Saffron Burrows Movie:

Editorial Review:
This glinting, scalding gangland phantasmagoria offers a sort of funhouse-mirror refraction of the life and career of a British hooligan so elemental in his right villainy that he's merely identified as "Gangster." The action begins in 1999, with Malcolm McDowell brutishly savoring his eminence as a crime lord; but more of the film is taken up with an extended flashback to 1968, when his youthful self--played by Paul Bettany (but voiced by McDowell during private reveries)--got his start. Bettany's patron is Freddie Mays, "the Butcher of Mayfair" (David Thewlis), a comparatively suave rotter whom "Young Gangster" more or less simultaneously worships, emulates, and craves to see destroyed. Director Paul McGuigan layers the eras and personalities in a kaleidoscope of jagged stylization (occasionally the image shatters like glass, then hellishly reconstitutes itself). The effect is less to tell a proper story than to suspend us in a state of mind--and a homage to McDowell's landmark role in A Clockwork Orange. But it does exert an unclean fascination. --Richard T. Jameson

Gangster No. 1 [Region 2] Reviews:
RUBBISH
2007-05-13 - ANOTHER TIMES WASTER, CHRIST THIS FILM JUST DRAGS ON, MALCOLM MCDOWELL IS TOTALLY UNCONVINCING AS USUAL, HE WILL ALWAYS BE THE CREEP IN CALIGULA
AND THAT TOSSER IN CLOCKWORK ORANGE.
THIS FILM JUST SUCKS.

It looks like one of those great '60s British gangster movies
2007-01-09 - ...only it's new. Directed by Paul McGuigan in 2000 it's a bit underrated. It's hard gangster like Long Good Friday, The Krays, the acting and writing great and the period work flawless. It feels like a film made back then. It's an early film of this director who's also done Lucky #Slevin, also worth seeing. In any case, I consider this one a keeper.

King F-ing Kong
2006-04-24 - Truly Remarkable, British Film. I have watched this film 18 times but I still love it. It will have you crying, cringing, laughing, and watching over and over again.

Paul Bettany's character is completely opposite to the one he plays in Wimbledon, which proves that he has talent to pull off the challenging task of acting out gangsta's role. A man that takes the meaning of 'gangsta' to a new level, that is both clever yet twisted.

The film which is based in 1960's London, has trembling violence and a storyline that will keep you enthralled until the very end. This story of greed, rationale and revenge, is British cinemas' version of Scarface, but is more realistic and not for the faint-hearted.

Be warned, if you are used to Hollywood fake gangsta's that are loveable rogues, then this is not for you. For all those others that enjoy realistic gangsta's with no compassion, no remorse just pure dedication then ths is your No.1 - Gangster No.1.



It makes me wonder...
2006-01-20 - ....when some reviewers call this one of the worst or worst movies they have seen.
Not a bad Brit 'gangster' movie. No it is not the Godfather.
Brit gangster films are different. My fave being The Long Good Friday with Bob Hoskins.
Interesting character studies of the leading 3 players.

WOW-Garbage
2005-06-06 - I cannot believe I bought this movie! I thought it would fit in wit the GodFather.........no way. This was one of the worst movies I have seen in my life. Seriously. I've seen a lot of bad ones, but this is Tops. I wanted to stop watching after suffering through the first 20 minutes, but I kept viewing to see if it would improve. It didn't. Do not waste the money to rent and especially buy this movie! GARBAGE!