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Gangster No. 1
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Gangster No. 1 (2000) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   5,421 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
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Director:
Paul McGuigan
Writer:
Johnny Ferguson (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Gangster No. 1 on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
9 June 2000 (UK) more
Genre:
Crime | Drama | Thriller more
Tagline:
There can only be ONE. more
Plot:
Chronicles the rise and fall of a prominent, and particularly ruthless English gangster. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
1 win & 9 nominations more
User Comments:
A 'Fast Take' on another gangster film... more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Malcolm McDowell ... Gangster 55

David Thewlis ... Freddie Mays

Paul Bettany ... Young Gangster
Saffron Burrows ... Karen
Kenneth Cranham ... Tommy (as Ken Cranham)
Jamie Foreman ... Lennie Taylor

Eddie Marsan ... Eddie Miller
Andrew Lincoln ... Maxie King
Doug Allen ... Mad John

Razaaq Adoti ... Roland
Cavan Clerkin ... Billy
David Kennedy ... Fat Charlie

Johnny Harris ... Derek
Anton Saunders ... Trevor (as Anton Valensi)
Alex McSweeney ... Bloke In Tailor's
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Gangster No. 1 (Australia)
Gangster Nr. 1 (Germany)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for strong brutal violence, pervasive language, and brief drug use and nudity.
Runtime:
103 min
Country:
UK | Germany | Ireland
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital
Company:
FilmFour more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In the opening bathroom scene, it is actually director Paul McGuigan at the urinal, according to the director's commentary. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Gangster 55 is telling Freddy Mays to shoot him and the camera is showing his back you can see the gun that Freddy is holding on the couch. The next shot Freddy Mays puts the gun on the couch and leaves. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
[song "The Good Life" begins as scene opens at boxing match; crowd noises]
Gangster 55: [laughing] What? With Scotland Yard breathing down me neck? Fuck off. Do me a favor!
[laughter]
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Lucky Number Slevin (2006) more
Soundtrack:
The Good Life more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
14 out of 23 people found the following comment useful:-
A 'Fast Take' on another gangster film..., 24 September 2001
Author: giancarlo de lisi from Montreal, Canada

Ever since the release of Quentin Tarantino's crime drama 'Pulp Fiction'; it seems as if every other crime drama must reinvent itself. 'Gangster No. 1' falls into that category and while having many flaws, it still manages to capture the audience's attention with its' engaging tale.

This dark, stylish and graphic crime flick is the creation of UK director Paul McGuigan whose past efforts include 'The Acid House' and 'Morality Play'. And while it is crude, vulgar, violent and anti-climactic, it has all the characteristics one seeks for a crime film. The film opens with a stunning sequence in which a terribly miscast Malcolm McDowell retells his rise from a lonely soldier in a Crime Family to the head of the organization.

Paul Bettany plays McDowell's younger self mysteriously called Gangster 55; who does a superb job at capturing the rapturous rage of this young criminal. While working under Freddie Mays; played with an incredible sense of apathy by David Thewlis, we see Bettany/McDowell's character eye his position in this family on a much wider scale.

The film spans itself over 30 years and we see some superb performances from Paul Bettany, David Thewlis and Saffron Burrows. Yet, while the cinematography is stunning, the film's scale inventive and the performances outstanding - Malcolm McDowell is completely miscast. While his body of work displays his range and his acting skills a tremendous attribute, simply put - he was put in this film to sell to markets. Thewlis who also plays Mays thirty years into the future wears make up for his role and does a fine job, while Bettany's older self is played by McDowell and the scenes in which McDowell and Thewlis interact are quite uncomfortable because it simply does not feel right. McDowells' age difference empowers the scene and reminds us we are watching an actor with make-up, and another without - pretending to be the same age.

Furthermore, this film will not please everyone. This is the kind of film that unravels before your very eyes. Yet, the plot reveals itself not by actions but by the characters. In a slow-paced, methodical manner, the film's story unrolls in a manner that some might see as slow and unexciting. Yet, in order to enjoy the film one must immerse himself or herself within the simple plot that is brought to the screen with a touch of elegance with Director McGuigan's stylistic nature and wit.

While the film will not be hailed as one of the definitive gangster classics, it still is a good gangster film. And what could have brought it past the level of simply being a good watch is the disappointing last half-hour where our main character's older self (McDowell) is the focus of the film.

The first hour is told in flashback narrative sequences where McDowell tells of his rise. While the first hour harbors many similarities to other films such as 'American Psycho' (the slow, bloody, torturous deaths) and 'Goodfellas' the soundtrack accompanying the build up to a scene); it is entertaining and a pleasure to watch. Yet, the last half-hour culminates in Malcolm McDowell's present day stance as the notorious leader and his attempt to stay number one. Unfortunately, McDowells' performance pales incomparison to Bettany's and the unfortunate over the top performance by McDowell in a weak third act results in a good film not becoming a great film.

Rating: **

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Your top ten british gangster films matandocabos777
Malcolm McDowell Satellite_of_Love
Awesome film - only one gripe... mjr102
***Soundtrack is available*** Jedi99
Just because it didn't get as much publicity. Flamehead 3
terribly underrated senasena
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