mryerson Review of Sexy Beast

Sexy Beast (2000)

Gem of a black comedy masquerading as a caper film.

[8/10 · 16 July 2007]

Snazzy little, fast-paced noir. If the excess in this Brit caper film doesn't make you giggle out loud, have someone check your pulse. Quality production top to bottom with most players unfamiliar to American audiences. The plot is deceptively simple: retired safecracker is approached by hood to come out of retirement for one last 'go' at the behest of a distant crime boss. Turns out to be an offer he can't refuse. Ian McShane plays crime boss Teddy Bass with reptilian cool, Ray Winstone's safecracker Gal Dove is sleek, tanned and thoroughly retired and James Fox gives the connected bank executive just the right balance of smarmy decadence. The troop of supporting actors is fresh and without caricature, the women beyond adolescent coquettishness, cool, secure and supremely sexy, the men displaying accumulated bling and adipose fat, rutting through middle age. But this film belongs to Ben Kingsley and his psychotic Don Logan. Sometimes seething, sometimes frenetic, always thoroughly frightening, he is absolutely mesmerising. Easily the most consistently threatening performance in recent memory. Beautifully photographed, the direction is deft and crisp, the dialogue dense and believable and, thankfully, not lost in the usual muddle of British accents. A high grade entertainment on many levels but see it for Kingsley. You won't be disappointed.