The Long Good Friday
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Movie Reviews of The Long Good Friday
Movie Review: Greatest gangster film ever made, but ... no optional subtitles for the hearing impaired?
Summary: 5 Stars
I hope someone here will correct me if I've missed it in the "product details" section above, but I don't see any mention of optional subtitles (in any language) being offered on this latest DVD of The Long Good Friday, so I have to assume that once again the Powers That Be have decided it's either "impossible" or too much trouble to subtitle this film either for millions of hearing-impaired people or for millions of people whose native language isn't English.
I see that a list of Cockney slang definitions is offered on this DVD, but for a film like the Long Good Friday such a list should be offered as a supplement to optional subtitles, not as a substitute for them. To compress the rich colloquial language of The Long Good Friday into subtitles would be quite a challenge, but it wouldn't be impossible.
The Long Good Friday is a film millions of people (including me) consider to be the greatest gangster film ever made. It deserves the maximum chance to be appreciated by the maximum number of viewers, a chance it won't get as long as the hearing impaired and those whose native language isn't English have no subtitles to consult.
Movie Review: Bob Hoskins, the most underrated actor ever?
Summary: 5 Stars
I have seen many of crime/ganster films in my day, but far and few bare any such comparison to the emotional ride that is THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY. Bob Hoskins plays one of the most memorable british mafia rolls as Harold Shand an overachieving crime lord who is on the verge of a major deal, when his whole world seems to out of nowhere be tumbling down.
THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY takes one on a journey as we watch Harold (Hoskins) go from a fearless crimelord to a paranoid accusive and fearful man. This movie is a "must see" for fans of any crime saga films such as The Godfather and Goodfellas and is seemingly a precursor to such recent british crime films as Snatch and Layer Cake.
I recently picked up the Anchor Bay release of this film, and was amazed at how much they have cleaned up the picture and sound from the former criterion release, as well Anchor Bay has stock piled a load of new interviews with the cast and makers of this classic. This is the release to buy!!!
Movie Review: The Long Good Friday
Summary: 5 Stars
Watching this again after several years is like experiencing an episode of Life On Mars, only vastly superior. No need for flashbacks as we're actually there: with the clothes, the cars, the non-PC language and an undeveloped London Docklands. A time when gangsters had (supposedly) strict rules of behaviour and decency, and worked with corrupt police officials with little danger of media exposure. And although this is a violent, fairly realistic film, it all has a strange feeling of innocence about it. If only they knew what was around the corner!
Add to this Barrie Keeffe's marvellous script, lots of dry humour (it's almost a black comedy), Bob Hoskin's loveable villain, Helen Mirren as his upper class moll, and early appearances from Pierce Brosnan (hardly speaking, but wonderfully nasty), Gillian Taylforth and Eddie Constantine - and you have 109 minutes of pure pleasure. A lingering final sequence will stay in your memory. Unreservedly recommended.
Movie Review: A must for any fan of the gangster/organized crime genre
Summary: 5 Stars
This flick shows us why people say "they don't make movies like they used to." The acting by Hoskins and Mirren in this film is superb, as well as the plot line. The soundtrack is great. I'm amazed this film isn't more widely known, but no matter. The Long Good Friday is the business.Movie Review: Top Brit-gangster movie
Summary: 4 Stars
Before this movie was released, with the exception of Michael Caine`s Get Carter, British gangster movies were little known around the world and even at home, they were little appreciated. With Harold Shand, a brash, rough pint sized gangster on the make, Bob Hoskins changed that and paved the way for a whole raft of gritty crime thrillers set in the British Isles. Although few of the later movies rose to the heights claimed by Caine and Hoskins.
Harold Shand is a London gangster from the old school, he is the man that the real life Kray twins might like to have been, bursting with ruthlessness, animal cunning, aggression, hubris, charisma and ambition he sets out to transform himself into a businessman cum developer who will succeed because the qualities that make him a good gangster will allow him to defeat any legitimate business rival. He is assisted by his girl Victoria (Helen Mirren) - several grades above the classic Barbera Windsor style of gangster`s moll - who understands her man`s strengths and weaknesses and gives him the support and guidance that he needs succeed without threatening his perceived alpha male dominance.
Shand`s big idea is to get in on the development on London`s docklands and to cash in on an upcoming bid to host the Olympic games. He turns to an American crime syndicate for backing and the movie is set on an Easter weekend when he is playing host to mobster Charlie (Eddie Constantine) and Tony (Stephen Davies), Charlie`s lawyer.
Harold`s plans start to come unstuck as his organization quakes under attack from an unknown enemy who is planting bombs and assassinating Harold`s men. Victoria, assisted by Harold`s right hand man Jeff (Derek Thompson), attempts to keep the Americans on-board while Harold must find out who is behind the attacks and deal with them. He finally works out what is going on but can his gangster instincts deal with an entirely new threat?
Hoskins and Mirren are outstanding. They are an unlikely couple but they will have you convinced. Great acting from them both is helped by a script that gives them plenty to work with. Unfortunately, the two of them do a fine job of highlighting just how poor is the rest of the acting. Jeff has betrayed Harold but he hardly gives a hint as to what his motives might have been and all of the other characters seem to be determined to deliver their lines and collect their money and that`s it.
The uninspiring supporting actors do not detract though. The script and the editing deliver a tight package that it always moving along and holding your attention. The camera work is good too - you are there in Harold`s London and not just in a studio with a few street scene backdrops.
If you like this film then you will want to catch "Mona Lisa" in which Hoskins gets quite close to the Shand character. All of the subsequent Brit-gangster movies will entertain you but never reach the same level. For that, you should perhaps try "Trainspotting" but not if you found Hoskins` accent difficult!