Gangster No. 1 (2000)

Director:

Paul McGuigan

Writer:

Johnny Ferguson (screenplay)

Release Date:

9 June 2000 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

There can only be ONE.

Plot:

Chronicles the rise and fall of a prominent, and particularly ruthless English gangster.

Plot Keywords:

Gangster | Rise And Fall | Prison | Cockney Gangster | Gang War

Awards:

1 win & 9 nominations

Cast

Malcolm McDowell	...	Gangster 55
David Thewlis	...	Freddie Mays
Paul Bettany	...	Young Gangster
Saffron Burrows	...	Karen
Kenneth Cranham	...	Tommy (as Ken Cranham)
Jamie Foreman	...	Lennie Taylor
Eddie Marsan	...	Eddie Miller
Andrew Lincoln	...	Maxie King
Doug Allen	...	Mad John
Razaaq Adoti	...	Roland
Cavan Clerkin	...	Billy
David Kennedy	...	Fat Charlie
Johnny Harris	...	Derek
Anton Saunders	...	Trevor (as Anton Valensi)
Alex McSweeney	...	Bloke In Tailor's

Also Known As:

Gangster No. 1 (Australia)
Gangster Nr. 1 (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong brutal violence, pervasive language, and brief drug use and nudity.

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

UK | Germany | Ireland

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA (censored version) | Canada:R | Chile:18 | France:-16 | Germany:16 | New Zealand:R18 | South Korea:18 | UK:18 | USA:R | Singapore:M18

Filming Locations:

Babelsberg Studios, Berlin, Germany

Company:

FilmFour

Trivia:

In the opening bathroom scene, it is actually director Paul McGuigan at the urinal, according to the director's commentary.

Goofs:

Continuity: The two actors who play the "gangster" at the two points in his life are 7 inches different in height. When paired with the older versions of the same character later in life, there are few if any scenes when Malcolm McDowell (the shorter actor) is standing beside them. Surprisingly, they did not attempt the old Hollywood box or trench technique.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[song "The Good Life" begins as scene opens at boxing match; crowd noises]
Gangster 55: [laughing] What? With Scotland Yard breathing down me neck? Fuck off. Do me a favor!
[laughter]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Lucky Number Slevin (2006)

Soundtrack:

Bert's Apple Crumble

Social avarice with a sublime black humour

Its easy to see why people think this film is over violent and trying to shock, but then thats because they just don't get the finer nuances.

This film is Excellent. The direction is amazing and Bettany, Thewlis and McDowell are all superb. The film runs from the point of view of the main character, Gangster, He shows how he got to the top of his game to be Gangster No1. All of the violence in the film makes a valid point some of it is horrific, none of it is unnecessary. The film also comments on the social avarice that penetrates our society, wealth, power and fame, I think the points it makes are truly justified.

Why do some people dislike this film? They are uncomfortable with people being portrayed as being comfortable with violence, and thats because the director wants you to be, and because the Actors are so good at it. The film freaked me out in two scenes and there was no violence just excellent direction and Acting.

Well worth watching, well worth buying on DVD.