... "Gangster No. 1", released in 2000, is often overshadowed by such films, but, in my opinion, is a great representative of films of the genre.
The year is 1968, and Gangster (we never learn his real name) has been asked to work for Freddie Mays, known as "The Butcher of Mayfair". The job ... Read review
Gangster No. 1is without doubt the most stylish British violent crime thriller from the ... more
many produced at the end of the 20th century. For all the pop-video glamour of Guy Ritchie'sLock, Stock, and Two Smoking BarrelsandSnatch, neither have anywhere nea...
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It's 1968. Gangster has come to work for Freddie Mays the Butcher of Mayfair and he's ... more
enjoying his job. He likes the money the girls the suits the power the violence. And gangster is good at what he does very good. He frightens people and he's g...
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Gangster No. 1is without doubt the most stylish British violent crime thriller from the ... more
many produced at the end of the 20th century. For all the pop-video glamour of Guy Ritchie'sLock, Stock, and Two Smoking BarrelsandSnatch, neither have anywhere nea...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Gangster No. 1is without doubt the most stylish British violent crime thriller from the ... more
many produced at the end of the 20th century. For all the pop-video glamour of Guy Ritchie'sLock, Stock, and Two Smoking BarrelsandSnatch, neither have anywhere near as much a sense of danger as is shown here. Paul Bettany ignites the screen with a fury that explodes far more than it smoulders beneath his tautly kept temper. The tale concerns his ascent to the titular position of primacy in 1960s London, told in flashback by his present-day self (an equally riveting Malcolm McDowell). A lust for power won't allow anything to stand in either incarnation's way, especially the foppish posturing of established crime boss Freddie Mays (David Thewlis). What distinguishes this from many other tales of greed is that the never-named Gangster actually wants to be Freddie, not simply replace him. Saffron Burrows plays the suffering trophy moll in the middle of this personality clash and provides about the only level head and gentle tongue in what is otherwise a super-violent and super-profane script. This is whatThe Kraysshould have been, and therefore not for the squeamish. --Paul Tonks
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Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: K.C. Bascombe - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Jesse James, Rachel Skarsten, Charles Powell, Linda Purl, Kevin Zegars
Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
Advantages: one of the best of its genre Disadvantages: may be too violent and brutal for some
In recent times, gangster films have made a comeback, the most notable two being "Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch". "Gangster No. 1", released in 2000, is often overshadowed by such films, but, in my opinion, is a great representative of films of the genre.
The year is 1968, and Gangster (we never learn his real name) has been asked to work for Freddie Mays, known as "The Butcher of ... ...Freddie doesn't realise is that Gangster is enjoying his job to such an extent that he wants to BE Freddie - he wants the power, the women, the whole lifestyle.
So when Lennie Taylor, the leader of a rival gang, plots to kill Freddie and claim his territory as his own, Gangster is obviously happy: he formulates his own plan which will get rid of both Lennie and Freddie, meaning that he will be Gangster No. 1. However, years later, ... more
In recent times, gangster films have made a comeback, the most notable two being "Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch". "Gangster No. 1", released in 2000, is often overshadowed by such films, but, in my opinion, is a great representative of films of the genre.
The year is 1968, and Gangster (we never learn his real name) has been asked to work for Freddie Mays, known as "The Butcher of Mayfair". The job is good: he is paid well, and loves the lifestyle of flashy suits, women, power and violence. What Freddie doesn't realise is that Gangster is enjoying his job to such an extent that he wants to BE Freddie - he wants the power, the women, the whole lifestyle.
So when Lennie Taylor, the leader of a rival gang, plots to kill Freddie and claim his territory as his own, Gangster is obviously happy: he formulates his own plan which will get rid of both Lennie and Freddie, meaning that he will be Gangster No. 1. However, years later, with Lennie dead and Freddie finally getting out of prison and intent on starting a family, Gangster finds himself alone and verging on insanity...
This film is, superficially, a portrayal of gangster life in the 60s, but on a deeper level, it is much more than this. This is a story of power and the damage it can cause, of violence and the results it can have, and of how the young Gangster is driven to madness by his desire to be just like Freddie Mays. If you're expecting a film that mixes violence and action with comedy, as does "Lock Stock", then steer well clear of this one - all you will get is brutal violence, depression and insanity. Rather than mix violence with humour, this is just a very exaggerated glorification of violence.
