Rating: 
Summary: One of the best of the year.
Review: "Sexy Beast" is a movie in the tradition of films like "Pulp Fiction" with the right mix of action, witty conversations on subculture, lots of swearing, and a dash of dark humor. For all the films that have been made in this formula for the past ten years, "Sexy Beast" is still fresh and entertaining. From the opening of the film, we see Ray Winstone lounging by a pool in his Spanish villa to a raunchy song that seems to express the feeling of the whole movie to the end, "Sexy Beast" keeps you glued to the screen. If you need proof that Ben Kingsley is an amazing actor then watch him in "Sexy Beast." Not only is it amazing but it shows the wide range he has as an actor. All and all, "Sexy Beast" is well worth your money and time. One of the best of the year.
Rating:
Summary: The Brotherhood of Thieves
Review: This movie is the new bench mark for gangster flicks. No flowery embellishments, bleary moral theames or ultra-violence - Just stripped down, hard tailed, gut check entertainment. If you feel that a gangster's relationship to his mother should be a central theme in a crime drama, you'll be disapointed with Sexy Beast. This is a ruthless, riveting and unrivaled movie made all the better by fantastic acting and great cinematography. Watch for the change in mood at the resturant, Ben Kingsley talking to himself in the mirror, Gal and Teddy Bass's drive to the airport - genuinley portrayed tension, genuine fear. If you don't feel it - see a Doctor. Buy [or] rent... this movie first chance you get.
Rating:
Summary: Sexy Beast
Review: Let me just say that Sexy Beast is one of the greatest films of all time. Kingsley with out a doubt puts forth his best performance ever. The DvD has enough on it to keep one busy for a weekend and a half. Buy this DVD, buy it, buy it, buy it, buy it, buy it, buy it
Rating: 
Summary: not for the fainthearted
Review: IF you don't like foul language and graphic violence stop right here. If you can cope with that then take the oppurtunity to see this remarkable movie. Ben Kingsley is remarkable in his role as a criminal psychotic who puts the fear of god into retired criminal Gal and his retired porn star wife.
The surprise of the movie to me though, was the way Gal began the movie as a somewhat unsympathetic character but in contrast to Kingsley became the character we most felt connected to. I found the love affair between Gal and his wife poignant and memorable.
Rating: 
Summary: Kingsley great -- Sexy Beast ok
Review: A retired criminal is the object of a tug-of-war between his former boss (Ben Kingsley) and his new happiness -- represented by his girlfriend/wife (I'm not sure which) and a Spanish pool boy. His domestic life in Spain has repressed his former rogueish self. The latter is now relegated to creepy appearances in the sub-conscious (the beast?).Kingsley has quite a task in creating a character as fearsome and intimidating as Logan, especially without the help of any background information. And he does a great job at it. What plays out on the screen seems like an abstraction of an inner conflict between the protaginist's id (the beast) and his superego (Logan AND domestication). This makes for a complex battle that offers no perfect solution, until, of course, love conquers evil.. what?!?!?! Well, at the beginning, love is injured symbollicaly by a giant boulder (earth's immoveable counterpart to Logan crashes into the pool and smashes the twin hearts on the floor). Then the real boulder, Logan, comes into the scene and forces out the Spanish boy (protaginist's inner child and ego) and pulls our hero back into the crime life. In London, we get to see some fancy heist-movie stuff (to satisfy the target audience of the marketers, I suppose) and learn a little more about what transpired back in Spain. All the criminal characters are great, by the way. Once all the nasty business in London is taken care of, our protaginist (I don't usually use such language but I forgot the guy's name..) returns to domestic life and repairs his love life, both figuratively and actually.. The hearts are repaired, and a nice surprise is waiting underneath (totally predictable, but a nice touch nevertheless). The last scene with Ben Kingsley, however, is ridiculous, even though it offers a clever denouement to the subconsious battle suffered by the protaginist. It seemed like something out of "From Dusk Till Dawn." If you like picking apart accents and clever dialogue, this movie is worthwhile. I don't agree with some people that this is a great film, but it is an interesting study with fabulous acting. When my girlfriend asked me what I thought of it at the end, I said, "Pretty good. Kinda boring." Well, that's probably as honest as it will get.
Rating:
Summary: Embrace the "Beast"!
Review: "Sexy Beast," directed by Jonathan Glazer, is a British gangster film with a real edge. "Beast" features fine work by a solid ensemble cast, although the most memorable performance is turned in by Ben Kingsley (who earned an Oscar nomination). "Beast" opens with retired criminal Gal (Ray Winstone) living the good life in a Spanish villa with his lady love. But this idyllic situation is threatened when nasty gangster Don Logan (the explosive Kingsley) enters the picture with a proposition for Gal. "Beast" is a curiously effective mix of gritty, realistic-feeling human drama and symbolic cinematic flourishes. Among the strong performances, I was particularly impressed by Ian McShane as a high-ranking gangster; he projects real menacing power, and his cool performance is a great complement to the fiery one of Kingsley. As for Kingsley: believe all the raves you've heard. He creates a truly frightening character in the violent, foul-mouthed, abusive Logan. This character ranks up there with Anthony Hopkins' Hannibal Lecter as one of the great scary criminals of the cinema. All in all, "Sexy Beast" is a solid film.
Rating: 
Summary: over rated,over drawn,over and out!
