Gangster No. 1 Details

2000

Rated:
60
from 2775 members

Starring	Malcolm McDowell, David Thewlis, Paul Bettany, Kenneth Cranham
Director	Paul McGuigan
Genres	Audio Descriptive, Thriller

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Gangster No. 1

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.

Starring	Malcolm McDowell, David Thewlis, Paul Bettany, Kenneth Cranham, Saffron Burrows, Doug Allen, Eddie Marsan, Jamie Foreman, Andrew Lincoln
Director	Paul McGuigan
Studio	CINEMA CLUB
Run time	DVD: 1 hr 39 mins Blu-ray: 1 hr 39 mins
Certificate
Genres	Audio Descriptive, Thriller
Language	DVD: English, English Audio Description Blu-ray: English, English Audio Description
Hearing-impaired	English
Released	DVD: not available Blu-ray: 27 Jul 2009 Production year: 2000
Format	DVD

Critics' reviews (3) of Gangster No. 1
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Following in the wake of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, this thriller from Paul McGuigan is another tale of London gangsters, though this time without the humour. As studies of pure evil go, however, it's very convincing. Malcolm McDowell plays a crimelord who, concerned that a mob boss he once double-crossed is about to be released from prison, looks back on the 1960s antics of his gang. Flashbacks show him played by the impressive Paul Bettany, whose psychotic behaviour leads to much blood-letting. This central section is stylistically superb, but the film is fatally flawed by the fact that both boss David Thewlis and his moll (Saffron Burrows) are badly aged for the final section. The gratuitous violence and profanity also leave a very nasty taste in the mouth.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Effective thriller that catches the sleazy glamour of the period, with its conjunction of showbusiness and crime, but then declines into less convincing melodrama.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Most helpful member's review of Gangster No. 1
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13 out of 21 people found this review helpful

Number One? More like a pile of number twos

You'd think with a cast of top-rate Brit thespians and the reliable premise of 1960s gangster action you'd be in for a treat with this, but you'd be so far wrong you'd probably need to sit down in a darkened room for ten minutes to fully comprehend how mistaken you actually were.

The dire-log doesn't just border on cockney pastiche, it positively revels in it. It's like listening to Derek & Clive doing a gangster parody. It's terrible. It's cringe worthy. The cast do a marvellous job just keeping a straight face when delivering their lines.

In the opening 5 minutes McDowell does a completely random take to camera, delivers a shockingly appalling line to the audience - something which doesn't occur for the rest of the film. (Random takes to camera, that is, regrettably the film is chock-full of dodgy lines!)

The director seems too preoccupied with nifty stylistics - some of which admittedly work quite well - to be bothered with the niceties of 3 dimensional characters or believable dialogue. And the film suffers all the more for it.

Life's too short to watch crap films. Avoid this one like it limped into town covered in buboes and ringing a bell, it is two hours of your life that you will simply not get back.
- - CharliePotatoes from Merseyside
  - Posted 16 Apr 2004 15:48
Most recent members' review of Gangster No. 1
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Violent

I found this film good because I love British films, I couldn't help think of Eastenders! There is a strong twang of the cockney accent, there is a lot of swearing (too many 'c' words, anyone would think it was a porno!)

Paul Bettany's character was brilliant as the headcase gangster! When I saw Malcolm McDowell's character, I could not help think of him in Clockwork Orange and his mannerisms in this film were similiar in that one.

There is some disturbing violence, and some comical Cockney moments from Jamie Foreman as Lenny. I liked it, but I love Brit flicks, so if you like Brit flicks too, add it to your list!
- - LadySleek from Birmingham
  - Posted 23 Mar 2005 unknown
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