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Sexy Beast 2000 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Jonathan Glazer
R, 88 min. (pervasive language, strong violence, sexuality) |
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Starring: Ray Winstone, Ben Kingsley, Ian McShane, Amanda Redman, Cavan Kendall, Julianne White
Producer: Jeremy Thomas
Screenplay: Louis Mellis, David Scinto
Cinematography: Ivan Bird
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Released: 6.22.01 (Limited) |
Rating:
 (out of ) |
Sexy Beast is the latest British import to present a dark comedy centered around the murky underworld of
society. Much in the tradition of Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, Sexy Beast deals with the somewhat
lighter side of the criminal world. That's not to say the film isn't serious, but significant time is allotted to alleviating the
ever-increasing tension that dominates the film's plot. The film will undoubtedly be remembered for Ben Kingsley's
forceful, atypical role that towers over all other characters in the story. He's no Ghandi here - instead a tough, unrelenting
presence that simply won't take "no" for an answer. His performance is clearly one of the year's best. The story is balanced nicely by Ray Winstone, whose soft-hearted
"teddy-bear" character is shaken to its very core by the reemergence of his past, which in this case is personified by
Kingsley's brutish character. The showdown is on, and only the mentally tough will survive.
The story is straightforward. Gary (Winstone) is a retired thief, living luxuriously in Spain with his ex-porn star wife
Deedee (Amanda Redman). When Don (Kingsley) comes to offer him a can't-miss gig back in England, Gary must
find a way to appease Don while politely telling him he's not interested. This doesn't go over well with Don, whose
intimidating tactics escalate into a game of violence that will test the resolve of Gary, his wife, and his friends.
While the story also involves a short trip to England to complete a caper, the heart of the film is during its riveting first
30 minutes. Kingsley's character is prepared for us through the eyes and actions of Gary and his friends, as the news
of his imminent arrival results in near-panic and a sense of dread in Gary's mannerisms. By the time Don arrives, we're
totally convinced that this man is a tirade, a whore of a human being, worthy of a quick exit from this world. His boorish
and unquenchable thirst for achieving his objective is painfully difficult to watch. Director Jonathan Glazer is successful
in making the viewer feel as uncomfortable as Gary has become. We'd just as soon forget we'd ever met such a man.
Kingsley's dominating performance overshadows a solid effort from Winstone, whose laid back, soft portrayal of a once
hardened criminal is the perfect complement to emphasize Kingsley's monster. There are also nice turns from
Redman and crime boss Ian McShane, who help add depth to an already rich cast of characters. This is really an actors'
movie, intelligently-directed, and it shows.
There are quiet moments in Sexy Beast (a confusing title to be sure), such as a lazy sun-drenched afternoon by the pool
or Gary's intimate moments with his wife, that add a layer of beauty to counter the ugliness that's to come. The actors
know their roles and what's expected from their characters, resulting in a highly entertaining and watchable film. Maybe
we've all known a character with similarities to Don, but I doubt many of us have experienced one so irredeemably
evil. Sexy Beast is a triumph in that it presents two characters on opposite sides of the spectrum and what happens when
they inevitably face off.
© 2001 Jonathan Cornwell
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 |
 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
 | Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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