Beast of Burden

With a funny title and the one-time Mahatma Ghandi now playing the Ma-hitman Grande, "Sexy Beast" is fast becoming the hip gangster flick of the year. Slick and stylish, it takes the proverbial "one last job" story and puts a completely different spin on it.

First time film director Jonathan Glazer, who has made a name for himself directing music videos for Radiohead and making the classic "Virtual Insanity" video for Jamiroquai, takes his MTV style to the big screen without beating people's senses to a pulp.

Retired robber Gal is living la vida not stealing stuff anymore in sunny Spain with his little lady and former porn queen Deedee. Gal is sunning himself by the pool when he quite literally comes within inches of being smashed by a big boulder coming down the hill. If he thinks that will be the peak of a crappy day, he has no idea what is in store for him.

Friends and former thug-lifers Aitch and his lady Jackie let Gal know they received a phone call about a job. Gal isn't interested and not really concerned until he learns who will be coming to dinner to do the persuading. The human rolling boulder himself, Don Logan (Ben Kingsley: "Schindler's List" "Ghandi"). Now the whole gang is very concerned as Don is not one to take no for an answer very well.

Thus begins a steady stream of F-Bombs, euphemisms for female genitalia and in general just a steady stream of obscenity from the mouth of one of Hollywood's real good guys. The guy looks like Kingsley, but you've never heard Ben like this before. The great thing is....he completely sells the part. The old guy is scarier than your grandpa when he takes his teeth out. And as brutal as Don Logan gets with his language and threats, he is still able to work a few laughs into the equation. I challenge anyone out there not to laugh when he talks his way out of a bit of trouble with airport security.

Now, the way most films like this would go is that after about 10-15 minutes of prodding, Gal agrees to do the job. That isn't the case this time. This movie takes a different turn by leaving the heist as very much secondary. The real story is Don's recruiting attempts, and the slowly unfolding history between he and the four Spanish emigres. Mix into that Gal's repeating dream of a vicious, hairy beast and you have your story.

A lot of people will embrace Kingsley's performance and dismiss the film for its pervasive foul language and gritty nature. Don't trust these people, they want only to deceive you. "Sexy Beast" is a basic but very fresh and exciting story that is sure to entertain any fan of the crime movie genre. The fact that the "one last score" encompasses such a short amount of time is a pretty cool idea. This way, we are able to believe the emotions that Gal is going through and are able to support his decision no matter which way he goes.

Kingsley, as I said before, is incredible in his role. And in retrospect, I gotta think that Ghandi would still be alive if he had some of Don Logan's spunk.

Ray Winstone was the other principal actor, in the role of Gal. I've never actually seen another film of his, but he was quite good as the aging gangster unwilling to return to a life of crime. He did star in and receive critical acclaim in "Nil By Mouth" which is also noteworthy as being the only film written and directed by Garl Oldman.

The only real problem I had with the film personally is the same problem that comes up in every Brit film. I lost some of the dialogue because I was unable to keep up with the accents at all times. I expected it. I didn't lose any of the story. However, there are some people out there still bitter about the United Kingdom sending over the Spice Girls, so they may have a cross to bear over the whole dialect thing.

This is definitely a film worth seeing. Nothing monumental, but it provides a refreshingly different perspective and the crime genre of film. Kingsley is great. Winstone is great. Check it out.