You don't crucify people! Not on Good Friday! (Long Good Friday (DVD))

Member Name: salem_witch

Product:	Long Good Friday (DVD)
Date:	07/09/06 (502 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Outstanding performances

Disadvantages: Violent in places

Either you'll be of an age where you are thinking this is a classic or like me you had never heard of it before. Admittedly I added this to my rental list after reading a review thinking it sounded good and I might find it ok. I knew it was from the late seventies and thought I might find some bits funny just because I could laugh at the hair dos and clothes. However, I was actually surprised at how good this was and this is the main reason I decided to attempt reviewing this.

The film opens with what appears to be some dodgy dealings going on. We see men exchanging suitcases with money in it and going back to a house. Then a few men meeting up in a pub and talking. For the first 5 minutes or so there isn’t much dialogue during all this, some rather cheesy music is played where the focus is on what is happening rather than what is said. Then the meeting in the pub is taken outside to a car where two men up murdered and dumped in a ditch. I did find this all a bit confusing as I was trying to work out who was who and what was going on. Once you get to the end of the film all what happens right at the beginning all makes sense. The second time I saw the film I picked up on things that I was oblivious to the first time round.

Jeff (Derek Thompson) meets with Counsellor Harris (Bryan Marshall) in a cafe discussing Harold’s (Bob Hoskins) return. A lady who has clearly come from a funeral spits on Jeff. Again this never made a lot of sense at first but it all becomes clear later on. Jeff then picks up Harold from Heathrow and then return to his yacht at the Docklands.

Harold Shand is the leader of the ‘corporation ’. In other words he is a gangster and a very good one at it too as he has managed to keep things under control for the last 10 years. He is trying to turn legitimate and set up a new project on the docklands and make a deal with an American Mafia boss Charlie (Eddie Constantine) which will make him a very rich man. Upon his return he and his girlfriend Victoria (Helen Mirren) are preparing so that it all runs as smoothly as possible. Then things start to go wrong. A car with his mothers chauffeur Eric (Charles Cook) is bombed, his best friend Colin (Paul Freeman) is stabbed, a bomb has been planted in his Mayfair casino (which never went off) and his pub is also bombed.

Harold must find out who is doing all this before the Americans realise what is going on and call off the deal. He has no idea who is doing it and is really baffled and offended. He is furious that someone is picking off his friends and is out to get him. The rest of the film is all about him seeking revenge and finding out what has happened whilst he has been away. Will he find out who did it? What will happen?

All this happens on Good Friday (hence the title) and is littered with religious references. His mother is in church when Eric is bombed, Harold feels like he is being persecuted and calls someone (I can’t say who) Judas. As well as someone being put into a crucifix position.

Harold is a Cockney criminal who is trying to further his ‘career’ by turning global and making his money in Europe as well as America. Whilst on the yacht he gives a speech all about this and how he wants his ‘hands across the ocean’. He is very firm and knows exactly what he wants and doesn’t like anyone getting in his way of this. He speaks his mind and when things go wrong he uses violence to get what he wants. Although he is evil whilst watching the film you feel for him and hope that he finds out what is going on. When I hear Bob Hoskins name I always think of the BT adverts (its good to talk!) he did. I hadn’t actually seen him in any films before so I had no real idea what kind of actor he'd be. I was pleasantly surprised at his acting and he really fits the part of Harold really well.

Victoria at first seems an unlikely match for Harold. She is upper class and well spoken unlike Harold who is a bit of a geezer. She is strong and very much in control. When there is an explosion at the pub she doesn’t panic and covers up well for Harold. She informs the Americans that there was a gas leak and even when they seem to cotton on she tries her best to talk her way out of it. Again I'd never seen Mirren in anything before so I have nothing to compare her against. Her acting was also superb and after watching this a few times I couldn’t imagine anyone else playing her part (the same applies to Hoskins as well).

Jeff is Harold’s right hand man and is very calm and collective. At first I thought his acting was really wooden compared to his acting in ‘Casualty’ but then I realised it is the way his character is. He stays very cool and even Harold picks up on this and asks ‘how do you stay cool?’ Even when things are all going wrong he keeps very calm and doesn’t seem to worry too much about it all.

Parky (Dave King) is a bent copper who has been on Harold’s books for a long time. He is reluctant for Harold to pursue who it is causing it all. He is convinced the Irish are behind it all and wants to pass it on to ‘Special Branch’. He doesn’t take part in any of the violence although he seems aware that it is taking place. Unlike Razors (P.H. Moriarty) who got his name as he likes to slash people to bits. He is obedient and loyal to Harold and does what he is asked to.

There are a few appearances from people that are more famous today. Of course Derek Thompson is better known as Charlie from ‘Casualty’ but he is not the only person that has done well since. Pierce Brosnan appears briefly as an IRA member, Paul Barber (Denzel from ‘Only Fools And Horses’) plays the part of Errol the ponce and Gillian Taylforth (Kathy from ‘Eastenders’) also makes an appearance. There are many other cast members that are notable and make the film really enjoyable.

Although it is a serious film there are some funny bits in it. This is mainly the dialogue when Harold is sarcastic about things. This is my favourite so it’ll give you an idea of the humour, although it’s not really intended ‘No one's heard nothing? That just ain't natural. It's like one of them silent, deadly farts. No clue, and then pow, you go cross-eyed’

Considering this was filmed in 1979 and as old as me I still found this hadn’t aged as much as other films made around the same time had. It was interesting to see places and to see how different they were today. Paddington Station and Heathrow are shown and knowing Paddington as it is now I saw how much it had changed since this was filmed. I’d imagine the content of the film at the time would have been shocking at the time though. In terms of today’s audience I don’t think many would be all that shocked.

I thought this was a really well thought out film. From the beginning there is so much going on and it isn’t all that clear who is doing what but this isn’t hugely important. Then Harold is introduced and we see that all his plans seem to be ruined with all the bombings and everything else is going on. Although he uses violence to find out things for his own means he still shows a softer side to him. The fact that he is so confused and really doesn’t know why he has been made a target makes you almost sympathise for him and hope that it all gets sorted. The ending isn’t as expected but this, I think, makes it even better. In fact the last few minutes not much happens but Hoskins acting is incredible. Even after all this time the film is enjoyable to watch and I’d recommend this film to anyone who hasn’t seen it and to those that have I urge you to get a copy and watch it soon.

Available from Amazon at £5.99 and for even less on eBay.

Summary: A classic British gangster film.