review by kierstenlawson
Sexy Beast 2000
Rewatched Mar 08, 2012
kierstenlawson’s review:
What title better describes a film? This British-Spanish heist stunner is irresistible and dangerously determined. Even after my third viewing, I still feel like the story is forever two steps ahead and jaw-droppingly unforgiving. Kingsley said he based his mesmerizingly sociopathic character on his grandmother ("a vile and extremely unpleasant woman"), and it's a miracle the picture got an R rating with literally hundreds of "fucks" and "cunts" being uttered; maybe because the accents are as inscrutable to yanks as that dead smart gaze of a pre-Deadwood Ian McShane. This first feature from a British music video director reminds me of Jane Lynch's improv from The 40 Year Old Virgin: "I'm very discreet... but I'll haunt your dreams."
Intriguing ... thanks for the tip - I'll seek it out.
Holy wow, The Hit is the Stephen Frears film that preceded My Beautiful Laundrette - how have I not seen it? Thanks for enlightening me!