Charlie
2004
Based on the life of real-life British gang boss, Charlie Richardson, who, along with his brother, Eddy, ruled the criminal underworld of South London in the early 1960s, the story charts what happens when Charlie gets involved with a South African businessman Richard Waldeck... Read more
| Starring | Luke Goss, Steven Berkoff, Leslie Grantham, Anita Dobson |
|---|---|
| Director | Malcolm Needs |
| Genres | Drama |
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Critics' reviews
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Former Spandau Ballet stars Gary and Martin Kemp famously played Ronnie and Reggie in Peter Medak's intelligent crime drama, The Krays. Here, one-time Bros sensation Luke Goss takes on the role of Charlie Richardson, the gang boss who terrorised London south of the river during the same period of the 1960s. This bloody, brutal biopic has a banged-up Richardson reminiscing, in flashback, about the days when pliers, planks and electrodes were the tools of his trade. Malcolm Needs's film is a mishmash of styles, morally questionable, and rather too prone to that certain brand of “claret and shooters” crim-speak. But it's slickly made, Goss is good, and the brief support turns from Leslie Grantham, Anita Dobson and Steven Berkoff bring credibility to the drama. So, although the film is no Godfather, it's no crime either.
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
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23 out of 27 people found this review helpful
Strings Attached !
Wow, and you thought Bros were crap singers , well you should see one of those suckers act !!!
This is miscasting on an epic scale, imagine Vinny Jones as Ghandi and you're in the right neighbourhood.
The direction and editing are appalling. The story jumps from one event in Richardson's life to another, from childhood to prison and back again without any sense of cohesion. On the plus side the 'Mockney' accents are hilarious and the 'acting' is so wooden we kept looking for the strings. -
12 out of 13 people found this review helpful
Extended Episode of Eastenders
I only watched this movie a few days ago and I remember thinking at the time that it wasn't so bad but I can't remember much about it at all and I guess that pretty much sums it up. Nothing stands out really. Kinda like an extended episode of Eastenders with a bit of swearing and Violence (Dirty Den's actually in it).
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10 out of 10 people found this review helpful
Finally a watch able British gangster film
The arrival of this film may mean that we are finally out of the shadow of Lock Stock, a film which seemed to spawn a thousand awful imitators trying to cash in on the "cor blimey" gravy train.
Charlie doesn’t play that game and although it is at times almost naively favourable to Richardson’s cause, its still very watch able. Following the “other” London family’s rise to power told through flash backs from Charlie’s trail, it has an almost goodfellers edge to the piece. Luke Goss is looking more and more like he has a career in the film industry and the casting (especially Stephen Berkoff) for the most part is spot on. Most of all however, the film benefits from staying away from the kind of rent-a-quote, unfeasibly word perfect monologues that eventually brought Guy Ritchie’s cinematic world crashing down around Vinnie’s ears.
Its no Mr In-between that’s true, but this is finally a watch able British gangster film. -
Most recent members' reviews (2)
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
A Right Charlie
Terrible film, awful acting, no plot. Clearly edited by the chap who lets people in to the cinema-the next scene to turn up gets the next slot. Mock interviews with friends just look hackneyed. The crudeness of language only works to make matters worse; the 'actors' clearly felt that abuse and vulgarity compensated for the need to portray their charachters in any depth at all. If in doubt, swear and walk away looking disinterested. A sort of Hugh Grant with attitude. Don't waste however long you can stand to look at it of your life on this DVD trash. Don't know how it ended-never made it past Charlie sorting out the head of BOSS. Very likely lads.
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Not very good
Some of the acting is truly awful. However Goss is better than i thought he would be. He is actually really good. The story is based on a real guy who was a south london criminal. The screenplay is rubbish. A TV film really. Don't waste a selection on it wait for it on TV
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23 out of 27 people found this review helpful
Strings Attached !
Wow, and you thought Bros were crap singers , well you should see one of those suckers act !!!
This is miscasting on an epic scale, imagine Vinny Jones as Ghandi and you're in the right neighbourhood.
