 | Sexy Beast Starring: Ben Kingsley, Ray Winstone, Ian McShane, Amanda Redman, James Fox |
The dog days of summer can be hell for a cinephile living in Southern California. While putting up with the likes of "The Mummy Returns," "Tomb Raider" and "Rush Hour II," the bored cineaste must make various trips to the video store to catch up on old classics, unviewed "stinkers," or some good foreign films. There is, however, a haven for the likes of me in the form of the fast disappearing art house. For some unknown reason, summertime brings out a throng of interesting films, which normally would get little exposure in LA movie houses. One of the best for the summer of 2001 is "Sexy Beast," a first effort from music video director, Jonathan Glazer. Glazer shows a promising talent with a first rate script and cast. One can only hope that this film gets the attention it deserves. Gal (Winstone) is a retired gangster who lives in lovely villa on the sunny coast of Spain, with his wife, Deedee (Redman) and old friends, Aitch and Jackie. His life of crime long behind him, Gal enjoys his life thoroughly, but things are about to change. An ominous sign comes rolling down from the hills above the villa as a large boulder barely misses Gal as he sips his cool cocktail and lands square in the middle of the pool. At dinner that night, Gal notices that Aitch and Jackie are particularly upset. It seems that an old mate, Don Logan (Kingsley) has called and is coming for a visit. Logan is not just any old mate. The audience is informed immediately that Logan is big trouble. He is only visiting to ask Gal to pull off another caper. Ordinarily, Gal would simply tell this man that he has gone into permanent retirement and say good-bye. But Logan is no ordinary man. Kingsley has created a monster with Don Logan and Glazer wastes little time informing the viewer that Logan is akin to evil incarnate. The first appearance of Logan arriving at the villa brings the pulse rate up a number of notches and the film takes on a dark and dangerous tone. A few pointed, darting glances from Logan accompanied by his clipped cockney accent set Gal and friends into a state of total panic. Gal attempts to exchange nervous pleasantries but Logan's piercing eyes gives the immediate impression that Gal's diplomacy isn't working. Instead, Logan malevolently "toys" with these quivering puppets. A ruthless British gangster called Teddy Best (McShane) has planned a considerable heist and has asked Logan to assemble a team of top experts to pull off the job. Logan, of course, thinks of his old buddy, Gal. Neither Logan nor Teddy are the types to accept the word no. There is no question that Logan is a man who could inflict serious pain on an individual and Teddy, the smooth talking, suave gangster, would slit your throat at the slightest provocation. Gal is determined to say no and, as the inner rage of Logan simmers, he almost gets by with it. Logan gets easily upset and leaves. Within hours, Don Logan returns to the sunny villa where we see the man at his worst. As the films pace picks up considerably, Glazer shows great style. With a static camera focused on the kitchen door, Logan rants and raves, going in and out of frame as the helpless Gal hopelessly sits and listens. The audience feels like a nosy neighbour peeking through a window at this frightening scene. I had best not relate what happens next. The film continues to raise the blood pressure and the intensity never lets up. The performances by Winstone, Kingsley, and the very scary McShane add to the tension. One would have hoped that Glazer would have let us in a bit more on the caper for it seemed quite ingenious, but I'm splitting hairs. Glazer is not beyond adding some surreal scenes and some nice stylistic touches to the film yet these mise-en-scenes only add to the narrative and move the plot quickly into high gear. His style never interferes. There are similarities between "Sexy Beast" and "The Long Good Friday" but this film never quite attains the level of the British gangster classic. It is, however, one hell of a thriller that will leave your nerves unstrung at the end. Logan and Teddy will stay with you for a long, long time. Did Kingsley really play Ghandi? |