Review of The Long Good Friday (1980) by Ben O — 10 Mar 2008
Forget 'Get Carter'. This is the greatest British gangster movie. Don't get me wrong, Carter is a great movie. But whereas that is not much more than a revenge thriller (excellent as it is), this film has more to say about society and the changing shape of the world. The themes of the film are as relevant today as they were in 1982.
Harold Shand is a man looking to progress in the world, but unable to escape his shady past. In this role Bob Hoskins has never been better, bringing a vulnerability to a tough, seemingly unbeatable man. He is totally believable in the role.
A great supporting cast including Helen Mirren, Derek 'Charlie from Casualty' Thompson and PH Moriarty.
A slightly dated jazzy score does nothing to reduce the impact of this film. Brutal, unforgiving and totally believable. An excellent script from Barrie Keefe is skilfully directed by John Mackenzie, injecting this tough movie with pace, wit and moments of black humour.
This review of The Long Good Friday (1980) was written by Ben O on 10 Mar 2008.
The Long Good Friday has generally received very positive reviews.
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