Review: unsure why this got so much hype(then again,im still miffed by the kudos the abysmal training day received!).here we have what amounts to a jealous tough guy(ben kingsley)who forcefully recruits a long time business associate.seems like theres ONE MORE JOB to pull of.and hes not taking no for an answer.this so called bad guy is so under developed its sickening.for the most part,its him asking/telling and his would be recruit to take this job,and then having recruit say no.this volleys back and forth until even the director/writer got sick of it and sent ben to airport.this is where the jealousy enters.without giving everything away,i found this to be pretty dull.theres some nice yelling and a couple of quirky moments but they quickly fade and give way to alot of nothing.i do not suggest anyone waste their time/money on this.instead,get mean streets.
Rating:
Summary: A real beast of a movie that's neither sexy nor interesting.
Review: Director Jonathan Glazer has created a beast alright, but not the one he had in mind. In fact, "Sexy Beast" may drive various viewers temporarily insane, as they may be prone to methods of self-punishment after sitting through 89 minutes of endless profanity, acting that, for the most part, is wasted on banal, lurid characters, and the unending sense that nothing of importance is going on in this dreamlike wasteland. The film stars Ray Winstone as Gal, a retired member of a closely-knit gangster ring who has relocated to Spain from England, away from his past and from edgy gangster Don Logan (Ben Kingsley), who, it appears, is coming to call once again. After a dinner party with friends turns sour when it is learned that Don wants Gal for one last job, things reach new levels of discomfort, especially when Don arrives and begins making his presence known to his timid hosts. As Gal, Winstone does indeed possess a quiet rebellion that grows deeper as he is physically and psychologically tormented by Don. It is Kingsley, however, who practically steals the show from his fellow cast members, exuding his authoritative figure in every scene just as he did in a far different manner in "Gandhi." He practically makes the movie, even if his talent goes to waste on a character who is as repulsive as he is demeaning. Aside from these two great performers, there's little else worthy of one's time in "Sexy Beast." Virgin-screenwriters Louis Mellis and David Scinto throw in completely unnecessary subplots, ranging from various dream sequences involving a beastly creature who stalks Gal, to a throwaway twist that involves Don's affair with Jackie (Julianne White), the wife of Gal's close friend, Aitch (Cavan Kendall). To what purpose does it advance the plot? Why should we care whether or not their lives are destroyed by such a revelation, given that we have had little time to get to know them? Director Glazer, whose previous track record is composed of television commercials and music videos, directs the film without grace, style, or a clear understanding of the plot itself. The first half of the film, that which is devoted to the game of wits between Gal and Don, raises a small hope for better things to come as the movie progresses; alas, we are given little more than a revenge/heist scenario that lacks impact or resonance it so desperately deserves. In short, "Sexy Beast" is a real beast of a movie that is neither sexy nor interesting, and chooses to substitute repetitive dialogue and abundant profanities for real conversation and plot development. Kingsley leaves a meager lasting impression, but odds are the film's rancid aftertaste will erase it from memory before you've had too much time to think it through.
Rating:
Summary: Middle class values around a swimming pool.
Review: The best thing here is Ben Kingsley. It looks great, but you know you are in the video-director-turned-feature-director territory after about 10 minutes. Lot's of psuedo-surrealism, swimming pools, a loud soundtrack and disjointed editing. Where is the story and where is the suprise? Once they move the action to London from sunny Spain, it's quick, quick, quick, one of the most unbelievable heists in film history and then it's back to the pool in Spain. Compared to the work of Martin Scorcese and Steven Soderbergh, this is an episode of Miami Vice.
Rating:
Summary: I am glad I turned this movie back on!
Review: First off, I found this movie hard to understand at times, the English accents were so thick, I really had to force myself to pay very close attention to everything.
There came a particular scene in "sexy beast" that forced me to turn it off as it held no revelence to the film whatsoever. If it was to the director and writer, I failed to see what this was supposed to bring to the film. Also, the over used foul term that begins with c and ends with t was used more like it was a regularly used word. Well, it is a very disgusting word, and I don't know why the writer chose this word. It must be a very frequently spoken in England. Also, I just think there is far too much swearing. Do screenwriters really think that making the characters swear is going to make a film?
The reason I started my review with this gripe is because this is what brought it down to just three stars. I thought it was a very entertaining, fast paced, in your face love story/heist/gangster movie, and I liked it. It's original and daring and is bold.
Ben Kingsley, who is playing perhaps the most evil I have ever seen him play, is outstanding! What an actor! Here is an actor who is so versatile, and his performance is so amazing. I just can't believe the audacity of Don Logan, his character here. This is one of the most menacing characters on film. The dialogue that springs from his lips is truly mouth dropping and just down right shocking at times.
Gal, played with great precision by Ray Winstone, is a just retired "gangster" and is asked by Logan to do a job. Logan, is beastly and was once romantically linked to one of them women in the film. Gal is married to Deedee, a former porno actress. She isn't the one from Logan's affair. She is very happily married to Gal who totally seems to adore her.
I will not give much more away about this film, but it is very much worth viewing to the viewer with an open mind. There is some gore and graphic scenes that may be disturbing to some.
However, it has a good plot that kept me watching to the end once I cued the dvd back up. It has biting humour, strange visions of bunny rabbits, and is one the best films of 2001.
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