FeistyUpper If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

ShangLuda Admirable film.

Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Staci Frederick Blistering performances.

amesmonde Gangster No. 1 follows the rise and fall of a particularly brutal and disturbed Cockney English gangster. It would be improper to compare this gem to the likes of Goodfellas (1990), big budget American gangster films and Guy Ritchie Brit slick criminal films. No.1 is in the vein of The Krays (1990) and has a for the most part a traditional narrative. That said, Director Paul McGuigan has a grand visual flare and Johnny Ferguson's screenplay takes the time to actually delve into the psyche of gangster who is arguably more psychopath that sociopath, (either way he is a killer). Ferguson's script gives the dialogue weight and realism which can be very thought provoking at times.McGuigan superbly crafts the period pieces of 60's London right through to the 90's, with fantastic set design, locations, music soundtrack and score. The viewer gets to witness England in all its swingin' 60's glory. The direction and Andrew Hulme's editing isn't mediocre and great effort has been made to make you feel the emotion that happens on screen, especially when there is a killer and victim scene. The use of P.O.V, manipulated shots and stylised lighting are used to achieve this. There are some gruesome and violent scenes, which is to be expected given the genre. This includes a torture scene that will stay with you for a while after the credits roll. Since its production 11 years ago only the ageing make-up has dated and yet this still doesn't impair on the magic of the film.The talented cast is any array of familiar UK faces including Saffron Burrows, Eddie Marsan, Doug Allen and Walking Dead's Andrew Lincoln to name a few. David Thewlis is on top form as the quintessential gentleman gangster head Freddie Mays and show stealer Jamie Foreman is outstanding as rival gang leader Lennie Taylor in a smaller but pivotal role.Paul Bettany's performance is simply mesmerising, edgy, scary and he perfectly plays the jealous and ambitious Young Gangster. Incidentally, Bettany is reminiscent of Malcolm McDowell in Clockwork Orange (1971). Similarly, McDowell gives a fitting first-rate performance as the Gangster aged 55, who is just as intimidating and menacing. It's a great piece of casting thats credit goes to Jina Jay.Overall, it's a satisfying British gangster film that approaches the subject matter from a different angle, and that is from the inside out. The subject matter aside it's a self-effacing cinematic experience.

ellieforpeace What a delightful movie. Well, no. Let me rephrase that. What a delightful movie for a Stanley Kubrick/Anthony Burgess/A Clockwork Orange movie fan. This movie seeps through with Stanley Kubrick. A Clockwork Orange oozes from the breaks in the glass. It cannot be unintentional. From the ultraviolence, to the casting of Malcolm McDowell, this is all A Clockwork Orange. The young gangster even looks, stares like young Alex. I'm pretty sure the movie is even washed the same.Gangster No. 1 is a bloody mess of a movie, a crime movie, a gangster movie, an understated monstrous epic. Understated until it comes to the violence, that is. Over an hour is a long, long back story, and nothing more. Really. It's a back story that takes over an hour. A very long flashback, occasionally interrupted by the old gangster's (Malcolm McDowell) narration. It tells the story of a young gangster's (Paul Bettany) yearning for power under a gang lord's (David Thewlis) regime.The violence is less/more than A Clockwork Orange. It's actually incredibly bizarre to describe. You don't really see people get killed, not up close, and not really. More often, you are being killed. The camera is your sight, as Bettany is doing something unsightly to you. And it won't end. Not nearly soon enough.I think the direction is brilliant. The shots tell exactly what they need to. Nothing is spared. It's a lot of movie packed into a bit, which keeps it from getting slow, except when it comes to the violence. The director, (who is Paul McGuigan, by the way), knows what he wants you to see, and directs you through the movie. He learned well from Kubrick.It's a disturbing movie. And I think it grabs, or repels. Fascinates or disgusts. And if you're very lucky, it does both. If you're very, very lucky, you'll see and appreciate A Clockwork Orange in it.

whpratt1 This is a story about a young ambitious man who likes being a gangster and when he is young the role is played by Young Gangster, (Paul Bettany). Freddie Mays, (David Thewlis) is the head king pin and decides to hire this young gangster who wants to fill his shoes someday. There are many flashbacks concerning the life of the young gangster and the older gangster played by Malcolm McDowell who managed to send Freddie Mays to prison and he also took over his entire business. There is plenty of blood and gore and rough and tough British crude language which is very hard to understand. This is a very unusual film and it will hold your interest right to the very end.

Angelus2 This film is based in the 1970's a fictional gangster joins a gang and slowly begins to rise above all his fellow criminals; which is narrated by the older self. Bettany is the best thing about this film he has a creepy vibe to him, his psychopathic, almost sexually depraved Gangster.No 1.The characters are traditional cockney gangsters, in everything they do and say; the violence is brutal and violent...As the film goes on you realise Gangster No.1 is almost obsessed with Freddie and as Karen emerges Gangster almost becomes jealous....a good film with great character development..but no real story behind the film...