Oi! What do you think you're looking at, you f*cking piece of sh*t? Do you think you can take me on, do ya? Well, come on then! Have a go if you think you're hard enough! But before you do, I would be ever so grateful if you could find some time to peruse the following list of films. They're all gangster related and they're all situated in the United Kingdom. Although, come to think of it, if you look at me like that again, your f*cking face and your f*cking neck won't be so united. Here, get a load of this... Th-wack!Scum (1979)
This Alan Clarke drama is a brutal depiction of the British borstal system, circa 1970, as well as being the film that introduced to the world the talents of Ray Winstone. ‘Scum’, which is it's title, refers to the name given to Winstone's character, Carlin, who's a young-offender and a reform-school inmate. Over the course of his story he gets beaten up by the other boys and beaten down by The System, until he eventually rebels against them both and makes a statement in the process.
The Long Good Friday (1982)
Since his death in 2014, the late, great, Bob Hoskins was able to make a name for himself on the big screen. Yet out of all the many roles he ended up playing, none was more influential than that of Harold Shand, the London based gangster who ripped up the East End in this crime classic directed by John Mackenzie. At the start of the film Shand’s world is sweet, as he lives in a fancy penthouse, he owns a yacht, and he has a sensitive and intelligent mistress, played by the adorable Helen Mirren. But suddenly a bomb explodes inside his Rolls Royce, another bomb destroys a pub he owns, and a third is found inside his casino. Whatever next? Retribution, that's what, even if blood has to be spilled into the streets.
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Directed by Guy Ritchie, and starring Jason Statham, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran, and Jason Flemyng, this cockney drama follows four friends who are involved in a bit of a pickle. You see, one of the four, who shall remain nameless, but he knows who he is, enters a crooked card game with the intention of winning it. But as I said, the game is crooked, very crooked, and that is why he ends up loosing and they all have to dodge their way through drug dealers, gangsters, loan sharks, and even debt collectors, so collectively they can pay off this debt. Will they succeed? Who knows! But I can tell you this for nothing! Hold onto those two shotguns, boys, or else one of them may go off, Booommm!!!
Snatch (2000)
The second Guy Ritchie film on this list is none other than a magnificent crime caper which involves two divergent plot-threads that intertwine like a couple of pikey's fighting over a toothbrush. One part of the plot deals with the search for a missing diamond, whereas the other part centers on a small-time boxing promoter who gets himself under the control of a brutal gangster. With a similar style to Lock Stock, complemented by an all-star cast that includes Brad Pitt, Benicio del Toro, and Vinnie Jones, once again Ritchie pulls off yet another brilliant gangster film that would make you feel like a...
Sexy Beast (2000)
Oscar-winning actor, Ben Kinglsey, plays a shrewd gangster in this movie, a shrewd gangster named Don Logan who recruits another crook to pull off one final job. The problem is, the feller he hires is a 'retired' safe-cracker played by our old pal, Ray Winstone! And as we all know, when Ray plays a part there's bound to be some mischief! So what ensues is a battle of wills between these two men, with Don intimidating, prodding, and manipulating his one-time friend to get what he wants, forever changing the lives of those around him.
London Heist (2017)
Directed by Mark McQueen, and starring Steven Berkoff, Roland Manookian, Mem Ferda, James Cosmo, and Craig Fairbrass, London Heist is a gripping revenge thriller which follows career criminal, Jack Creegan (as played by Fairbrass), on a brutal mission to get some retribution on those people who murdered his father. Overall this action-packed adventure gives the fans exactly what they're looking for from a British gangster flick: Cockney slang, a tale of revenge, and a healthy dose of vengeful violence. Lovely jubbly!
The Long Good Friday (1982)
Since his death in 2014, the late, great, Bob Hoskins was able to make a name for himself on the big screen. Yet out of all the many roles he ended up playing, none was more influential than that of Harold Shand, the London based gangster who ripped up the East End in this crime classic directed by John Mackenzie. At the start of the film Shand’s world is sweet, as he lives in a fancy penthouse, he owns a yacht, and he has a sensitive and intelligent mistress, played by the adorable Helen Mirren. But suddenly a bomb explodes inside his Rolls Royce, another bomb destroys a pub he owns, and a third is found inside his casino. Whatever next? Retribution, that's what, even if blood has to be spilled into the streets.
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Directed by Guy Ritchie, and starring Jason Statham, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran, and Jason Flemyng, this cockney drama follows four friends who are involved in a bit of a pickle. You see, one of the four, who shall remain nameless, but he knows who he is, enters a crooked card game with the intention of winning it. But as I said, the game is crooked, very crooked, and that is why he ends up loosing and they all have to dodge their way through drug dealers, gangsters, loan sharks, and even debt collectors, so collectively they can pay off this debt. Will they succeed? Who knows! But I can tell you this for nothing! Hold onto those two shotguns, boys, or else one of them may go off, Booommm!!!
Snatch (2000)
The second Guy Ritchie film on this list is none other than a magnificent crime caper which involves two divergent plot-threads that intertwine like a couple of pikey's fighting over a toothbrush. One part of the plot deals with the search for a missing diamond, whereas the other part centers on a small-time boxing promoter who gets himself under the control of a brutal gangster. With a similar style to Lock Stock, complemented by an all-star cast that includes Brad Pitt, Benicio del Toro, and Vinnie Jones, once again Ritchie pulls off yet another brilliant gangster film that would make you feel like a...
Sexy Beast (2000)
Oscar-winning actor, Ben Kinglsey, plays a shrewd gangster in this movie, a shrewd gangster named Don Logan who recruits another crook to pull off one final job. The problem is, the feller he hires is a 'retired' safe-cracker played by our old pal, Ray Winstone! And as we all know, when Ray plays a part there's bound to be some mischief! So what ensues is a battle of wills between these two men, with Don intimidating, prodding, and manipulating his one-time friend to get what he wants, forever changing the lives of those around him.
London Heist (2017)
Directed by Mark McQueen, and starring Steven Berkoff, Roland Manookian, Mem Ferda, James Cosmo, and Craig Fairbrass, London Heist is a gripping revenge thriller which follows career criminal, Jack Creegan (as played by Fairbrass), on a brutal mission to get some retribution on those people who murdered his father. Overall this action-packed adventure gives the fans exactly what they're looking for from a British gangster flick: Cockney slang, a tale of revenge, and a healthy dose of vengeful violence. Lovely jubbly!
London Heist is available on DVD and Digital Download from the 17th of July, 2017, and may God have mercy on our souls. Amen.
SIX GREAT BRITISH GANGSTER FILMS
Reviewed by David Andrews
on
August 11, 2017
Rating:
Reviewed by David Andrews
on
August 11, 2017
Rating:
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