Face (I) (1997)

Ray is an aging ex-socialist who has become a bankrobber after seeing the demise of socialism in 1980s Britain. Teaming up with a gang of other has-beenish crims, he commits one bank job ... See full summary »

Director:

Antonia Bird

Writer:

Ronan Bennett (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Carlyle, Ray Winstone, Steve Sweeney

4 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Carlyle	...	Ray
Ray Winstone	...	Dave
Steve Sweeney	...	Weasel
Gerry Conlon	...	Vince
Leon Black	...	Robbie
David Boateng	...	Lionel
Lena Headey	...	Connie
Eddie Nestor	...	Pearse
Steven Waddington	...	Stevie
Christine Tremarco	...	Sarah
Andrew Tiernan	...	Chris
Sue Johnston	...	Alice
Damon Albarn	...	Jason
Philip Davis	...	Julian
Hazel Douglas	...	Linda

Storyline

Ray is an aging ex-socialist who has become a bankrobber after seeing the demise of socialism in 1980s Britain. Teaming up with a gang of other has-beenish crims, he commits one bank job too many. The gang dissolves in a murderous flurry of recriminations.

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Plot Keywords:

gang | police station | robbery | critique of capitalism | treason | 

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Taglines:

The blag to kill for. Only one of them meant it for real.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and language

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 September 1997 (UK)

Also Known As:

Caras conocidas

Filming Locations:

Bancroft Road, Mile End, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films, British Screen Productions, Daigoro Face Productions Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Features Reservoir Dogs (1992)

User Reviews

Highly watchable

This British crime film has got superb casting: every single performace is rock-solid and Robert Carlyle absolutely shines. Cast also includes an extra-terrestrially beautiful lady, Lena Headey. And the storyline is flawless -- full of interesting characters, believable enough, and deliciously crooked but free of annoying twists for twists' sake.

Yet, somehow, the movie never quite reaches brilliance, but falls into the "quite nice" category instead. Directing and cinematography is a bit too conservative; a few original tricks (just a hint of artistic touch, some surprising angles, tinted scenes or anything at all) could have spiced the movie just enough to make it more memorable. And although the music in the action parts is appropriate, the clichéd saccharine sound squandering backing the more romantic moments is dismaying. This would have been a much better movie already if those sequences would have been void of music.

So it is not a masterpiece despite the potential, but I liked it a lot nonetheless. Recommended to all who have an affinity for British quality movies. (7.5/10)