Stars: Ray Winstone, Ben Kingsley, Ian McShane, Amanda Redman, James Fox, Cavan Kendall, Alvaro Monje

Director: Jonathan Glazer

Summary: Retired ex-villain, Gary Dove made enough money throughout his career to live comfortably in Spain with his wife Deedee. When an old associate turns up unexpectedly his peace is shattered. Don forces Gary to do one last job...to rob a bank.

Jonathan Glazer, the award-winning director of advertisements and music videos, presents his feature film debut with this lushly photographed, expertly written, and brilliantly performed convention-defying gangster film. SEXY BEAST jettisons the slickness of the LOCK, STOCK & TWO SMOKING BARRELS school in favor of intricate character development. In its opening shot, Gary "Gal" Dove (Ray Winstone)--a big-bellied ex-gangster with a cockney accent--is sunning himself pool side at his luxe villa on Spain's Costa Del Sol when a gigantic boulder hurtles down a hillside, almost killing him. This near miss serves as a troublesome portent, but it hardly affects Gal, who is immersed in his tranquil life with wife Deedee (Amanda Redman), who he adores with earnest fervor. However, Gal's peace is soon shattered by the arrival of Don Logan (Ben Kingsley, using his shaved skull, spare frame, and ramrod posture to pose as an anti-Gandhi), a brutal former accomplice looking to recruit Gal for a heist. A battle of wills ensues when Gal refuses to leave retirement, and the frighteningly intense Don refuses to take no for an answer. Glazer expertly heightens the film's tension using shifts in the pacing and flashbacks, while Kingsley and Winstone imbue their characters with gorgeous life.

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Reviewed by: philreyn
Posted on September 19, 2005 12:02 PM

This is a refreshingly different approach to the British gangster scene, and I thought hugely enjoyable. It's one of those movies where I enjoyed it more on the second viewing because I knew what was coming, and was able to savour the scene more. Ben Kingsley steals the show as the most horrible man you could ever meet. His part is so convincing, that most people who watch this movie (including myself) would have gladly bumped him off at the first opportunity. Ray Winstone is in his element, and Amanda Redman also gives a fine performance as his wife.

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Fed up with the seemingly endless succession of Brit gangster flicks? Or just wish that someone would reinvent the genre? Either way, Sexy Beastis for you. While reintroducing some of the well-worn characters of recent years, the film at least attempts to take a sideways look at the genre. Centred on the lives of two ex-con ex-pats and their new lives in Spain, the story is one concerning the conflict between the past and the present. Ray Winston is Gel, who, enjoying his life of early retirement in the sun, finds his loyalties called into question when asked to return to Britain to take part in an audacious heist. There's not much else to say plot wise, but the script and cast is so strong that the film gets away with it. Eschewing the younger brat pack in favour of the likes of Winston, Ian McShane, Amanda Redman (sadly under-used) and Ben Kingsley (whose ultra foul-mouthed Don steals every scene) gives the film a calm authority. Quite violent--although more in language than action--but not without its moments of brilliant humour, Sexy Beastis an intelligent, enthralling and welcome addition to the gangster-film genre. --Phil Udell

Aspect Ratio:	2.35 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Deleted Scene, Theatrical Trailer, Behind The Scenes, Poster Gallery, On Location, Cast And Crew Interviews, Audio Description For Visually Impaired
Year:	2000
Release Date:	January 13, 2003
Runtime:	84 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	C C D 9110
Label:	Film Four Distributors
Keywords:	Beast, Comedy, General, Wide, Screen, Sexy
Genre:	Comedy