Sexy Beast
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Movie Reviews of Sexy Beast
Movie Review: Thanks to the performances and direction, a great film
Summary: 5 Stars
I read an article the other day that went on about Guy Ritchie directing another gangster film, about a gangster who is going to retire after 'one last score'! Knowing Guy Ritchie, it'll be all flash and no substance. One shouldn't expect that from Sexy Beast, even though the description would be the same. Ray Winstone plays Gal, a retired gangster living the high life in Spain with his wife and a couple of old friends. Wouldn't you know it, but Don Logan (Ben Kingsley) comes down to Spain to recruit him for an elaborate heist. This description doesn't do the film justice. It's not about Gal pulling off one last exciting heist, it's about Gal trying desperately to avoid pulling off the heist. He's trying to preserve his wonderful life and protect his wife and friends from the criminal underworld that rears its ugly head again (the metaphorical 'sexy beast' of the title).
It's a plus that the film doesn't portray the criminal life as particularly glamorous or kinetic. When Gal eventually does get back to London, he's surrounded by a bunch of boring louts, and all he wants to do is get the hell outta there. But now that he's back in London, he's faced with the even more terrifying Ian McShane as mob boss Teddy Bass, scarier than the mercurial Logan because you don't know what he's thinking behind his spooky blue-eyed stare.
Those who would group this in with the films of Guy Ritchie are being shallow. This is a much different, more mature film, one that doesn't show off or revel in juvenile humor (although it is very funny in parts, much of the humor coming from Don Logan's incessant rants and his bizarre airport improvisational tale). And at the center of the film are three great and very different performances by Ray Winstone, Ben Kingsley, and Ian McShane, all of them playing against type in one way or another. One of the better films of this genre you're likely to see.
Movie Review: BEN KINGSLEY IS THE NEW FACE OF EVIL!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
SEXY BEAST is the best British gangster flick right now. It joins the ranks of UK mob classics like 1971's GET CARTER w/ a mean Michael Caine and 1981's THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY w/ a meaner Bob Hoskins. 2001's SEXY BEAST has Ben Kingsley playing the meanest, baddest, most despicable ... mobster of them all, Don Logan. Don heads to Spain to drag his old partner outta retirement to do 1 last heist back in London. The great Ray Winstone memorably plays "Gal" Dove, the unlucky bloke trying to enjoy life in his Spain mansion. Man! Kingsley gave me the creeps the moment the back of his bulging bald head 1st appears. He is even scarier than Joe Pesci in GOODFELLAS. The looks of Kingsley's Logan with bald head & veins popping and goatee could make him pass for an older but supermenacing Stone Cold Steve Austin of the WWF! Even the sight of Logan urinating on the rug (in Gal's villa!) gave me goosebumps. He would kill Tony Soprano with his bloody stare!
SEXY BEAST is MY Sopranos! This is MY SCARFACE! Give Ben who once played Gandhi an Oscar nomination. Just give him the ... Oscar! And Ray Winstone is sooooooooo terrific here. He is on a roll after his other flicks NIL BY MOUTH & THE WAR ZONE. It was also great to see another fine Brit actor Ian McShane (remember LOVEJOY on cable's A&E?) as a gay mobster w/ 1 sinister sm:)e. I adore his all black business suits and sleek trenchcoat.
SEXY BEAST is a job well done by music video director Jonathan Glazer who shows us 1 of the most bizarre (underwater) bank robberies I've ever seen. I won't give much but don't you think Winstone and the robbers should've drained the Turkish bath pool that's next to the bank first? I am still putting this classic in my Top 3 Best Films of 2001 and it is only June. Hope it will be honored @ Oscar time in 2002.
Movie Review: Sexy Beast - gangster heist film at its finest !
