Favourite British Gangster/crime film

[Pigasus]

Originally Posted by pedromonkey

..any film that has Helen Mirren in is a deal maker for me with the exception of Caligula (utter cack)

I would have agreed until about 20 years ago, when she lost whatever screen presence she had in Prime Suspect TV fodder... Mirren's been so variable since, and not in a good way. I remember she was great in Madness Of King George, and okay in Schrader's Comfort Of Strangers, but then she was quite dull as the assassin in Shadowboxer, and reduced to comic-relief status for Inkheart.

Saw the US remake (of Brit TV series), State Of Play, just a couple of days ago, and Mirren (cast as the newspaper editor) seemed to be there just for a pay-cheque... saying lines like "and f**k you very much" to Russell Crowe without being funny or even very scathing.

Yes, Mirren was brilliant in Long Good Friday, but that seems to be her career-best performance, nowadays. Meryl Streep is probably (?) Hollywood's equivalent of Mirren, and while Streep just gets better with age, Mirren gets worse, IMHO... Admittedly, though, I haven't seen Mirren in her 'royalty' stuff.

Anyway, moving neatly back on topic...
I wonder if Mirren will be any good in this year's remake of Brighton Rock?

[vincenzo]

Mirren was excellent in Hussy and the brilliant The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover.

[pedromonkey]

Shadowboxer was slow ride, the film just went no where and why did we have to get a cock shot of little stephen dorff still wearing his mack.

[cinematheque]

love gangster no 1. Watched it at the cinema with my gf who wasn't enamoured with the language and violence but I had to refuse to leave. Paul Bettany is chilling.

[cinematheque]

and if I can add a french movie/s - Messrine 1 & 2. Brilliant retro style with an amazing central performance from Vincent Cassel

[Pete]

Get Carter, closely followed by The Italian job.

[The Reaper Man@Cult Labs]

Get Carter is endlessly rewatchable.

Caine's performance is a powerhouse!

[vincenzo]

Performance is mine, followed by Get Carter.

Villain, The Squeeze and the first Sweeney also get top marks.

[oaxaca]

The first Sweeney film it is for me

John Thaw and Dennis Waterman were the best cop-buddies ever! Love the series and the films.

[vincenzo]

Sweeney II seems to divide people. I thought it started well but then went downhill towards the end. The first Sweeney was non-stop entertainment, despite Barry Foster's curious American accent.