REVIEW:
A more-dialogue heavy version of a Guy Ritchie film, this movie about a retired gangster subverts expectations in all the right ways. The initial idea seems like the kind of story we have heard a thousand times before. A man comes to see a retired gangster about going back in to do one last job. Only every other movie with this storyline has the gangster agree to do the job, and then we go from there. This movie is about not agreeing. It’s about the man who comes to see this gangster, Don Logan (played by Ben Kingsley in an Oscar-nominated performance that was well-deserved,) and makes the life of the gangster (Gal, played by Ray Winstone,) a living hell. Kinglsey is scary on levels that rival Joe Pesci in his best gangster roles (Goodfellas and Casino.) The movie is dialogue heavy and very smart and entertaining. It goes in directions you wouldn’t expect, and offers and nice, fresh take on a familiar setup.