Sexy Beast

I thought the actual movie itself was nothing more than decent, but the performances made it interesting to watch. I though Kingsley was incredible and Winstone was very solid as well. I just didn't find the story to be very engrossing.

A lean mean movie peppered with humor and wonderful dream imagery. I agree about Winstone, too. I mean, I liked Kingsly more, but Winstone has certainly been overlooked. Imagine as giant a guy as that looking so small and vulnerable in front of a guy as small as Kingsly.

Kingsly is obviously great in this film. But I don't understand how people always single him out so much from the rest when his impact would have been far less had the movie been handled with less skill.

Honestly, this was one of my favorite movies of last year. What an exciting film...not just because of its execution, but because it also introduces Jonathan Glazer to movies. From seeing this movie and his videos, this guy seems like he's the real deal -- as opposed to someone like Guy Ritchie or other like minded directors (I don't intend to stir up shit by that...I just don't like Guy Ritchie's movies, which are in the same genre as Sexy Beast and usually leave me wanting for something...leaving me feeling like I've seen this before).

I didn't think it was just a silly gangster movie. I think it put a bit more depth to it. A bit more originality or attention to the characters trapped in this gangster movie. Kind of Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe mixed in with Reservoir Dogs mixed in with the sensibilities of a really good video. Ultimately, however, it is its own gangster movie, and it doesn't lose sight of that.

Thumbs ups.

I've gotta get on board with you guys; Winstone did well - actually, the entire supporting cast did; Kingsley stands out because he had such a HUGE character - he sizzled and tore it up when he was onscreen. Meanwhile, the rest of the cast sat back and let him do his thing, all the while subtly giving their characters some depth.

And the cat-and-mouse as the big boss tries to find out what happened to Kingsley through the latter part of the movie creates a fantastic dramatic tension.

Definitely worth seeing.

I saw this at a screening and was sitting so close that I couldn't enjoy it. It was a mediocre film, but Kingsley and Winstone were both good. I did have a lot of trouble trying to figure out what they were saying half the time though.

I absolutely loved it.

I just watched Joe Vs. the Volcano, and to me it points out what's wrong with Sexy Beast (stay with me here). Ossie Davis' supporting part is a crackling effort, where he inriches every frame he's in, but when he's gone we don't want anymore. His character moved the story further along, but need not go any further with Joe. But also that character finished his arch, so we felt completion when he left.

Whereas in Sexy Beast, I was so into Kingsley's characterization, and so bored with the eventual heist and the machniations therein, that I was hoping for more Boxing Ghandi than I got, making the rest of the film less than. Part of that has to do with his aburpt exit, and the other is that his character was the most original creation in an otherwise standard "pull you back in" heist film.

horseback bunnymen with Uzis.

This film and Donnie Darko seemed to merge in that dept.

I rented it the other day. Not a horrible movie. But not at all what I was led to believe, as far as Kingsley just being and awful, malicious person.

Even the characters in the film set him up as some kind of crazed Hitler-type. He was just a big jerk.

Aside from Kingsley this is a "been there done that" crime flick. The film's only real novelty is Kinglsey being the anti-Kingsley, so much so that I wonder what they would have done without him. The role itself is really not all that interesting, its merely him and his antics. There's a few little arthouse floruishes, but overall I'll take "Lock Stock" any day of the week.

Sexy Beast rabbit > Frank the Rabbit

 

Freaked me the FUCK out.

 

Great, awesome movie.

I think this was the first thing I ever saw Ian McShane in.  Other than that, I really only remember Kingsley's part in the movie.  That an Ray Winstone simmering in the sun at the beginning of the film.  Oh yeah... bloody hell... I'm sweatin' heah... boilin'... bakin'... swelterin'... ohhhhh... it's like a sauna... fuuuuurnace... you could fry an egg on my stomach...  who wouldn't wanna lap this up?  It's ridiculous... it's fantastic.... fan-dubba-dozzy... tastic...  (that was all from memory)

 

Walkin' on the beaches, lookin' at the peachezzz!

Love it.  I think McShane actually manages to come across as more menacing then Kinsey, which is a feet in of itself given how Kinsey is foaming at the mouth.  So I didn't feel like the movie was hampered by Kinsey's exit because there was something even more dangerous waiting for Winstone back in England. 

Weird that this thread got resurrected, but I can certainly dig it!

 

It's been awhile, but what I liked about Sexy Beast is that Kingsley's character was established as a force of nature before he even gets onscreen. Just the mere mention of his name during a night out at the resturant instantly kills the buzz. The sullen looks of dread by Ray Winstone and his wife were priceless. This was also my first exposure to Ian McShane as well, and I found him to be more ominous than Kingsley just because his demonic nature seemed real silky, if that makes sense.

 

I wish Jonathan Glazer made more films because I really dug Birth, too.

 

 I saw it last night for the first time and I wanted somewhere to talk about how fucked up that rabbit was. I did a search, and this thread came up; I didn't notice it was actually in the Main CHUD.com section and not "Films In Release", sorry!