Sexy Beast
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Movie Reviews of Sexy Beast
Movie Review: Ghandi Goes Gangster!
Summary: 5 Stars
This delicious little British gangster flick is centered by the arrival of the Ben Kingsley character, Don Logan, who proceeds to put the fear of God in everyone. One mean little sob, Logan terrorizes his reluctant hosts and Kingsley is absolutely riveting and believable as this vicious rat-terrier of a man who will NOT take "No" for an answer.Ray Winstone is "Gal" Dove, a retired gangster living on the coast of Spain, accompanied by his wife and another retired hood & his wife. Gal has become relaxed, tan and comfortable in his retirement villa, and the announcement that Logan has called and is on his way to Spain puts a pall of dread on everyone.
Justified dread as it turns out, because Logan has come to pull Gal out of retirement to do a job with his old crew in London. Gal wants none of it, but Logan is not going to be denied. Logan is the embodiment of the criminal's code that once "in" you can never get out. He is ruthless & determined and Kingsley's performance is a tour-de-force.
There is a heist, there is the ever present threat of violence and the violence itself, and other characters and complications I won't spoil by divulging. Suffice it to say this is a neat piece of work, and well worth seeing.
Ben Kingsley is one of my favorite actors. Superb in everything from his Oscar for the role I cite in the title, to Stern in Schindler's List, to the tormented chess teacher in Searching for Bobby Fisher, to the unforgettable Don Logan in this film. The man has range!
One note: the British accents were so thick in this film and the dialogue so fast, I had to use the English subtitles at times (no joke). But, it was worth it. 4-1/2 stars.
Movie Review: A British Anti-Heist Flick
Summary: 5 Stars
Is 'Sexy Beast' drama or comedy? It doesn't matter, really, because it has a whole lot of both. Directed by Jonathan Glazer (a rising director of Guiness beer commercial fame), what makes this movie engrossing is the mentally (and sometimes physically) abusive relationship between retired criminal Gal (Ray Winstone) and the notorious Don Logan (Ben Kingsley). The entire first act foreshadows what's to come, and the sense of fear and dread, balanced by an ever-diminishing feeling of whimsy, is almost tangible.This is a film that's worthwhile if only for the acting. Ben Kingsley's role is quite a departure from the benevolent, fatherly figures he's played in 'Gandhi' and the more recent 'AI'. He is, quite simply, stunning in this movie - he takes a character that everyone hates beyond words, who is so evil, crude, and determined, and makes him into one of the most powerful villains I've ever seen. I can't remember the last time I *hated* a character so much (but in a good way). Of course, Kingsley has a lot to play off with Ray Winstone's understated performance. Winstone balances Kingsley's obnoxious character; he quietly wares through the mental torture his character must endure. The cast of 'Sexy Beast' is incredible.
This isn't a movie for everyone... there are some very dark and violent moments, some sincerely funny moments, and at times the movie is a bit bizarre. I have to hand it to Jonathan Glazer, though, for making a movie that takes some artistic risks with an unconventional approach that, in my opinion, really pays off.
Movie Review: It's Do-able!!!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
In 1979, Ian McShane did a made for telly movie that dealt with the ultimate bank heist (The Great Riviera Bank Robbery aka Dirty Money - PLEASE RELEASE ON DVD!!!!!!!). The movie receive excellent reviews for its incisive script, sharp acting and non-sensational treatment. He played "the Brain" the real life man that masterminded a heist of a bank in the Riviera, where they tunnelled under the vault in very elaborate and high tech fashion.This movie, once again, showcases McShane as the mastermind of a super heist, this time as Teddy Bass "Mr. Black Magic Himself" and it show that 23 years has not dulled McShane's black magic one bit. Though not the star of the movie, he steals the show, which is no mean feat with the super cast which includes Ben Kingsley and James Fox.
Ray Winstone plays a former London gangster that has retired to the good life in Spain. As far as he is concerned he is out of the business, happy with the lay-back life and wants nothing to do with the old 'business'. However, Teddy Bass is masterminding a big heist of James Fox's futurist, security controlled bank ( with a little help from Fox ) and he has put out he wants Winstone in on the job, so he sends Ben Kingsly to convince Windstone the error of his refusal.
It is sharply written with intelligent wit, superbly acted from beginning to end. It is an intellectual gangster film, that has a cold heart and tongue through cheek.
One superb work form beginning to end.
Movie Review: A Refreshing Character-Driven Heist Film
Summary: 5 Stars
The film is a psychological character study disguised as a heist film. The dream sequences with the rabbit and Don Logan himself embody the subconscious fear and shame that people have. Don Logan is a walking metaphor for this subconscious fear - he is a man without inhibitions, strangely Tourettic: an Id personified. He forces people to confront their pasts and inferiority complex in a horrifyingly painful and gleeful manner. There's nothing else like it in my memory of other films. It's a crime that Kingsley didn't win the Oscar for the role of Don Logan. I don't recall ever seeing such a forthrightly menacing performance from anyone in movies. There's fine acting by everyone involved. The writing is superb - the dialogue is tough and crisp and poetically underwritten. The director Glazer understands well that tension is at its most unbearably taut point when the silence reaches its deepest, most awkward point. The nervous energy of suspense of some scenes in this film is awful and intense.
The story of a main character Gal, a heistman who is hapless and in love, is touching. Through it all, it's his story of love that tempers the violence of the film. It's a great move on the writer's part to choose this character's story as the main through-line.
The DVD feature with Kingsley and the producer's commentary is enlightening. It's a gorgeous disc all around.
Movie Review: Crime has never been so sexy!
Summary: 5 Stars
Most likely one of my all time favorite films just because it sports my moniker, `Sexy Beast' serves up a delightfully fresh, fun and dark slice of entertainment. Sporting brilliant performances by Oscar winner (and nominee for this film) Ben Kingsley as well as one of my favorite actors Ray Winstone (so amazing when he plays the vulnerable tough guy, refined and wounded none the less), this film is full of reasons to watch and love what you see.
As gangster Don Logan, Kingsley is viscous and unrefined, charismatic, sarcastic and ferocious and that makes him all the more magnetic as he comes to single handedly force retired British gangster Gal (Winstone) to come back in for one more job. When Gal refuses Logan is forced to change his mind. The outcome is one I won't spoil but just say that this is a must see for any fan of gangster films, British films or anyone in the cast and is sure to be a memorable movie experience.
Kingsley delivers as usual, and the raves he received were just as you can imagine, but it's Winstone (a true sexy beast) who really steals to show, to me at least, with his multi-layered performance that went completely overlooked by almost every critic, why I'll never know. With supporting roles by the likes of Ian McShane and the gorgeous Amanda Redman, `Sexy Beast' is up there with the greatest films of 2001!