The film is, indeed, very bleak - it portrays the so-called "swinging sixties" not as happy and glamorous, but as desperate, cold and hostile. "Gangster No. 1" is proof that gangster films need not all be the same. Its intensity and depth put it far above other films of the same genre, but the amount of violence does bring it down a little. The idea of having this amazing amount of violence depicted onscreen is obviously to show how cold-blooded these people are, but to me it does seem a little excessive - the film would still have been perfectly good with much less blood and gore shown.
This film is also somewhat disturbing on a psychological level. We see the killing of a rival gang leader from the victim's point of view: a scene lasting several minutes. We see the gradual downhill slide to insanity for Gangster. We see images of both physical and mental torture of the victims of the gangsters. If you're easily shocked, or are averse to films that mess with your head, stay well away!
The casting by director Paul McGuigan (whose first feature film this was, incidentally) is perfect. Malcolm McDowell captures the character of the older Gangster perfectly, and ably shows his decline into madness. This is the same McDowell who played Alex in the film release of Clockwork Orange - the practice of playing a madman obviously paid off!
Paul Bettany plays the young Gangster, and I can't fault his performance. Cold and calculated with evil looking eyes, this man has the role down to a T. However, in places I think he can sometimes act TOO well - with his confidence and obvious desire for leadership, we have no doubt as to who is going to come out on top in the end.
David Thewlis plays Freddie Mays,and ably shows the difference between himself and Gangster - they both love the power and the gang leader lifestyle, but Mays is more laidback and at ease.
My overall opinion? As a gangster film, it's one of the best. The basic plot is not that original, but the way that the film is executed makes it something different. This is a very dark film which is without a doubt disturbing in places, but it's, I'm guessing, more true to the "gangster lifestyle" than are films such as "Lock Stock" and "Snatch". The lack of humour does not make this film any less enjoyable, but I'm still not so sure about the excess of violence - and for this reason alone I'm taking one star off.
A great film, but possibly a little too brutal.
**Released 2002, available from Amazon for £5.99**
Advantages: Gripping Disadvantages: A bit too graphic and violent
...drawing room, you will find Gangster No 1 a very ferocious beast indeed.
This is the first full length film directed by Paul McGuigan and it's a quite extraordinary piece of work, all grimy power, sleazy pace and language which could burn off a coat of paint at 100 yards. Many will dismiss it as a shapeless and shallow recreation of Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, but it deserves to be remembered on its own merits.
Most of the attention is ... ...which characterises much of Gangster No 1, but beneath all the brutality there's a sharp intelligence and style at play here with some quite inventive use of camera work, sound and missing bits - after all you're quite intentionally never given the name of the fearsome lead protagonist, played as Young Gangster by Paul Bettany and as the older Gangster 55 by the reliably evil Malcolm McDowell, but you're certainly given plenty of clues as to his ...
dave27 21.04.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Gangster No.1 (DVD)
Advantages: Good Direction Disadvantages: Not a great plot
...is yet another violent british gangster film made in the post Lock-Stock era of British film maker. It is distinguished, if that is the word, by a level of violence beyond most movies. In fairness to the film, much of the violence is hinted at rather than explicitly shown, yet this can actually feel far worse to the viewer. In one notable scene the anti-hero of the piece, played by Paul Bettany is dismembering a gangland enemy using a variety of ... ...modern day, and an un-named gangster played by Malcolm McDowell relates his rise to power in London's East End. The young gangster effectively and scarily played by Paul Bettany is, to put it mildly, a power crazed sociopath. He joins a gang lead by Freddy Mayes (played by David Thewlis). The gangster does not really respect Freddy, less so when Freddy becomes involved with a young singer called Karen. In order to gain more power for the group and ...
MrWeeble 21.04.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Gangster No.1 (DVD)
Advantages: Brutally realistic, no glamourisation, well-acted. Disadvantages: Sick violence, unoriginal, no real plot.
