outstanding, but it has a great story to tell and Paul's superb performance.

engaging

A pretty typical British gangster film highlighted by a couple of excellent acting performances. Thewlis and Bettany both shine as violent but sophisticated thugs.

Not in the same league as Sexy Beast or Layer Cake, but it has its moments.

Excellent.

What does this movie want from me? It's just a load of epigonic gangster movie cliches with nothing new or interesting to add.