Ah Gangster No.1, the memories, where did the time go, saw this underrated gem at the pictures back when it came out as a young 16 year old with friends I've long since lost touch with, great times, anyway enough of the nostalgia trip, what was the film itself like? After a recent rewatch and trip down memory lane, it was just as good as I'd remembered, if not better.
Set mainly in London's swinging Sixties, alternating occasionally in the present day (2000), the story focuses on the unnamed gangster (brilliantly played by Paul Bettany, and Malcolm McDowell as the older gangster) and his rise through the criminal underworld, gangster, through the charismatic Freddie Mays, is taken into the firm and soon becomes Freddie's right hand man.
Gangster immediately takes a shine to Mays and the obsession grows deeper and deeper, and is intensified when Mays grows close to the attractive Karen (Saffron Burrows) this further brings out Gangsters darkest side.
As things heat up, Gangster sees an opportunity to take over the firm as well as settle scores with Freddies rival, Gangster Lennie Taylor (played brilliantly by Jamie Foreman), the psychosis of Gangster becomes worse, and it's clear their isn't much he won't do to achieve his goal.
This was a good film, and does not get the recognition it deserves, Paul Bettany in particular does a fantastic job as the embittered psychotic Gangster, who as well as violent is also extremely creepy (see the silent scream scene, I still remember me and my mates reaction to that at the cinema), and performances from Malcolm McDowell, Jamie Foreman, David Thewlis and others are all to be applauded, and the director Paul Mcguigan done a fine job, maybe because of the time it came out, the same year as other gangster films such as Snatch, it got overlooked but if you want to see good performances and a good storyline, give this a watch, it's well worth it. 8/10