Summary: 5 Stars
I went to Sexy Beast last night not knowing too much about it except for the fact that Ben Kingsley was in it playing a gangster. As the movie progressed I watched in awe at how good this film actually was and couldn't help still thinking about it the next day. The plot is about an ex-gangster Gal (Ray Winstone) who is retired from his life of crime and wants nothing but to lay in the sun near his pool all day. Until a pyschotic figure from his past Don (Ben Kingsley) comes to his villa to try and persuade him into doing one last job. Although this sounds like your typical gangster plot, it is given a fresh spin by the films director Jonathon Glazer. He gives the crime/heist genre a new approach and really makes you think about the images he throws at you. As the movie moves forward towards the climax Mr. Glazer grabs you by the throat and holds you captive with tension until you sit forward and bite your nails. I couldn't help thinking that Jonathon is the kind of director who could be the offspring of Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie. The radical editing techniques and cool imagery also add to the atmosphere of this movie. The film is wrapped up in oscar worthy performances by Kingsley & Winstone. Not only am I convinced that Kingsley can play any role now but he easily makes my top 20 actor list now. No villan can be complete without the hero and newcomer Ray Winstone who plays Gal steps up to the plate brilliantly. I see lots of work ahead for these two actors. The only thing I disliked about this movie is that the British accents we're so thick sometimes, that it was hard to follow in places. It gets easier to understand as you get into the characters and by 20 minutes into the movie I was all set. If your looking for a great movie in this sea of summer garbage tread to a good megaplex and find this movie.Movie Review: "You're just going to have to turn this opportunity YES!!"
Summary: 5 Stars
Ben Kingsley is the ultimate chameleon, I mean this is the guy who won an Academy Award for Gandhi, the ultimate pacifist. Don Logan is the antithesis of the Mahatma in every way. Kingsley's character is as vicious and unrelenting as any character I can recall. Sexy Beast centers around a "retired" thief (Ray Winstone) who is "asked" out of retirement to do one last job by his old boss Don Logan (Kingsley). The majority of the running time of the film consists of Kingsley badgering, harrassing and degrading Winstone into doing the job. Kingsley's English Cockney accent is so spot on and acerbic it's as if he's spitting venom. This film has some of the best one liners to come along in some time, all from Kingsley of course, such as:
Gal: I'm happy here, Don.
Don: I won't let you be happy, why should I?
OR
Don: You skin looks like leather...like crocodile, big fat crocodile.
OR
Passenger on airplane: Why don't you put out the cigarette?
Don: I'll put it out, provided your prepared to let me put it out on your eyeball.
AND, OF COURSE
Gal: "I'm sorry, I'm just going to have to turn this opportunity down Don."
Don: "No, your just going to have to turn this opportunity YES!!"
Ian McShane rounds out this fantastic cast playing Teddy Bass, one of the most feared gangsters in all of England. McShane's deadpan glares are as scary as they come and he does a fantastic job as always. Overall, this is one of the best films I've seen in the past ten years. This may also be one of the most overlooked/underrated films of the past decade. Sexy Beast is an absolute must-own simply for Kingsley's chilling performance, don't think about it...BUY THIS! Highest Recommendation.
Movie Review: This film is an incredible find
Summary: 5 Stars
I found this film late one night and was mesmerized by it. I have watched this several times finding new things about it each time. Ben Kingsley's performance is riveting, and, as someone said earlier, is so different from the parts he usually plays. His performance as the rage filled mobster, Don with his obsession with getting the retired mobster, "Gal" to do "one more job" and the things he does and says to "persuade" him are like a series of hammer blows.
The other surprising performance, at least to me, is that of Ian McShane as mob boss, Teddie Bass, the Prince of Darkness. After seeing McShane's Teddy in action, I wouldn't have wanted to go back to London and tell him "Gal" said "no" either. I have been familiar with McShane's work for the past forty years. He has always been a very capable actor delivering good performances consistently However, he always played light comedic roles. I was very surprised when he was chosen to play another Prince of Darkness, Swearningen in HBO's "Deadwood. I wonder if it might have been this performance as Teddie which caused him to be chosen for the Deadwood role.
Ray Winstone gives his usual excellent performance as the retired safe cracker, afraid of the damage Don can do to his family and friends if he refuses to join the "job" but not wanting to do the one more job which could land him in prison long enough for it to be a life sentence.
The story is intriguing; the performances are amazing. This is a must see movie for all noir mystery fans.
I saw the bunny character as the Devil, and Don in Hell, mean enough to give even Satan a run for his money. Maybe that is really who the bunny character in "Donny Darko" is also.