The Krays Details

This is an intelligent biopic of Britain's most infamous gangsters, the twins who made life safe for East Enders when they weren't running protection rackets or inflicting gangland punishments on rival mobsters. To be fair, writer Philip Ridley and director Peter Medak largely avoid glamorising the violent world of Reggie and Ronnie, and are more interested in unravelling the complex personalities of the two brothers. They are helped by surprisingly convincing lead performances from Martin and Gary Kemp, then better known from their kilt-wearing days with rock group Spandau Ballet, although Billie Whitelaw effortlessly rises above everybody else in the star-studded cast as the boys' best friend, their mum.

Made with the cooperation of its real-life protagonists, it stays within a gangster milieu and comes close to glamorizing them both.