Harleybloke

I was telling Chrissy CB about Ben Kingsley in this. I think he's the most frightening Gangster I have ever seen on film.

Anyone else agree.....................

.....You couldn't hear it, if they were shooting at me with howitzers!

ChristineCB

More taunting, too! He starts this conversation up at my 6:30 a.m., two hours before ANY store's open so I could get it! Well, Mr Smartypants, in another 20 minutes, we're heading for a store that shows it 'in inventory' so I don't have to put up with your oh-so-cruel taunting.

Of course, when Hubby finds out that Sienna Miller's in it, well, he won't think I'm TOO crazy (-er) for rushing out for this one and the rest of Harley's taunting titles!

ChristineCB

But, aside from Harley's vicious taunts, I admit that Kingley's bad guy in the Redford film SNEAKERS was a good portrayal by him, too. He's at first a one-dimensional enemy, perhaps a traitor, then his ending plea to "join" him because there's no need to take sides, etc.

I think that was lifted from the Ethel & Julius Rosenberg Memorial Speech Foundation, right?

While the writing for that character gave us all the reasons to see he was more than a 1-dimensional bad-guy, Kingsley did a decent job - even with a hair-extension ponytail. I guess corn-rows were out that year, eh?

Is Kingsley in dreadlocks in SEXY BEAST? Hey mon...

(I'd like to find out how Kingsley's ponytail came about. Was it his mid-acting-life crisis choice? Was it some producer's idea and Kingsley was paid extra for it? Did he get to keep it after the Shoot, and maybe he brings it out for parties? Or with the threat of sequels and prequels, is Gus Van Sant bidding for it on EBay?)

Harleybloke

No, No, .....Sienna's in 'Layer Cake' Chrissy..................

.....You couldn't hear it, if they were shooting at me with howitzers!

ChristineCB

Oh wait - I checked my notes. LAYER CAKE is the other one with Sienna, right?

I didn't ask in email why Harley lumped 3 films together: Long Good Friday, Layer Cake and Sexy Beast.

Why? Is there a 'feeling' or atmosphere that connects them into a conversation thread? And if so, can you describe why you think of those 3 films together?

Hoskins' performance in LONG GOOD FRIDAY is often cited as top-notch. I'd seen him in other films before seeing this one, but it's an excellent film with an atmosphere others try to create but can't quite match.

ChristineCB

We had mentioned THE STING, BONNIE & CLYDE and some others as favorites as well, and I sort of connect those two films together. I think I probably saw them together on video, perhaps in the same day or same week.

They don't really have much to do with each other except perhaps the two story's eras - 1920ish? BONNIE & CLYDE has a rather mixed musical score, using some jaunty country standards, while STING uses jaunty tin-pan-alley music by Scott Joplin.

I wonder if that influences me to 'connect' those two films?

Harleybloke

I'd just describe it as a 'British' feel to them. Tight. 'Gritty' although that is such a cliched phrase. If I recall Ken Cranham is the villian in Layer Cake and a great job he does too!

.....You couldn't hear it, if they were shooting at me with howitzers!

ChristineCB

So these are connected, in your mind, by their British 'feel' as crime-type films. I see. Not necessarily character-based but more atmospheric.

Harleybloke

Yep!

.....You couldn't hear it, if they were shooting at me with howitzers!

Fareham_Bee

If Ghandi can scare Ray Winstone, he's scary!

Great opening line from him too.

ChristineCB

OK, back home with SEXY BEAST, LAYER CAKE and LONG GOOD FRIDAY. And off again for more daily trudgery instead of watching films. I really need to get that Empress Of Universe job.

knobbykins

Kingsley's opening line is an absolute corker,if a little fruity!

When the king's off his arse nobody sleeps!

mariocki

He is pretty scary in that but I think Paul Bettany is even more frightening in Gangster No. 1. Anyone who dismembers a man while listening to Anthony Newley must have a screw loose

ChristineCB

Holy Blue Velvet, Batman... Anthony Newley?!! Now maybe hacking HIM up while listening to him... yes, I could see...

Aaryk Noctivagus

Not wishing to be argumentative... but conscious that I'm getting a name for being argumentative ... I felt Ben Kingsley wasn't particularly frightening in this... I thought he played it in a rather hammy fashion. I like Kingsley as an actor, but I've only ever been able to take him seriously as 'Ghandi'... because its the only role he seemed to take seriously.

I like 'Sexy Beast'... but I'm always puzzled when Kingsley's role is held up as frightening... its well played, yes... but frightening, no. I presume I'm in a minority of one on this though... its just how the character plays out to me.