Review of Edwin Boyd: Citizen Gangster (2011) by Thomas W — 28 May 2012

A surprisingly-decent, low-budget (true-life) gangster flick similar to Public Enemies, although this film centers around Canadian "folk-hero"/gangster Edwin Boyd and presents the story with a more dream-like telling (there is quite a lot of personal reflection on his part).

Boyd was a soldier in WWII who married a bride who enlisted to fight alongside him (she was relegated to driving a motorcycle for the war effort in real life) while stationed in Britian. When they returned home to Canada, Boyd was unable to find meaningful/gainful employment to support his family and so resorted to using his charsima and acting skills (he'd dreamed of being a movie star or singer) to rob banks.

Boyd is played by Scott Speedman (Underworld, The Vow), who gives a convincing performance. His worrisome wife is played by Kelly Reilly (Pride & Prejudice, Sherlock Holmes) and the father he tries to please is played by a very-toned down Brian Cox (L.

I.E., Troy). Made by a first-time director with some skill (and a vision), Citizen Gangster is a rather meditative take on what one'll do to provide for those him/her love through desperation. Boyd and his "gang" basked in some limelight and glory only momentarily as Boyd wasn't a criminal-at-heart and knew right from wrong (he has an interesting life story).

A decent film that'll be hard to find as it is so small (VOD); but I found it to be worth a watch.