Stars: Ray Winstone, Ben Kingsley, Ian McShane, Amanda Redman, Malcolm McDowell, David Thewlis, Paul Bettany, Kenneth Cranham

Director: Paul McGuigan

Summary: In 'Sexy Beast' a 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. 'Gangster No 1' is set in 1968 and Freddie Mays is King of London's gangland. 'Gangster' joins Freddie's firm and becomes his right hand man. He tortures and even murders for him - the two of them becoming a great team. Mays then falls for Karen, a nightclub hostess, but by then things have started to get out of control.

Two terrific thumb-screwing London gangster movies.
SEXY BEAST:
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 favour 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.
GANGSTER NO. 1:
Paul McGuigan's GANGSTER NO. 1 is framed by scenes set in the present, where the aging 55, played with delicious villainy by Malcolm McDowell, narrates the tale of his younger self's rise to power in Soho in the late 1960s. Bettany is a revelation as 55, who seems to enjoy a bit of the old ultraviolence now and again; when he tells a potential victim (or even a friend) to look into his eyes, it is hard for the audience as well not to be mesmerised--and scared out of their wits. McGuigan's fast-paced direction includes creative split screens, extreme close-ups, fireballs coming right at the viewer, and a sweeping handheld camera all set to a swinging 1960s score.

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Aspect Ratio:	2.35 Anamorphic Wide Screen, 16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Deleted Scene, Interviews - 1. Cast & Crew, Behind-the-Scenes Footage, Featurette - 1. On Location, Trailer - 1. Original Theatrical, Poster Gallery, Commentary - Paul McGuigan - Director, Deleted Scenes, Featurette - 1. Cast & Crew Interviews, 2. Behind the Scene
Year:	2000
Release Date:	May 3, 2004
Runtime:	183 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	C C D 30066
Label:	Take 2
Keywords:	Beast, Gangster, General, Sexy, Drama
Genre:	Drama