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      Gangster No. 1

      R Released Jun 14, 2002 1 hr. 43 min. Crime Drama List
      71% 52 Reviews Tomatometer 77% 5,000+ Ratings Audience Score The time is now. The scene is a ringside table at a boxing match, held at a deluxe London hotel. At the head of the table sits Gangster (Malcolm McDowell), the undisputed king of London's gangland. Life couldn't be sweeter, until Gangster learns that Freddie Mays is being released from prison. Freddie Mays, his old boss and mentor, is coming out after doing 30 years for murder. Hearing Freddie Mays' name, even after all these years, stirs up a frightening well of emotions in Gangster... Read More Read Less
      Gangster No. 1

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      Critics Consensus

      Gangster No. 1 is brutally violent, yet also compelling.

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      Audience Reviews

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      ANY1aBLUE How can ‘top critic' criticise this for being ‘soulless'?! That's EXACTLY what it was meant to be all about - being a gangster can't be glamorous most of the time. This is an absolute belter of a gritty, period Bristish gangster film. Brilliant acting, sets and script. Of course, if you were expecting an American stylised version of what it's like to be a criminal (Heat etc) then jog on………… Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/08/24 Full Review Redbil A This film plays more like a horror movie. A truly underrated classic. Bettany is on top form! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/09/24 Full Review Sean D Definitely one of the best British films. Paul Bettany is amazing, and surprisingly genuinely creepy! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/07/23 Full Review john o As someone who isn't really a fan of British urban movies, I wouldn't have expected to enjoy this. Yeah I love snatch and lock stock and can't deny that This is England is really good too, but overall I find them to be rather repetitive and depressing. How many times are we gonna hear the same Oasis and Stone roses songs in these movies? I'm much more of a fan of American Mafia movies. However, Gangster no 1 is a film unlike any other. Something that could be compared to The Sopranos with how surreal it is and how it isn't really about gangsters and much more about society and human psychology. Writing an antihero character can certainly be tricky. In most of my favourite films, the protagonist is an antihero but in all of the others I can name, there is at least something redeemable about them no matter how evil they are. Tony Soprano does truly love his family and has at least some sense of right and wrong, Nucky Thompson does show some remorse for his actions throughout Boardwalk empire, Travis Bickle while being incredibly disturbed, at least thinks what he's doing is right no matter how wrong he is. Gangster has none of these qualities, we never even find out his name because that would humanise something that isn't human. It's almost refreshing to see an antihero so brutally honest about what they are without the revolting self justifications of Walter White or the loathsome self pity of Travis Bickle. Gangsters only emotions shown throughout the film are greed, anger, hatred, jealousy and disgust. Having an antihero without any redeemable qualities is quite risky because you run the risk of making him completely unrelatable to the audience but it works brilliantly when done right. His fractured psyche is shown to us with surreal low angles, fourth wall breaks and piercing sound effects. These remind me in a way of Belarusian 1985 war film "Come and see" which sounds and is shot often like a horror film. Gangster no 1 is similar in that way I'd say. Paul Bethanys portrayal as the titular gangster is one of the most terrifying performances in film history. Gangster desires to impress and emulate his boss Freddie Mays, also brilliantly portrayed by David Thewlis and is told in narration through flashbacks by Malcolm McDowell who is a joy to listen to and is horribly hilarious at times. Another brilliant aspect is how much the character stands out around a bunch of psychos and murderers. Tony soprano fits in with Paulie and Silvio but gangster is like an inhuman monster even around people who can be described as the same. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member British Gangster film that is anchored by Paul Bettany (Young) and Malcolm McDowell (Old) playing the lead character "Gangster 55". David Thewlis is pretty good as Freddie Mays. It gets a little off the tracks at the end of the film, but overall it was a decent movie. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member An ambitious gangster's aspirations. Also Jarvis was left hand man to Professor Lupin. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Empire Magazine Rated: 3/5 Dec 30, 2006 Full Review Mark Kermode Sight & Sound It's a handsomely ugly affair, well dressed enough to make a few friends, but tough enough to make just as many enemies. Dec 2, 2002 Full Review Chris Vognar Dallas Morning News Director Paul McGuigan and cast infuse the proceedings with a strong dose of psychotic gusto and visual flare. Rated: B Sep 12, 2002 Full Review Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed Despite some really good performances especially from Bettany, this is a pretty terrible movie... Apr 29, 2009 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 3.5/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Sarah Chauncey Reel.com Rated: 4/5 Jun 4, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis The time is now. The scene is a ringside table at a boxing match, held at a deluxe London hotel. At the head of the table sits Gangster (Malcolm McDowell), the undisputed king of London's gangland. Life couldn't be sweeter, until Gangster learns that Freddie Mays is being released from prison. Freddie Mays, his old boss and mentor, is coming out after doing 30 years for murder. Hearing Freddie Mays' name, even after all these years, stirs up a frightening well of emotions in Gangster...
      Director
      Paul McGuigan
      Executive Producer
      Peter Bowles
      Screenwriter
      Johnny Ferguson
      Distributor
      IFC Films
      Production Co
      NFH Productions, Pagoda Film
      Rating
      R (Pervasive Language|Nudity|Brief Drug Use|Strong Brutal Violence)
      Genre
      Crime, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Jun 14, 2002, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Nov 30, 2016
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $30.9K
      Sound Mix
      Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
      Aspect Ratio
      Flat (1.85:1)