Who fancies a bit of this Sexy Beast? (Sexy Beast (DVD))

Member Name: l-m-n-o-p

Product:	Sexy Beast (DVD)
Date:	16/04/07 (197 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Phenomenal performance from Ben Kingsley, great script and stylish

Disadvantages: Second half isn't as good as the first, gets a bit boring when Kingsley's not on screen

Being a British gangster film and directed by a previous advert and music video director, Jonathan Glazer, and having the title it has, I wasn't expecting too much from Sexy Beast. However, I was pleasantly surprised.

It tells the story of Gal, a retired gangster, played by Ray Winstone. He lives in a remote Spanish villa with his wife (Amanda Redman), and is enjoying his new start at life.

However, one day, his idyllic lifestyle comes literally crashing down on him. He receives a phone call from London, informing him that Don Logan is coming to visit. And believe me; you don't want a visit from Don Logan.

Basically, Logan is there to try to persuade Gal back to London for one final job, organised by Ian McShane's mob boss. Obviously, Gal declines this, and refuses to be drawn back into the life he has left.

But Logan is one of the nastiest, most psychotic villains ever seen in cinema. Foul-mouthed, violent, and unable to take no for an answer, he's more than a match for Gal. And who plays Logan? None other than Mr Ghandi himself, Ben Kingsley.

Sexy Beast is a surprising film on so many levels. For a start, it's a British crime thriller, but it's good. That's because not a lot of screen time is actually spent on the crime - the first hour or so is simply the electrifying stand off between Gal and Logan. Who needs crime when you can have blistering dialogue and fantastic acting?

It is these scenes that Sexy Beast will be remembered for. Ray Winstone gives a good performance, but it is Ben Kingsley's phenomenally vicious portrayal of Logan that is the main highlight of the film. Spouting expletives, threatening airline stewards, kicking kitchen cabinets - I don't remember ever seeing an actor filled with this much pure terrifying rage. Credit must be given for casting these two fine actors - in the opposite roles to what you would have expected.

Sexy Beast is also extremely surreal in places. The opening scene is fantastic just because it is so unexpected. And then there are the scenes with the giant mutant rabbit. Yes - at various points, Gal visualises a figure covered in hair and with big bunny ears. It's a really interesting technique for visualising Gal's fear - fear of Logan, fear of Ian McShane, and that's why the final scene should make sense. There's also a strange scene involving Ian McShance wet and snarling like a dog, which isn't really explained, probably for the best.

As you might imagine with all this talk of mutant rabbits, it's a very visual film. As you would expect from a music video director, it's handled with a lot of style and interesting camera angles, as well as some flashy editing and copious cutting. It's not a case of style over substance, though, and I must applaud the way in which the film concentrates on its central story and not much else. It doesn't feel the need to have unbelievable twists or labyrinthine plots - it's just about the characters and their motivations, and it's exciting enough just to wait and see whether either of the pair will come out of each exchange alive.

Obviously, it's for adults only, with extremely strong language and more use of the c-word than I have ever heard before, as well as some violence. But whilst this might put some off, I must say that the script is surprisingly snappy and intelligent, especially the Logan/Gal exchanges which I can only describe as exhilarating.

The second half isn't as good as the first, the scenes without Ben Kingsley are nowhere near as good as those with, and it's ultimately a bit meaningless, but Sexy Beast is a very good film. Explosive, stylish, and more intelligent than you might expect, Jonathan Glazer's debut film marks him out as somebody to watch. Saying that, I think he made Birth, which I thought looked pretty bad, and about as different to this as you could imagine, but let's not detract from this achievement, eh?

By the way, Ciao's classing of this under "comedy" is baffling - Sexy Beast isn't funny in the slightest!
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I'm reviewing the film only, not the DVD. The cheapest I could find Sexy Beast on the internet is from www.ddhe.co.uk for £7.99, but it seems quite hard to find cheaply.

Directed by: Jonathan Glazer

Starring:

Ray Winstone … Gal Dove
Ben Kingsley … Don Logan
Ian McShane … Teddy Bass
Amanda Redman … Deedee Dove

Classification: 18 (pervasive language, strong violence and some sexuality)

Running time: 89 minutes

Year: 2000

My Rating: 4 stars

Summary: An intriguing and unusual British crime thriller