Plot: What’s it about?
The world of organized crime in London has countless people involved, but there can only be one top man, one king of the hill, so to speak. Of course, many of the runners, hitmen, and bosses want to be the number one man in the chain, but even so, it all comes down to one man and his place at the peak. This spot comes with pressure and danger however, as men risk their lives to challenge for the position and the threats never end, to say the least. A man known simply as Gangster (Paul Bettany) wants to take control of the top rung in the ladder also, but he has a plan and seeks to overtake the position with skill & precision. He is very good at what he does, which is to scare people, make them pay their debts or repay favors, bend the will of the reluctant, and when the time comes, execute violent plans to send a message. His presence is often enough to make tough men change their minds, but if they resist, this ruthless gangster doesn’t hesitate to beat them, maim them, or even kill them. But can even he manage to pull off a task that will not only eliminate a rival crime boss, but also his own boss, leaving him as top banana?
This is a very good gangster movie that could have been great, but some bad choices doom it to never rise above the middle tier. The first hour is excellent in all respects, with a slow, but ideal pace, some wicked scenes of murder, terrific performances, and some stunning character development, but once the final half hour arrives, it all sort of vanishes. Malcolm McDowell is an actor I usually like to watch, but this is simply not the role for him and he takes his performance in all the wrong directions, which is a real shame. This causes some anti-climatic scenes toward the close, which makes you wish the filmmakers would have rethought their plans. Even so, the tense, blood soaked, and well crafted first sixty minutes are good enough to carry the entire picture, which saves Gangster No. 1 from sinking. As expected from a recent British crime film, there is plenty of violence and language, but this movie has even more than usual, especially some horrific scenes of violence. This disc from TVA International is exclusive to Canada, but it is well worth seeking out, as the movie is good and the disc is terrific.
As I mention above, the first hour of this film is great and one of the main reasons is Paul Bettany, who turns in a terrific performance. Although his career is just getting started and he hasn’t made much of a name for himself, Bettany has done some solid work and with a few more efforts like this one, he will be on the map. His persona in Gangster No. 1 is good, taking the satiric tone of the material and using it well, especially in terms of dialogue. His lines are delivered to full effect and that enhances the material, without a doubt. Even the weak lines seem to work well enough, which is a true compliment to Bettany’s skills here. You can also see Bettany in such films as The Suicide Club, A Beautiful Mind, The Land Girls, A Knight’s Tale, and Mood Swingers. The cast also includes Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange, Britannia Hospital), David Thewlis (Restoration, Dragonheart), and Saffron Burrows (Wing Commander, Timecode).
Video: How does it look?
Gangster No. 1 is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is an above average visual presentation, but some flaws in the source material keep the score down, even if just a bit. I saw more grain than expected, as well as frequent nicks and such, which weren’t a distraction, but worth a mention here. The contrast seems on the mark though, with accurate black levels and a good sense of detail. No worries with the color scheme either, as hues are bright and natural throughout. I wish the print was cleaner in places, but aside from that, this is a solid, often terrific visual effort.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included 5.1 surround sound mix is terrific, though it works more as a creative track, as opposed to one fueled by sheer power. So yes, the gunfire and other action elements light up the surrounds, but this track shines in the details, thanks to some creative, highly effective subtle use of the speakers. The front channels are used to excellent ends, as dialogue is clean and sharp at all times, while subtle audio there is superb, very good work indeed. This mix proves you don’t need tons of impact presence to make a great, memorable audio mix, you just need skill and some creative minds. This disc also includes 2.0 surround options in English and French, in case you’ll need either of those audio choices.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The main draw here is an audio commentary track with director Paul McGuigan, who keeps up a good pace of information here, despite some slow stretches. He seems relaxed and talks quickly, so there’s a lot of good insight and interesting stories to be found here. I think a second person might have enhanced those slow spots, but then again, it might have crowded Guigan’s comments, so who knows. You can also view two deleted scenes, only one of which has optional comments from McGuigan, however. This disc also includes a brief behind the scenes featurette, some talent files, and the film’s trailer.