...ago. I was expecting another gangster flick trying to cash in on the success of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels but I was suprised. This film is a dark, stylish portrayal of a mans descent into madness as he sets his sights on being the top boy. The film takes place mostly in flashbacks which chart the rise of a smalltime hood who fancies himself a bit. Predictably he is keen to impress the right people and move up in his chosen profession. He ... ...of the usual cheeky, lovable gangster characters you see from Hollywood or Guy Ritchie. However the realism makes for a very tense and unpleasant film with a tangible lack of humour to alleviate the tension.
The acting is a decent standard throughout and it is pleasing to see more British films being made, however do they all have to be about gangsters? Paul Bettany, whom I had not seen before, impressed as the young lead with Malcolm McDowell sleepwalking ...
setimerenptah 09.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Gangster No.1 (DVD)
Advantages: Dark, nasty and violent... Disadvantages: ...might be too dark, nasty and violent for some!
The modern British gangster flick, especially one starring former football hardman Vinnie Jones, has a lot to answer for. While Guy Ritchie's cockney gangster pantomime was entertaining enough, it spawned such a vast array of atrocious wannabes - Circus, Rancid Aluminium and Love, Honor and Obey, to name a few. So it is refreshing these days to come across a gangster movie that has a heart as dark as the benchmark for all British gangster movies ... ...Gangster (seen as Malcolm McDowell in the present day sequences), a brutal young upstart summoned into the underworld of dapper Freddy Mays (David Thewlis). Freddy's gang is at an uneasy stand-off with rival Lenny Taylor, but Gangster senses Freddy is going soft when he falls for nightclub singer Karen (Saffron Burrows). Besides, Gangster covets Freddy's position and power. When Freddy is shot and sent down for the murder of Taylor, Gangster grasps ...
Plissken 18.12.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Gangster No.1 (DVD)
...Directed by Paul McGuigan
Gangster No. 1 is the latest in a long line of British-made-and-based gangster (natch) movies which started to come out of the woodwork, it seems, after the success of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. However, unlike Lock Stock, Circus and all it's brethren, Gangster No. 1 eschews the black comedy and quirky characterisation recently seen in the genre, preferring instead to remain stony faced throughout. And also unlike ... ...Club, although he's credited as Gangster 55), played by Malcolm McDowell, enjoying a boxing match with a group of his gangster mates. When the conversation gets round to the imminent release of former crime lord and McDowell's ex-boss Freddie Mays (David Thewlis), Gangster, as we'll call him, reminisces about his rise to power in the criminal underworld. At this point the film slips into flashback, and we join a younger Gangster, played with an undeniably ...
neo1138 16.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Gangster No.1 (DVD)
It's 1968 and Freddie Mays is King of London's gangland. 'Gangster' joins Freddie's firm and becomes his right hand man. He tortures and even murders for him - the two of them becoming a great team. Mays then falls for Karen, a nightclub hostess but by then things have started to get out of control...
Directors Commentary, Isolated Music Score, Deleted Scenes, Cast And Crew Interviews, Behind The Scenes, Theatrical Trailer, Audio Description For The Visually Impaired
Aspect Ratio
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
DVD Description
When a young gangster (Paul Bettany) starts working for gang leader Freddie Mays (David Thewlis), known as the Butcher of Mayfair, he dreams of being everything that Freddie is: smooth, sophisticated, impeccably dressed, always with the right women, and driving the fanciest cars. Freddie takes the young gangster (unnamed in the film but listed as Gangster 55 in the credits) under his wing as a potential war with a rival gang starts to heat up. After Freddie falls for Karen (Saffron Burrows), whom 55 had his eye on, the young gangster lies in wait for an opportunity to change things, and when that moment comes, he leaves a bloodbath of betrayal in his wake. Paul McGuigan's GANGSTER NO. 1 is framed by scenes set in the present, where the aging 55, played with delicious villainy by Malcolm McDowell, narrates the tale of his younger self's rise to power in Soho in the late 1960s. Bettany is a revelation as 55, who seems to enjoy a bit of the old ultraviolence now and again; when he tells a potential victim (or even a friend) to look into his eyes, it is hard for the audience as well not to be mesmerised--and scared out of their wits. McGuigan's fast-paced direction includes creative split screens, extreme close-ups, fireballs coming right at the viewer, and a sweeping handheld camera all set to a swinging 1960s score.
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