Ray Winstone plays against type in this entertaining gangster/heist film, and it’s a real change of pace from the sort of roles we normally associate him with.
Winstone plays Gary, a retired London criminal who has managed to leave his old life behind. He’s now enjoying a peaceful existence in Spain with his wife and friends, soaking up the sunshine and making the most of his retirement.
The film opens at Gary’s villa, where he’s relaxing by the pool when he almost gets flattened by a falling boulder. It’s a brilliantly comic opening and, believe me, that bizarre little incident doesn’t prepare you for what’s about to come!
Things take a serious turn when Gary learns that an old acquaintance is coming to visit. Enter Don, played by Sir Ben Kingsley, and what a performance he gives. Don is an unstable, seriously dangerous criminal who has arrived with one thing on his mind — he wants Gary to come back to London and take part in one last job.
Gary wants nothing to do with it. He’s retired, he’s happy with his new life and he certainly doesn’t want to go back to his old ways. Unfortunately for Gary, Don isn’t the sort of person who takes no for an answer.
From this point on, things begin to escalate, and the film does a great job of building the tension. You’re never quite sure where the story is going or just how far Don is prepared to go. Kingsley is genuinely terrifying in the role, playing Don as unpredictable and completely unhinged. It’s a magnificent performance and one of the real highlights of the film.
I don’t want to say too much more about the plot because a big part of the fun is discovering how everything plays out. There are plenty of twists and turns, and the tension keeps building as Gary is dragged further and further back into a world he thought he’d left behind.
There’s also a terrific supporting cast. Ian McShane makes an impression as the mob boss, while Edward Fox turns up as a rather shady banker.
A quality production with great performances this is a must see for any fans of British gangster cinema.
This has just been re-released by Second Sight in the UK with a terrific new 4K transfer supervised and approved by director Jonathan Glazer.
A great transfer, clean and with a lot of depth to the image. Some good extras are included which are –
- Audio commentary by John Bleasdale
- That’s the Job: a new interview with Actor Ray Winstone
- Poetic Drama: a new interview with Actor Sir Ben Kingsley
- The Real Criminal: a new interview with Actor Ian McShane
- That’s Cinema: a new interview with Producer Jeremy Thomas
- Finding the Rhythm: a new interview with Editor Sam Sneade
- Beast Mode: Creating Don Logan – a video essay by Leigh Singer
- Deleted Scene
- Behind the Scenes
- On Location
- Cast & Crew Interviews
Another great release from Second Sight, with 4K and Blu-ray options. CLICK BELOW TO ORDER
