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Review

A star rating of 3 out of 5.

Writer/director Ray Burdis's crime drama wheels out a lot of tired old gangster movie clichés - psychotic killers, bent coppers, criminals trying to go straight - but he has the excuse that it's all true. In 1970s Glasgow, Paul Ferris (Martin Compston) is a bullied kid whose dad (Denis Lawson) advises him to keep his head down and not fight back. Paul wholeheartedly rejects that advice, taking bloody revenge on his tormentors and going on to become an enforcer for gang boss Arthur Thompson (Patrick Bergin) through the 80s and 90s. But when Thompson's son (Stephen McCole), envious of Paul's relationship with dad, secretly teams up with a rival gangster (John Hannah), loyalties are tested and a lot more blood is spilled. Burdis mercifully avoids aping Guy Ritchie or Quentin Tarantino - there's no fast-talking, wisecracking or funky soundtrack. He has, however, created a solid, serious-minded film that starkly portrays Paul's violent, corrupt world. The script may lack spark, the dialogue is often leaden and the performances are patchy. But Compston is a compelling antihero and McCole impresses as his foolhardy nemesis, while the cinematography and direction are striking, belying the film's low budget.

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Credits

Cast

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Paul FerrisMartin Compston
Tam McGrawJohn Hannah
Arthur ThompsonPatrick Bergin
Junior ThompsonStephen McCole
Willie FerrisDenis Lawson
Jenny FerrisClare Grogan
Anne Marie FerrisLaura McMonagle
JohnnyMatt McClure
JimmyMichael Elkin
Rita ThompsonRita Tushingham

Crew

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DirectorRay Burdis

Details

Theatrical distributor
Carnaby Films
Released on
2013-01-18
Languages
English
Guidance
Violence, swearing, drug abuse.
Available on
DVD and Blu-ray
Formats
Colour
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