British Gangster Films

[kieronsexgod]

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What are your favourite british gangster films of all time and why?



What would you expect from a good gangster film?



I'm making a short opening to a gangster film as a media project, would just like some opinions and tips.

[GoggleboxUK]

Love, Honour and Obey is my favourite, Why? Because it's great! :)



Great storyline, well developed and likeable and likeable characters, the obligatory sex, drigs, guns and violence and moments of hilarity from a typically British sense of humour.



If I knew what to expect from a film it wouldn't be worth watching. unpredicibility is paramount.

[CALF28]

Make Me a Fugitive. Very gritty and realistic. Portrays an ex RAF upper class type bored with civvie life looking for excitement. I think this was a problem at the time.

[Tonch]

I have three:



The Long Good Friday



Get Carter



Villain



in that order.



All for the same basic reasons: a powerful lead performance by a good, well known actor.

A clear, not overly complicated plot which still contains the odd twist.

A great cast featuring quality character actors.

Locations which are very evocative of the era.

Stand alone films....none have been "diluted" in impact by a string of sequels.



The presence of a slightly Bond-esque henchman ("Razors") and the fact that it is set in the London of the late 70's/early 80's (coinciding with when I moved down there to live) gives TLGF the edge for me.

[batman]

What are your favourite british gangster films of all time and why?



The Dark Man

Brighton Rock

The Long Good Friday

Get Carter

Pool of London



Good stories (well, maybe not TDM), good acting, good location filming and good direction



What would you expect from a good gangster film?



See above.



I'm making a short opening to a gangster film as a media project, would just like some opinions and tips.



Try something different .... don't just copy what you have already seen. Be subtle, don''t give too much away, just hint at things to make people intrigued enough to want to see more.

[mark666]

Have to agree with the above. I also enjoyed 'Performance' as a gangster mirror of the 60's and 'Brighton Rock' as a blast from the pre-Kray past. 'Villain' was apparently based on Ronald Kray.

[Corinne]

name='GoggleboxUK']Love, Honour and Obey is my favourite, Why? Because it's great! :)



Great storyline, well developed and likeable and likeable characters, the obligatory sex, drigs, guns and violence and moments of hilarity from a typically British sense of humour.



If I knew what to expect from a film it wouldn't be worth watching. unpredicibility is paramount.

Hey Goggs, a man after my own heart. Apart from having Ray Winstone in it, it has the typical English sense of humour that I love without taking away from the grittiness you expect from a gangster movie.

[billy bentley]

"Brighton Rock" and the first part of "Performance" - heavy without the later cartoonish element.

[Torquemada]

The Long Good Friday is easily my favourite followed by Get Carter. My expectations are some level of realism over Ritchieism. I thought Bank Job and Villain were also very good.

[taffy1967]

'Get Carter' (1971) is my choice because it's brilliant and brutal at the same time. I love the era, the music the clothes and the changing of the North of England.



It's a film I've seen countless times and yet it still blows me away. I still get shivers at the beginning when the titles appear and the train leaves the tunnel and the that title music starts. It's magic.

[retrospecta]

As well as the above mentioned, I'd like to add;



Gangster No. 1 - By no means a classic, this 1990's thriller set in 60's London is a very violent, sweary affair, but the look of the film and the period detail I love. Paul Bethany's dark blue Ozward Boateng suit alone would make this one of my favourite films.



Sexy Beast - For Ben Kingsley's amazing performance. Don Logan, the greatest gangster psycho of them all? "No, you are going to have to turn this opportunity yes!"