The Long Good Friday
|
Our Price: $21.95 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $4.25 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of The Long Good Friday
Movie Review: You're Not Going To Find It Easy To Forget
Summary: 4 Stars
"The Long Good Friday," (1980), made from an original script by Barrie Keefe, starring Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren, directed by John Mackenzie, makes just about everyone's short list of greatest British gangster movies. In fact, greatest gangster movies, period. It was nominated for a BAFTA (British Oscar) on its release. Gangster movies are said to depend on the energy and performance of their protagonists -- see George Raft, Jimmy Cagney, and Edward G. Robinson-- and this one made a star of Hoskins, who captured the explosive violence of its protagonist Harold Shand, a cockney gangster.
The late George Harrison, of The Beatles, served, among others, as the film's Executive Producer. The film opens on Good Friday, and is, in fact, full of Easter imagery. Shand's mother goes to mass; and scenes set in a slaughterhouse and a warehouse present specifically Christian iconography. "The Long Good Friday" is also set at a significant time, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's own Euro version of the greed-is-good 1980's. In fact, at moments, it almost seems the film is quoting Dante Aleghieri's famous Italian Renaissance poem "The Inferno," that also is set at Easter, and concerns the greed is good crowd of its own time and place. At any rate, the film makes good use of its era, as Michael Caine's memorable "Get Carter" did of Britain's sourly swinging 1970's.
Shand appears to be on the top of the world as the film opens. During Thatcher's reign, London's extensive docklands are just beginning to be profitably redeveloped, and he's getting in on the ground floor. He expects to get additional seed money for his projects from Charlie, a visiting American gangster, nicely played by that iconic French actor Eddie Constantine. Shand's got a gorgeous, upper crust, tough, sexy, smart mistress, Victoria; as played by Helen Mirren, nobody could doubt that she has her say in his organization. But while he's in the States, hooking up with Charlie, things begin to go wrong for him. And it takes him too long to figure out what's happening.
Pierce Brosnan, then evidently at the start of his career, has a bit, nearly non-speaking part: apparently he improvised one line, and it stuck. But he plays a bare-chested pool scene, showing off a fine body, and a charming smile, but, oh, those terrible not-yet-improved-to-American standards teeth! And he drives the car in the movie's gripping final scenes. Hoskins and Mirren give remarkable performances, together and on their own, never more so than these final, almost wordless scenes together. You're not going to find them easy to forget.
Movie Review: Who Lit The Fuse That Tore Harold's World Apart?
Summary: 4 Stars
"What I'm looking for is someone who can contribute to what England has given to the world: culture, sophistication, genius. A little bit more than an 'ot dog, know what I mean?" Harold
Harold played by Bob Hoskins starts his Good Friday anticipating the day ahead of him. His plans include a large party on his yacht for a group of monied business men and a couple of men from New York. His plan is to tie up a massive real estate deal. The 1988 Olympics are coming to town and he plans to convert all the old docks into land for the Olympics.
Then the entire scheme comes apart when the 'bombings' start. First his chauffeur is bombed in his car, next his casino is blown apart and then one of his best men is killed at a gym. Harold has no enemies that he knows of. The London world of crime has been quiet for a couple of years. Who is his enemy?
Bob Hoskins keeps this film alive with his performance. Instead of retribution, Harold spends this day wondering and looking for clues. His men are spectacular. An interesting point is that real criminals worked on this set. Who knew that criminals would make good actors:-)?
Helen Mirren as Harold's class act wife is low key but she has an important role. Sexy and intelligent, she is the hostess with the mostest and charms those around her. She and Harold share a true love and they depend upon each other. I am viewing all of Helen Mirren's films and this is the start of her career as a leading lady.
When the adversaries become clear, the film shows a let-down. A true to form revenge mission is planned and the ending is not that surprising.
All in all this is a film about character and Bob Hoskins is the kind of boss one would want in the underworld.
"As long as it keeps up the mystery, the film sustains interest. This is due in no little part to Hoskins, just entering his film career after a decade of TV work but already in possession of an authoritative presence that was impossible to ignore." Chris Barsanti
A day and a night in the life of London underworld. A shrewd, intelligent film with some memorable performance by Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren.
Recommended. prisrob 06-21-08
Helen Mirren at the BBC
World War II - When Lions Roared
Movie Review: Even gangsters have bad days...
Summary: 4 Stars
The Long Good Friday depcits the day in the life of a gangster who is literally going through hell. The film is somewhat unorthodox in terms of its unique narrative structure, primarily with its ambiguous, yet suprisingly complex opening sequence (although the original script called for a much more complex and extensive setup).
The lead performances launch this film into arguably the best British gangster film ever made. Bob Hoskins is ferocious and commanding as the sedentary king pin, Harold Shanz, and Helen Mirren redefines the role of the ganster's girl as the loyal, highly influential and intelligent wife, whose essence serves as the bridge between Harold's existence as a typical gangster, and as a civilized and powerful businessman. What makes Bob Hoskin's performance even more noteworthy is when he wrapped up filming Zulu Dawn (1979), he became terribly sick and soon discovered a monstrous tapeworm inside him (discussed in an interview on the DVD's supplemental material), but after reading the script agreed to do the film, tape worm and all, and in the end delivers an unforgettable performance. Overall, the movie is energetic, intriguing, and powerful throughout. The music to Harold's introduction is fantastic, and take note of the beautifully choreographed meat hook scene!
Movie Review: Diabolical!
Summary: 4 Stars
Seeing this one again brings back fond memories. An London crime boss is at the zenith of his influence & power when various events rise up and challenge his kingdom... who is responsible and who would dare challenge the undisputed boss in this way? While the conclusion isn't as satisfying as it might be, it was fun to see a young Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren tackle the gritty crime genre so early in their respective careers (1980). Look out too for a very young Pierce Brosnan as the gay pool boy.Movie Review: good movie, good atmosphere, british accent difficult to understand
Summary: 4 Stars
I appreciate this movie, a good script, a great story, well acting but the language....wow, very difficult to understand the subtility. Too hard for me