Review of Sexy Beast (2001) by Ray D — 14 Feb 2009

It's about love. No, really it is. This was Jonathan Glazer's debut film, and while it's sort of got that 'first novel' syndrome to it, SEXY BEAST holds up well as a character-driven story.

I think this may have actually been the first thing I saw Ray Winstone in--even though Ben Kingsley got top billing in advertising for his psychotic Don Logan character, Winstone's Gary is really the main character--a gangster who's retired to Spain with his wife, who seemingly actually 'got out' and is trying to leave his past life in the past, when Kingsley's Logan arrives and shatters his blissful life, determined to pull him back to London to help with a robbery on behalf of Ian McShane's crime boss.

What's interesting is that the robbery isn't REALLY the focus, even though it's the McGuffin that drives the plot. As Kingsley says "I won't let you be happy--why should I?" Winstone's character is genuinely in a good place, reluctant to return to his criminal roots, and the friction between him and Logan is the real meat of the film.

Because of that, during the last third or so, when the action shifts to London and the aforementioned robbery, some of the drive of the film is lost and it actually does feel a bit anti-climactic, (Although there's one perfect, quiet scene between McShane and Winstone, at the end) but Glazer's kinetic camerawork and excellent use of fast cuts and music keeps things hopping.

I still don't know what to make of the giant rabbit with the uzi, though. Funny that Donnie Darko caught on, and this guy didn't.