Review of The Krays (1990) by Matthew L — 28 Aug 2010

I know that this is held in high regard when it comes to British Crime Cinema but having watched this I can't really understand why. Is it because there are so many poor films made in the genre that we can't help but champion the half decent ones? The film fails to escape its TV movie roots with the acting ranging from competent to wooden often in the same scene.

Plot threads are introduced and then fail to go anywhere, the American gangster Palendri is introduced then never seen again for example. Huge events of the Kray twins life are skimmed or skipped over, for example I have absolutely no idea why they were finally arrested as the film stops abruptly with their mothers death and the Kemps in older makeup before the credits role.

A missed attempt to really convey who the Krays were.