Sexy Beast (2000)

Crime, Drama, Romance

Director: Jonathan Glazer
Writers: Louis Mellis, David Scinto
Starring: Ray Winstone, Ben Kingsley, Ian McShane, Amanda Redman

"There's a bit of the beast in all of us"

Director Jonathan Glazer (Birth, Under the Skin) brilliantly makes his transition from music videos and TV commercials to feature films with a very stylish and confident gangster flick that is something else.

Retired safecracker Gary ‘Gal’ Dove (Ray Winstone) lives a happy and comfortable life with his beautiful wife (a sadly underused Amanda Redman) in sunny Spain, convinced that he put his criminal life behind him, when a very dangerous and severely insane old associate of his (a foul-mouthed Sir Ben Kingsley, in a high-energy expletive performance that has brought him an Oscar nomination) shows up, imperiously asking him to return to London for one last job.

Quite violent—although more in language than action—but not without its moments of brilliant humor, Sexy Beast is a really intelligent, enthralling and welcome British gangster film that stands out among others in its genre, but also a must-see for all fans of contemporary neo-noir.

Plot summary from IMDb: Gal, Deedee, Aitch and Jackie, having left behind respective lives of ill-repute, bask in the sun of Spain and in the most essential brand of leisure. A hazy yarn of barbecues, beer and botched hunting expeditions make up their retirements, until a sudden and unforeseen disruption emerges from their past. Enter the childishly violent and hilariously edgy Don Logan. Through a series of side-splitting negotiations and irrevocable acts, retired crook Gal is forced to shake off the rust and accept one last mission, put forth by the menacing Logan, his ex-mentor. A heist of legendary proportion and personal implications, this job should make for one hell of an encore.

Awards: Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 25 wins & 16 nominations.
Runtime: 89 min
R