This is set in 1967 but we have a warehouse full of containers which weren't around then. We have read issuing a caution that didn't exist until PACE in 1984. These are just two of the inaccuracies. There are others such as the cut of the suits, the ties, the shoes. As soon as you see such inaccurate details you know the film is going to be a wrong 'un. The film gives far too much prominence to Read as the lead on the investigation. He was the head of a much bigger squad than the one portrayed and many of the details of the true investigation are absent whilst others have been invented. This film is trash and just cashes in on the fascination so many have with the Krays and of London in the sixties. To be honest, as a Londoner who grew up in the EastEnd in the Fifties and Sixties, this film feels more like the late 80's early 90's.
7 Reviews
Different Perspective
LLgoatJ31 December 2021
This film tells the story of Nipper Read who eventually brought down The Krays.
My wife is from the East End and interested in the Krays. So we watch a lot of stuff on The Krays. So it's interesting to see a film from a different perspective.
It's a true story and everyone knows how it ends but it still keeps your attention. It's low budget and some of the acting could be better. The Krays are played by one actor which was clever but some scenes are a bit strange because of this. It also didn't seem to want too involved in police corruption, even though it says from the start it was a problem. The violence is brutal but you don't see much.
Overall it's not a bad 1960s London cop film, especially if you are interested in The Krays. But it could been better.
My wife is from the East End and interested in the Krays. So we watch a lot of stuff on The Krays. So it's interesting to see a film from a different perspective.
It's a true story and everyone knows how it ends but it still keeps your attention. It's low budget and some of the acting could be better. The Krays are played by one actor which was clever but some scenes are a bit strange because of this. It also didn't seem to want too involved in police corruption, even though it says from the start it was a problem. The violence is brutal but you don't see much.
Overall it's not a bad 1960s London cop film, especially if you are interested in The Krays. But it could been better.
The Slow Take down Of The Krays.
STEVE24BUS31 December 2021
Slow paced film about the investigation of the Krays. We have all seen other films about them but this differs because they aren't the main characters. Nipper Read and is team have to break through the wall of silence and fear that enabled the Krays to rule the underworld of the time with an iron fist. Assuming it's all true, it was a complex and clever plan, the face to face interviews were very good with a real air of menace. Well worth a watch if you like the history of the Krays. Well acted and the grim settings give you a sense of realism.
Realism on a tight budget.
martinwestlake-9276931 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
There's a lot of chat these days about the Kray twins. They were hard men, the fans will say, but fair. And above all they loved their mum. What tends to be less emphasised or sometimes glorified is that they were vicious criminals who stopped at nothing. Without the implacable efforts of a few good men things would have been a lot worse.
The film centres on the efforts of the good guys who brought them to their just desserts in an era when police work relied on brains, intuition and sweat, and the bad guys toted shotguns. Not a computer in sight, just mounds of paper. The director tries to portray an unromantic snapshot of the nasty side of life - with success. You won't find many flirtations with sixties nostalgia here. Not even a Mary Quant hairdo.
The villains have a suitably classic Jag while the detectives make do with a decent-looking Morris Traveller. But that's it for the props department. The entire location for the shoot appears to have been a derelict factory in the less-fashionable end of Pontefract. A framing shot or two of some of the more memorable bits of the East End would have been good. It could have been a bit more 'The Ipcress File'.
Stephen Moyer actually looks remarkably like the real-life Nipper Read, and carries the role well. Ronan Summers portrays the callous nature of the Kray twins with chutzpah. However little work seems to have been done to emphasise the differences in their character. Personally, I felt the psychological attack on Read by the twins to have been a little overplayed, and Read appears overwhelmed by it. I imagine that he would have experienced something closer to contempt at any such diatribe. Certainly, I doubt Read was the sometimes easily vulnerable shrinking violet of Moyer's character.
There is a dearth of films made on a nothing-budget by talented but impoverished film companies these days, and this is one of the better ones. By their nature, a focus on character is essential since the fairground-ride effects of most current headline productions are far beyond the ambitions of the not-yet notable director. Still, this sort of thing regularly attracts large audiences at the Globe theatre. And with that in mind, this script would transpose well to the stage. I liked it.
The film centres on the efforts of the good guys who brought them to their just desserts in an era when police work relied on brains, intuition and sweat, and the bad guys toted shotguns. Not a computer in sight, just mounds of paper. The director tries to portray an unromantic snapshot of the nasty side of life - with success. You won't find many flirtations with sixties nostalgia here. Not even a Mary Quant hairdo.
The villains have a suitably classic Jag while the detectives make do with a decent-looking Morris Traveller. But that's it for the props department. The entire location for the shoot appears to have been a derelict factory in the less-fashionable end of Pontefract. A framing shot or two of some of the more memorable bits of the East End would have been good. It could have been a bit more 'The Ipcress File'.
Stephen Moyer actually looks remarkably like the real-life Nipper Read, and carries the role well. Ronan Summers portrays the callous nature of the Kray twins with chutzpah. However little work seems to have been done to emphasise the differences in their character. Personally, I felt the psychological attack on Read by the twins to have been a little overplayed, and Read appears overwhelmed by it. I imagine that he would have experienced something closer to contempt at any such diatribe. Certainly, I doubt Read was the sometimes easily vulnerable shrinking violet of Moyer's character.
There is a dearth of films made on a nothing-budget by talented but impoverished film companies these days, and this is one of the better ones. By their nature, a focus on character is essential since the fairground-ride effects of most current headline productions are far beyond the ambitions of the not-yet notable director. Still, this sort of thing regularly attracts large audiences at the Globe theatre. And with that in mind, this script would transpose well to the stage. I liked it.
Different angle
chrisday-3031217 January 2022
A reasonable watch if you are interested in the krays and there era. This film tells shows us events from nippers view which is different to the usual Kray films but works nicely.
Low budget but to be honest was not a deal breaker Worth a watch if you have a few hours free.
Low budget but to be honest was not a deal breaker Worth a watch if you have a few hours free.
an interesting take
LetsReviewThat2619 June 2022
It was nice to get a new perspective on the reggie and rony story, this time from the pov of Nipper. I think stephen moyer played him well. Ronan summers plays the twins and I felt he looked and acted really good for the role. Overall it was decent take on the story and its nice to see it changed up a bit from a different persons view point.
Had more potential
supermellowcali18 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I thought this was a pretty good story, well produced with excellent acting from a top cast. It seemed a bit dragged out and missed an opportunity for a much more exciting ending by describing it instead of showing the consummation, which would have been extremely angry twins going into prison. Oh well, otherwise well done.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
