Rating: 
Summary: This Is Acting
Review: Major reviewers have called Ben Kingsley's turn in Sexy Beast 'the anti-Gandhi.' He absolutely tears through the screen here as Cockney gangster Don Logan.However, the best single scene in the film *doesn't* include Kingsley. It's the part where the four main protagonists - Ray Winstone, Amanda Redman, Cavan Kendall, Julianne White - find out about Logan's impending visit. The fear and dread on their faces, and in the words and actions, is palpable. It's a tremendous display of acting. Everyone who reviews this movie will talk about Kingsley and Winstone. That's entirely justified. But for a US viewer, discovering Amanda Redman - as Gal's wife DeeDee - is a real treat. Finding out she's a trained Shakespearean actress convinced me of her incredible range (given that DeeDee is desribed as an "ex-porn star" & is the only one who rises to meet Logan's challenge). Incidentally, Cavan Kendall - as Gal's best buddy Aitch - died shortly after filming wrapped up. The film is dedicated to his memory.
Rating:
Summary: A British Anti-Heist Flick
Review: Is 'Sexy Beast' drama or comedy? It doesn't matter, really, because it has a whole lot of both. Directed by Jonathan Glazer (a rising director of Guiness beer commercial fame), what makes this movie engrossing is the mentally (and sometimes physically) abusive relationship between retired criminal Gal (Ray Winstone) and the notorious Don Logan (Ben Kingsley). The entire first act foreshadows what's to come, and the sense of fear and dread, balanced by an ever-diminishing feeling of whimsy, is almost tangible. This is a film that's worthwhile if only for the acting. Ben Kingsley's role is quite a departure from the benevolent, fatherly figures he's played in 'Gandhi' and the more recent 'AI'. He is, quite simply, stunning in this movie - he takes a character that everyone hates beyond words, who is so evil, crude, and determined, and makes him into one of the most powerful villains I've ever seen. I can't remember the last time I *hated* a character so much (but in a good way). Of course, Kingsley has a lot to play off with Ray Winstone's understated performance. Winstone balances Kingsley's obnoxious character; he quietly wares through the mental torture his character must endure. The cast of 'Sexy Beast' is incredible. This isn't a movie for everyone... there are some very dark and violent moments, some sincerely funny moments, and at times the movie is a bit bizarre. I have to hand it to Jonathan Glazer, though, for making a movie that takes some artistic risks with an unconventional approach that, in my opinion, really pays off.
Rating: 
Summary: A little too slow for the MTV generation
Review: This movie had some great things going for it, but took a little too long to get where it wanted to go. Worth watching for some discrete reasons (fell in love with the house and the Spanish countryside; Kingsley was extremely entertaining) but overall a little boring in the middle.
Rating:
Summary: Sometimes it is hard to say no. Especially to Don Logan.
Review: On the commentary track for "Sexy Beast" director Jonathan Glazer reduces the film to the level of a Greek myth wherein once upon a time there was a man who thought he was happy and the gods sent him the unhappiest man on earth. It is the later figure, the gangster Don Logan, performed by Ben Kingsley in an Oscar nominated role, that dominates every moment on screen where he either appears or simply is being talked about, but the former, Ray Winstone as "retired" safecracker Gary "Gal" Dove, is a compelling, but much more subtle, character as well. Gal is living the good live in his villa in Spain, sunning himself by the pool, when something happens that we soon understand is clearly a warning shot from the gods. Gal is happy in his retirement, married to the woman he loves (Amanda Redman), who happens to be a former porn star. Then word comes than Don is on his way with a offer that Gal intends to refuse. However, nobody says "no" to Don Logan. The scenes between Gal and Don in this script by Louis Mellis and David Scinto strike me as what Harold Pinter would produce if he was writing about gangsters and went overboard on the profanity. A conversation with Don is taking your life into your hands and Gal knows it, quietly dancing around the fatal rejection for as long as he can. Kingsley's Don is one of the scariest men ever to appear in a film, although I am not sure how much of that has to be the sheer shock at the idea that it is "Gandhi" on the screen who is launching into foul-mouthed tirades and radiating danger with every look and action (all without ever having a gun in his hand, I should add). This performance is astounding, and if it is unexpected that is only because we have taken Sir Ben for granted for a long time. Kingsley lost the Best Supporting Actor Oscar to Jim Broadbent, who had an advantage with strong performances in "Moulin Rouge" and "The Diary of Bridget Jones" to go along with the one for which he won in "Iris," but this is an unforgettable performance, assuming you get around to seeing the film. Kingsley's performance is so overwhelming that you may well fail to notice how strong Winstone is as the film's lead. After all, it is Gal who is the title character, but Winstone's performance is so understated that it is can be rather underwhelming, especially in the face of Kingsley's performance. The other thing that almost gets lost is the plot, because there is something that can be gotten if only there is the will, because the way will be right behind. The caper is just crazy enough to make sense given the proceedings and we have to keep in mind that no matter how much of a mad dog Don Logan might be, there is somebody holding his leash at the other end. "Sexy Beast" is a very good film with more than one outstanding performance, but it is not going to be to everyone's taste given the violence and the profanity, although both are true to the world of these characters.
