neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Gangster No. 1
	Paul McGuigan Malcolm MacDowell, David Thewlis, Paul Bethany, Saffron Burrows 2000		Raucous, stylish and quite violent, this hip, nasty British crime flick zips along with murderously good performances by its cast, led by Malcolm MacDowell, David Thewlis and Paul Bethany. MacDowell and Bethany both play the "Gangster No. 1" of the title — MacDowell, today, and Bethany, in his flaming youth. Although the character is the current kingpin of the London mobs, it's a precarious position. His ex-boss Freddie Mays (Thewlis) was just released from jail and might want to regain power in the underworld. Or Freddie could try to exact revenge on whichever colleague ratted on him 30 years ago. Either way, the new boss thinks he has a problem. Back in the '60s, he was a sullen, dangerous delinquent whom Freddie took under his wing. But the apprentice coveted all that the master had, including the beautiful singer (full-lipped, long-limbed Saffron Burrows) who became Freddie's kept woman. Director Paul McGuigan handily guides the ugly conflict between mentor and student from show-up to showdown.