The direction and editing are appalling. The story jumps from one event in Richardson's life to another, from childhood to prison and back again without any sense of cohesion. On the plus side the 'Mockney' accents are hilarious and the 'acting' is so wooden we kept looking for the strings. -
12 out of 13 people found this review helpful
Extended Episode of Eastenders
I only watched this movie a few days ago and I remember thinking at the time that it wasn't so bad but I can't remember much about it at all and I guess that pretty much sums it up. Nothing stands out really. Kinda like an extended episode of Eastenders with a bit of swearing and Violence (Dirty Den's actually in it).
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10 out of 10 people found this review helpful
Finally a watch able British gangster film
The arrival of this film may mean that we are finally out of the shadow of Lock Stock, a film which seemed to spawn a thousand awful imitators trying to cash in on the "cor blimey" gravy train.
Charlie doesn’t play that game and although it is at times almost naively favourable to Richardson’s cause, its still very watch able. Following the “other” London family’s rise to power told through flash backs from Charlie’s trail, it has an almost goodfellers edge to the piece. Luke Goss is looking more and more like he has a career in the film industry and the casting (especially Stephen Berkoff) for the most part is spot on. Most of all however, the film benefits from staying away from the kind of rent-a-quote, unfeasibly word perfect monologues that eventually brought Guy Ritchie’s cinematic world crashing down around Vinnie’s ears.
Its no Mr In-between that’s true, but this is finally a watch able British gangster film. -
12 out of 22 people found this review helpful
great film
didnt think I was going to like this film, especially after reading who was in it, heard lots of bad things about it, I thought it was a great film, good story bit of violence, what else do you need?
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4 out of 5 people found this review helpful
rubbish
what a waste of time this film is. poor scripts and the plot doesnt even follow. felt nothing for the main character who is described as a perfect gentleman but was sent down for 4 counts of gbh hahaha-absolute crap
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3 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Cardboard performance
Could not take Luke Goss seriously. Leslie Grantham / Dirty Den straight from Eastenders (same quality acting!).
The film started very slow, but gained some momentum towards the end. Would be a good film if re-cast. -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Not very good
Some of the acting is truly awful. However Goss is better than i thought he would be. He is actually really good. The story is based on a real guy who was a south london criminal. The screenplay is rubbish. A TV film really. Don't waste a selection on it wait for it on TV
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
A Right Charlie
Terrible film, awful acting, no plot. Clearly edited by the chap who lets people in to the cinema-the next scene to turn up gets the next slot. Mock interviews with friends just look hackneyed. The crudeness of language only works to make matters worse; the 'actors' clearly felt that abuse and vulgarity compensated for the need to portray their charachters in any depth at all. If in doubt, swear and walk away looking disinterested. A sort of Hugh Grant with attitude. Don't waste however long you can stand to look at it of your life on this DVD trash. Don't know how it ended-never made it past Charlie sorting out the head of BOSS. Very likely lads.
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Good
If you've seen the 'Long Firm' on TV this is in the same style. Mr Goss is excellent!
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
A Proper Charlie
Being a South East London Boy & knowing the history of the Richardson's I sat down to watch what I thought would be a good film only to be sucked in by the opening scenes thinking that I was watching a BBC documentary. Then Matt Goss of Bros appeared and I nearly ejected and posted back immediately. Luckily I carried on to see some excellent acting by MG who carried the film along with several other unknowns. Yes, the violent scenes were graphically portrayed but necessary.
Critics' reviews
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Former Spandau Ballet stars Gary and Martin Kemp famously played Ronnie and Reggie in Peter Medak's intelligent crime drama, The Krays. Here, one-time Bros sensation Luke Goss takes on the role of Charlie Richardson, the gang boss who terrorised London south of the river during the same period of the 1960s. This bloody, brutal biopic has a banged-up Richardson reminiscing, in flashback, about the days when pliers, planks and electrodes were the tools of his trade. Malcolm Needs's film is a mishmash of styles, morally questionable, and rather too prone to that certain brand of “claret and shooters” crim-speak. But it's slickly made, Goss is good, and the brief support turns from Leslie Grantham, Anita Dobson and Steven Berkoff bring credibility to the drama. So, although the film is no Godfather, it's no crime either.
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