Review of Get Carter (1971) by Brian R — 02 Feb 2012

"You're a big man, but you're in bad shape. With me it's a full time job. Now behave yourself.".

I don't know how Stallone could have the audacity to misappropriate the title for another of his vanity projects - his remake couldn't be true to the spirit of the original. A grim setting, sombre tone and naturalistic performances make a film which is easy to admire but rather difficult to enjoy. There are some offbeat moments to lighten things up: Carter getting his end away to the sound of a vuvuzela-toting marching band; Ian Hendry's refined (Berwick-upon-Tweed?) and slightly effeminate scottish accent. And who wouldn't enjoy seeing Corrie's Alf Roberts (Shipley's own Bryan Mosley) being thrown off the top of a multi-storey car park? Carter dispatches villains in a variety of interesting ways which they mostly deserve, but the pleasure he takes in killing some of them borders on the uncomfortably sadistic.