When
we think great mob movies, we think of landmark pictures like The Godfather and
Goodfellas. Every now and then we get a smaller film that, while not as grand,
still manages to pack a punch. Sexy Beast is small in scale but big in textured
performances.
Ray
Winstone is an ex-hood trying to walk the straight and narrow. He's happily married
and enjoying a crime free life. He finds that life interrupted when his former
boss (Ben Kingsley) returns to town following a rather lengthy hiatus. Before
long, Winstone is reminded of how hard it is to say no to a man as intimidating
as Don "Macky" Logan (Kingsley).
Sexy
Beast was directed by first timer Jonathan Glazer. He's not really interested
in scope. Heös interested in character and detail. And while this picture
is hardly flawless, it is stylish and well executed.
Ben
Kingsley is a revelation, playing the heavy with absolute ferocity and glee. His
stare alone is convincing enough. And while this will surely earn the Schindler's
List and Ghandi star awards and recognition galore (deservedly so), I'd like to
give a shout out to the brilliant Winstone who plays off of Kingsley's nastiness
brilliantly. Both of these actors are absolutely mesmerizing in this film.
Sexy
Beast is a small, gritty picture with a strange title, full of rich performances
and a quiet intensity that sets it apart from many of the big films this summer.
Like the equally effective The Score, this is a movie about a guy who wants out,
but keeps getting pulled back in.
