The Long Good Friday - Criterion Collection

Rating:
Summary: A classic gangster thriller
Review: A modern classic within both British film and the gangster genre, this movie's stature seems to grow with each passing year. 'The Long Good Friday' is not only a great picture in its own right but, in many respects, it paved the way for more recent hits like 'Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels' which also dealt with the machinations of the London underworld. Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren, two of Britain's most versatile screen performers, are at their very best in this one, which in my opinion is unmissable.

Rating:
Summary: A Long Goodbye to Britain
Review: After watching the extras interview with Hoskins and the director, Mackenzie, I finally realized that this film is intended to be an allegory of Britain's alleged decline under Thatcher. It's a sort of "Beggar's Opera", I suppose, where low-life represents high-life. But it really doesn't work: not for me at least. The dialogue isn't sharp enough, the slang is self-consciously laboured, the actors try hard but you can see they're acting. This must be down to the writing and the direction. There's a heap of machinery here, including even a reference to the crucifixion, but it's all very clunky, and unsubtly assembled, when it should be natural and organic. In retrospect, there are a lot of nudges and winks about the inner meaning of everything, and how the boss has lost the plot. Unfortunately, since there isn't a single sympathetic character anywhere, it doesn't engage the emotions and it's not intelligent enough to engage the mind. There isn't much that's less lovable than a lovable cockney criminal. Perhaps that's part of the plan. Perhaps the Hoskins character isn't even a criminal, merely a semi-successful seedy businessman in the property, catering and leisure industry. We all know that England is only a theme park for tourists these days. Tourists like to go slumming in a quaint old banana country with a lot of history. The music is annoying and obtrusive. The story doesn't work properly at the gangster level, because it isn't convincing, so it can't work at the allegorical level. For a really great political allegory, try High Noon.

Rating:
Summary: Great film, shame about the dubbing.
Review: Am i the only person to notice the shameless dubbing of a great film. I originally purchased the Region 2 version.Special Edition! I naturally expected the full uncut, un-edited, and certainly ud-dubbed version to be there.When the Criterion version came out i expected more but unfortunately it was the same. The worst part is that in the extras in an interview with Bob Hoskins and Barrie O'Keefe,Hoskins tells of how horrified he was on first seeing the original version released by the American studio and how they had dubbed his own voice to make him sound like 'a Geordie'(thats someone from Newcastle for any Americans who may be reading ).He was so outraged he threatened to sue the company.Eventually he managed to persuade Hand Made Films to buy the rights from the original owners.The only way to see the film as it was supposed to be seen is on VHS

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant Acting, Brilliant Script, Deadly Dull Film
Review: An extremely talented cast does it's very best with a terrific script. Unfortunately, their efforts are undone by a director who does everything possible to make sure the film remains leaden and dull and utterly slow and tedious.

Rating:
Summary: The Long Good Friday - a classic for the discerning viewer
Review: Bob Hoskins at his pre-famous best in this highly original film. With an outstanding cast (watch for a very young Pierce Brosnan) and supported by the enormously talented Helen Mirren. Definitely not for children.

Rating:
Summary: Good Gangster Drama
Review: Bob Hoskins is excellent as Harry Shand, the Main Man of the London Mob. The story finds him on the verge of negotiating an alliance with the American wing of The Mafia. This deal is to crown 10 years of wheeling and dealing and will make him undisputed King of the Hill of Organized Crime in Great Britain and a "legitimate" labor boss and millionaire. Then bombs start exploding and a key underling is grusesomely murdered. The film explores Harry's working-class cool being tested to the max as he attempts to find out who's doing him in. The is a character study not a shoot-em up. IRA fanatics are the discovered non-Players, and Harry's desperate attempt to punish and restrain them..."damage-control" in the most ironic sense...is revealed as futile. He is confronting "the Hydra" in unwinnable war. "WE DO NOT DEAL WITH GANGSTERS!" state the Mafia emissaries, without patience or sympathy, as they prepare to abandon their English Project. The ensemble cast does a fine job...particularly Helen Mirren as Victoria... but the movie belongs to Hoskins. He owns it right up to the last frame where he's captured by IRA gunmen and taken for the classic one-way ride. (Pierce Brosnan, looking more like a squirrely punk than 007, is one of the terrorist "escort"). With Hoskin's face scowling in defiance then breaking into bewildered astonishment and regret more than fear, the viewer knows well how THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY is about to end. But like the gangster who is about to meet his Maker, not quite why... A raw, good show.

Rating:
Summary: A classic British gangster movie...
Review: Bob Hoskins was made for the role of hardman Harry a big time London hood. Great supporting preformances and a superb soundtrack make this film one of my all time greatest movies. A must see film...

Rating:
Summary: Classic British gangster Noir
Review: Classic, is the performance of Bob Hoskins both powerful and charming, a London gangster at the top of his tree and looking to move up runs inadvertently into a darker realm of power, so notorious that even the mafia run for cover. With a fantastic score and supporting performances from the likes of Helen Mirren the Long Good Friday ranks amongst the finest of British film.

Rating:
Summary: Good but not great
Review: Don't be fooled: this is not in the same league as a Scorsese movie, or even a good American crime movie. It is interesting though, and Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren are great. Definately a change of pace - but it's not a classic.

Rating:
Summary: Bob Hoskins at his best.
Review: English mobster sends henchman to perform a simple task for him. Within 48 hours, he is on a hit list, he looses his club, car, friends, almost everything. And he doesn't know why! See if you can figure it out. Great movie! Check out "The Last Of Sheila"