Rating:
Summary: Great Acting,Good Movie
Review: The Academy Award nominated film for Best Actor:Ben Kingsley
is a weird and strange movie with some great acting.The reason I
gave it three stars is due to the fact that they frequently have a little monster running around.But one of the things I liked about the movie is the fact that you think it's gonna be one thing and it turns out to be something completely different.The movie is about Gal (Ray Winstone) a "retired" criminal living in Spain.But thats when Don Logan (Ben Kingsley) shows up and tells Gal he wants him for a job.And what Don says goes.What I liked about the film is that it's 85 minutes long and about 60 minutes of it was just Don trying to convince Gal to go to this job.The movie really shows how good of an actor Ben Kingsley is.The movie was OK,but Ben Kingsley was great.I'm not even that huge a fan of Kingsley but I loved him in this.C+ for the movie.Enjoy!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Gandhi ....No more...
Review: If everytime you heard the name Ben Kingsley all you could think about was "Gandhi", you need to give this little crime drama/blackcomedy a shot. Unless you are offended by harsh language, and brutal violence I feel sure you will enjoy this Jonathan Glazer offering.
If like me you are a fan of Guy Ritchie, and Tarantino then, like me you will probably wallow in this visually gripping, verbally assaulting, cinematic experience.
This is a simple tale of a retired thief living in Spain with his beautiful but aging former "blue movie" star wife, and a fellow retired thief and his wife.
Ray Winstone (former boxer) does a terrific job with a subtle, role. He comes across very real,and believable.
Ben Kingsley comes crashing down on their idealic life when he shows up to offer Ray a part in an up coming hiest. Bens character known intimately by all the players thru their past is cruel, profane, explosively violent, and armed with all the dirty secrets of our protaganists pasts. This makes for great tense, and "OH my God" moments.
Ian McShane(Deadwood), does a bang up job playing a London crime boss,and causes some tension of his own.
Glazer does a great job allowing us to be flys on the wall, or putting us right in the middle of the action. The sequence which lays out the hiest plan is brilliant.
Stylistic, violent, pleasing to the eye, and it keeps your brain engaged. See this one.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and not your typical fare. Great performances
Review: There was a lot of hype for this movie when it came out, and although some of it is warranted, as it's much better than most, don't except a masterpiece. ASSETS: Amazing casting of every single character, with a showy performance by Ben Kingsley, but all of the performers are great. Well directed and written. Without giving too much away there is en extended water sequence that I loved. The director also does great work with the actors and all work from a solid script that treats its characters like people, not charicatures. The story sticks to its intent and does not try to be all things to all people. Great cinematography and innovative execution of heist and I did not see it coming. Characters who you surprinsingly wind up caring about. Ben Kingsley's performance is fantastic, but a tad overrated because it differs from that which he gave in "Gandhi." To me all the actors are just as good in their roles. CONS: The "rabbit" man. Please...... Talk about hitting the viewer over the head with a metaphor!!! Although the story is simple, it lacks a little punch and in my opinion loses much steam when it should really be picking it up. Although this can't be considered a true "con", the accents are really hard to understand. The end effect for me is that it kept me watching more intently so more than a "con" it's more of a warning. Final Analysis: All in all and entertaining flick. The performances are outstanding as is the direction, but the story needs a better last act. If you are in the mood for a foreign flick of this nature, try this one and you may want to check out "Croupier," which I think is even better with the genre.
