Kingsley in top form as gangster in 'Sexy Beast?

"Sexy Beast"

Directed by: Jonathan Glazer

Starring: Ben Kingsley, Ray Win-stone, Ian McShane

Rated: R

Quick, think of a modern "gangster" movie. OK, hold that thought.

Chances are the director of the film you're thinking about is an American, probably of Italian heritage. Scorsese comes to mind. So do Coppola and De Palma.

True, Hollywood has a long gangster film tradition dating back to the silent days. And it really is hard to beat Scorsese's "been there, know that" approach in such modern classics as "Goodfellas" and "Casino." Coppola's "Godfather" trilogy (OK, at least the first two in the set) is the epitome of the genre, to be sure.

But ... one can't overlook the lower profile but equally engaging films that feature gangs, hoods and toughs in the normally genteel milieu of Great Britain.

There was "The Long Good Friday" in 1980 and then, a decade later, Peter Medak's "The Krays," based on the true story of a pair of England's most sadistic criminal types. Lately we've had "The Limey" and "Croupier," both very well-made films. The latter one of the best films of 2000 and finally out on tape/DVD is the work of director Mike Hodges, who helped define the genre with his utterly ahead-of-its-time film "Get Carter." (No, not the insipid Sylvester Stallone film from last year, but the one starring Michael Caine from 1971.)

The latest in the line comes from first-time feature director Jonathan Glazer. Like so many young directors nowadays, Glazer comes to the big screen via TV commercials and rock videos.

A lot of times these young Turks will fall flat on their quick-cut, shaky-cam faces. But when they're good, as in the case of Guy Ritchie and now Glazer, they tend to be VERY good, bringing snappy visuals, lively editing and a great deal of (admittedly) dark humor to the table.

Glazer's debut, "Sexy Beast" is so fresh and downright snappy, I find it hard to believe it's just now finding wide release.

It officially came out in 2000, but it has only recently been available on smaller market screens.

Glazer's big coup as a freshman director is landing a lead role from an actor of the stature of Ben Kingsley. Best known for his award-winning role as Mahatma Ghandi, Kingsley's character in "Sexy Beast" is somewhat less altruistic (but in many ways just as compelling) as his former portrayal.

Two sides to the coin, I suppose, but also a testament to Kingsley's acumen of craft. He's equally convincing letting forth the words of passive wisdom as offered by the Mahatma, or the nervous profanities he spouts throughout "Sexy Beast."

The plot here is tried and true: Some of the boys want to get the old gang together for "one more job." The capper here is the nature of the gig as well as the utterly desolate personalities that hang on these habitual criminals. The film is all the more disturbing for its completely believable presentation of these underworld hoodlums.

Getting the old gang back together is what sends the just-out-of-jail Don Logan (Kingsley) to Costa del Sol in search of an old crony, now retired, named "Gal" Dove.

Gal is the world's utmost underwater safecracker, and boss Teddy Bass wants his services, retirement lifestyle or not. Logan's job is to convince Gal this is the right thing to do. Or at least make him understand he really has no choice in the matter.

Kingsley, as Logan, is taut, tattooed and tempered from his time in jail, and ultimately chilling in this role. He's as much at home in this sociopath's skin as he was in Ghandi's, and once again I can only point out what a great actor these things imply.

Thrown in with the implications of violence and intensity of the principals is a great deal of (twisted) humor, a plot device that serves "Sexy Beast" well. There are many moments of nervous bordering on frightened giggling but also a lot of out-and-out funny (if still somewhat nervous) scenes, culminating in the heist itself which takes place next to the Turkish Baths.

I haven't mentioned the "boulder in a swimming pool" scene or any number of other wacky, yet completely plausible scenes that tend to give "Sexy Beast" an air of true originality.

Be forewarned: It is filled with a good deal of profanity, but the onscreen violence is fairly mild compared to American gore fests. The horror lies in the souls of the main characters.

If you like a good gangster film, you'll not be disappointed with "Sexy Beast," a film that just might garner Ben Kingsley a well-deserved Oscar nomination.

(Jim Wunderle works at Associated Video Producers and is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician.) [[In-content Ad]]