Sexy Beast
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Movie Reviews of Sexy Beast
Movie Review: So this is a 'Spanish villa', is it?
Summary: 5 Stars
"Sexy Beast" is assured a place alongside classic British gangster films like "The Long Good Friday" and (the original) "Get Carter". The opening credits alone are worth the ticket- "retired" thug Gal (Ray Winstone) lounges in sated lethargy at his sun-drenched Mediterranean villa to the strains of the Stranglers' vitriolic summer anthem "Peaches", until his reverie is interrupted by a rather rude boulder smashing into his swimming pool. Talk about "foreshadowing". Enter the "Beast"- Gal's former associate Don Logan (Ben Kingsley). Imagine the most repellent "ex co-worker from hell" that you would NEVER want to see again as long as you live...he's BAAAAck! Kingsley's much-vaunted sociopathic portrayal earns all the kudos, although I feel he dropped the "Gandhi" albatross a long time ago...from "Turtle Diary" onward. Very few reviews have noted scene stealer Ian MacShane ("Teddy") who can project murderous menace with a flashing smile and cold stare worthy of Richard Widmark. James Fox also deserves mention- oozing decadent sleaze in a small but memorable role. Destined for cultdom.Movie Review: Oscar Nominated Gangster Film with Great Perfomances
Summary: 5 Stars
Don't let the title mislead you, this is a tough and harrowing film for which Sir Ben Kingsley was nominated for an Oscar in the recent ceremonies. It is stylishly directed and executed and stands as one of the best gangster films made in recent years.The plot revolves around a bank heist and involves bringing the film's central character out of his comfortable retirement for one last job. Unfortunately when he refuses to risk his liberty and return to work with his old partners in crime tensions mount to murderous effect.
As well as an excellent script and exciting cinematography what makes this film so special is the outstanding performance by Ray Winstone, Ben Kingsly and Ian McShane. These may be new names to many but they are outstanding actors capable of harrowing levels of intensity easily on a par with De Niro and Pesci.
I recommend this film very highly; it is riveting viewing even after repeated exposures and Ben Kingsly's performance as "Don Logan" gives us one of the nastiest screen villains to emerge in recent years.
Movie Review: Good-evil vs Bad-evil
Summary: 5 Stars
What fun! Everyone went nuts over Ben Kingsley's over the top, outrageous performance. Indeed, he was the epitome of evil. Equally as evil, and even more frightening is Ian McShane (as Teddy Bass). Without giving too much away, we have a former mob-related guy (a magnificent Ray Winstone) who's retired with his lovely wife (Andrea Redman). Enter psychotic Dan Logan (Kingsley), and all hell breaks loose. Kingsley is, indeed, an enormous force who disrupts the idyllic state. His power takes over, making everyone around him seem helpless. Needless to say, everything sorta works out, and the film has a satisfying ending. The young Spanish actor, Alvaro Moaje, has had a successful carreer since; good kid actors are rare. The heavy accents were hard to understand, at first, but it seemed to flow as the film went on. I enjoyed it a lot; the version I saw was a wide 2.35:1 widescreen, and there were a few interesting extras, incl director commentary. Jonathan Glazer has presented a riveting film, droll with humor. I enjoyed it a lot.Movie Review: This Is Acting
Summary: 5 Stars
Major reviewers have called Ben Kingsley's turn in Sexy Beast 'the anti-Gandhi.' He absolutely tears through the screen here as Cockney gangster Don Logan.However, the best single scene in the film *doesn't* include Kingsley. It's the part where the four main protagonists - Ray Winstone, Amanda Redman, Cavan Kendall, Julianne White - find out about Logan's impending visit. The fear and dread on their faces, and in the words and actions, is palpable. It's a tremendous display of acting.
Everyone who reviews this movie will talk about Kingsley and Winstone. That's entirely justified. But for a US viewer, discovering Amanda Redman - as Gal's wife DeeDee - is a real treat. Finding out she's a trained Shakespearean actress convinced me of her incredible range (given that DeeDee is desribed as an "ex-porn star" & is the only one who rises to meet Logan's challenge).
Incidentally, Cavan Kendall - as Gal's best buddy Aitch - died shortly after filming wrapped up. The film is dedicated to his memory.
Movie Review: Great actors in an amazing script
Summary: 5 Stars
You can watch this again and again for so many different aspects: first and foremost, it's a great script about Paradise miraculously found against all odds - then lost. The actors are phenomenal, especially the lead, Ray Winstone. As a retired gangster, he's not that bright, and his wife has twice the balls, but man, how we just LOVE him. Why wouldn't you? He got away with it! He knows it! The setting, a hot and dry Spanish coastline, is fascinating to this resident of cold, rainy New Jersey. And ... wait for it ... a heist! Ian McShane, James Fox, a London bank, a handful of deeply unsavory characters, and a truly frightening Ben Kingsley as a psychopath in a performance like nothing you've ever seen. Just completely off his rocker and everyone knows it. Perhaps the title, Sexy Beast, had something to do with how this interesting, intelligent film was so overlooked? Compliments to the writer and director Jonathan Glazer.