Rating:
Summary: It Starts With Sizzle and a Big Rock
Review: Sexy Beast is a gangster film with 2 hearts at the end of a loaded gun. It sizzles under a Spanish coastal sun and reluctantly goes to colder weather. If you donÕt have enough time to see the wonderful Tarantino film, Jackie Brown, for only 86 minutes you can watch a very good ensemble cast (as if there were such a thing as a bad ensemble cast in the UK) tell a gripping gangster story. Ben Kingsley might be the draw, but the pay off is not only in his powerful performance of a character you really donÕt want coming to stay overnight. There is love he disrupts and tests of loyalty and human frailty. In the course of a couple of days, you find out how Gal, Deedee, Aitch & Jackie have paid their dues. Very few if any movies end in such an interesting way as this does.
Rating: 
Summary: Bad,bad,bad,bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: A total waste of time. This movie is as bad as they get. I have found dental work to be more enjoyable than this movie.
Rating:
Summary: "You're gonna have to turn this opportunity yes!"(4.5 stars)
Review: When you think of ruthless and violent gangsters, you think of people like Joe Pesci, Al Pacino, Robert De Nero, and Michael Madsen (aka "Mr. Blond). The last person you'd ever think of pulling off such an act is Ben Kingsley. Well, it only takes a minute or two to figure out that Kingsley can play one mean and frightening S.O.B. that could perhaps even make Joe Pesci soil himself and run home crying to Mommy. "Sexy Beast" is a suspenseful, and even sometimes humorous gangster movie that is unlike any other. Gal used to be into the life of crime, but has ever since retired to the hot surroundings of Spain. And, he is quite happy with his life. That is, until Don Logan (Kingsley) decides to drop by and offer him a job. Under normal circumstances, Gal would just say "no" and never look back, but Don Logan is NOT your normal circumstance. He's a violent and hot-tempered man who doesn't like to take "no" for an answer. Refusing the job from Logan could mean Gal sealing his own fate. This film was a complete surprise for me. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and was in awe with what I was experiencing. Ben Kingsley definitely steals the show and makes you feel cold all over with his chilling and brutal persona. The film is not about numerous murders or killings; this movie relies more on dialogue and the psyches of its characters. This film wouldn't be nearly as effective if it were non-stop violence galore. Ben Kingsley is extremely frightening in his "potential" to do harm to others; such as Anthony Hopkins as the notorious "Hannibal Lecter" in "Silence of the Lambs." This film may not appeal to everybody; especially those who are looking for a non-stop action extravaganza. "Sexy Beast" heavily relies on dialogue and character development than on anything else. Do not go into this movie with the expectations of seeing another "Casino" or "Goodfellas." This is a different type of beast (pardon the pun) in the gangster genera. The movie is short, but it doesn't overstay its welcome and gives us exactly what we need. We may be left with the feeling of wanting more, but the overall impression is that the movie does a great job of entertaining us for 90 minutes. The DVD has some cool extras to offer. The picture and sound quality are not lacking in any way, shape or form. Extras included are commentary by Kingsley and the producer, theatrical trailers, and a featurette. While it might not be a "fully-loaded" DVD, it still has some entertaining features. English Subtitles might be helpful for those who have a hard time getting used to the British accents of the characters. "Sexy Beast" was a complete joy to watch. It's wild, intense, and even funny at times. While it may not appeal to everybody, I think it's something that should definitely be checked out by others. If you have any doubts that Ben Kingsley can play a terrifying and violent mobster, well just have a seat and pop this baby into your DVD player. A great movie experience with a high replay value.
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