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Gangster No. 1
2000
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 .. Read more
| Starring | Malcolm McDowell, David Thewlis, Eddie Marsan, Paul Bettany |
|---|---|
| Director | Paul McGuigan |
| Genres | 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, Eddie Marsan, Paul Bettany, Jamie Foreman, Kenneth Cranham, Andrew Lincoln, Saffron Burrows, Doug Allen, Eddie Mar |
|---|---|
| Director | Paul McGuigan |
| Studio | SPIRIT ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 39 mins Blu-ray: 1 hr 39 mins |
| Certificate |  |
| Genres | Thriller |
| Language | DVD: English, English Audio Description Blu-ray: English, English Audio Description |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Released | Production year: 2000 To Rent: DVD: 17 Mar 2008 Blu-ray: 27 Jul 2009 |
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Critic's review
View all critics' reviews (2) -
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Effective thriller that catches the sleazy glamour of the period, with its conjunction of showbusiness and crime, but then declines into less convincing melodrama.
- 30631
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- Halliwell's Film Guide
- 02 Mar 2006 at 15:41
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Most helpful member's review
View all members' reviews (49) -
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- 19
- 11
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... read more »
- 302618
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[Highly rated reviewer]
- CharliePotatoes
- Merseyside
- 16 Apr 2004 at 15:48
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Most recent members' reviews
View all members' reviews (49) -
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- 0
- 0
Surprisingly Violent
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
- 1112928
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- Riley_Serola
- 19 reviews
- London
- 21 Apr 2012 at 11:14
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- 0
- 0
Morally reprehensible
More swearing even than In Bruges, plenty of nasty violence (though you think you see more than you do) and some homoerotic longing.
Brilliantly shot... read more » - 1112317
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- a customer
- 18 Apr 2012 at 19:28
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- 0
- 0
One to miss
Dreadful, lasted 15 minutes before turning it off, watch The Krays instead, there are much better gangster movies out there
- 1093970
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- a customer
- 18 Feb 2012 at 16:48
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Gangster No. 1 - Blu-ray
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 ...
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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 ...
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