Cubussoli Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Jenna Walter The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Matylda Swan It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

Philippa All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

popcorninhell The Long Good Friday is arguably one of the best British crime dramas I've ever seen. It concerns a prosperous London crime boss (Bob Hoskins) on the verge of making a lucrative deal with a group of American builders. Things however don't go according to plan when bombs are found and henchmen are dispatched by a mysterious group trying to muscle in on his action. In the quest to find these ne'er- do-wells Harry becomes increasingly paranoid and frustrated putting his own standing among London's underground at risk. The film costars Helen Mirren and features a young Pierce Brosnan in a blink- and-you'll-miss-it role.Those in my generation will remember Bob Hoskins as the gruff private dick Eddie Valiant in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988). Others still might know him as Mario in Super Mario Bros. (1993) because a lot of people have unabashedly bad taste. Anyone who has ever wondered what he'd look like as a London gangster get exactly what they wish for as Hoskins slips into the role he was born to play. Likewise Helen Mirren is a revelation as his intelligent, faithful and capable wife she provides the dimming voice of reason in Harry's world which is getting smaller by the moment.I would have liked to see Harry's hands get a little dirtier throughout the movie. The film largely focuses on Harry's downward spiral and doesn't mention how he rose to such prominence as a leading mob boss in the first place. In fact, Harry tries to present himself as a legitimate businessman and it is only after the second act that a long dormant psychosis surfaces and his true colors show. Until then we see a largely composed and indulgent mafioso who is brought to a slow boil. All in all however, The Long Good Friday is certainly one of my favorites recommended to me by friends and I readily recommend it to anyone.

ConsistentlyFalconer This is the film Guy Ritchie has been trying to remake his whole career, and he's never come close.Big fish in small pond London gangster manages to upset precisely the wrong band of fanatics, and underestimates the enemy to his great cost. In amongst all the violence, there's true drama and pathos (Helen Mirren, for goodness' sake - is she capable of giving a bad performance?), while the humour never seems forced or tacked on. This isn't a glossy, GQ Magazine, drama schoolboys playing poker with over-the-top wide-boy accents, token one-dimensional crumpet British gangster flick. Oh no. Superb performances from the entire cast, including Pierce Brosnan's finest movie role to date (he doesn't say anything), and Oh! what an ending! Verdict: Mockney Gangster Porn? I've sh*t it! NOTE: disappointing note on the DVD release - the director's commentary is one of the most dull and un-insightful commentaries since I sat through half of Tim Burton's commentary on Edward Scissorhands. Most disappointing!yetanotherfilmreviewblog.tumblr.com

Ruairidh MacVeigh This movie is an amazing blend of story and action, and pulls off the amazing feat of having a gangster movie with some real heart and some classic charm that was missing from many similar movies of this period and most movies since. The characters are unforgettable and at the very least relatable, you see them and know their plight as they go through this dark period of time.So what's the bacon? Bob Hoskins plays Harold Shand, a London Gangster who's brought about peace in the Capital's gangster scene. However, on the day he plans to sign a giant East End development project with American investors, his organisation is rocked by the murder of his childhood friend and a bomb blowing up his Rolls Royce. Shand now has the ordeal of tracking down the people attempting to destroy his organisation whilst at the same time keeping it a secret from the Americans.So, the good stuff? All of it if I'm honest. It's got heart, with all the characters being at the very least human, not invincible husks with no personality and no real human traits. Shand isn't invincible, he's simply a man who's built himself up from the gutters of the London slums to become the kingpin of the city, and you can really feel for his emotions and really want him to find a way out all the way through the movie.The story is an absolute cracker, strong, coherent, chocked full of twists and really good fun to sit through. At the same time the film, unlike many of the same period, is surprisingly subtle. There aren't an onslaught of nauseating gun battles, nor is it just continual fist fights with no connection to the plot other than to cram in a load of action. It is a fantastic blend of story and style, which I love to bits!To top it all off as well, the soundtrack, although very simple, is fantastic and absolutely catchy. Bet your bottom dollar that you'll be humming the theme tune to this movie for a week after viewing!What else can I say? The story's great, the characters are great, the music's great, it's grounded, down-to-earth and overall a fantastic movie. One of my all time faves and definitely my favourite gangster flick!

sylvrtortus The Long Good Friday is a fantastic film. I've seen it three times now. At first, I thought it was a bit heavy, a bit overly dramatic, but it has really grown on me. The film is riveting and highly watchable. The acting is top-class, especially Hoskins and Mirren, the direction is ace and the music is electric. It's a real quality piece of filmmaking.And like all great films it's full of interesting, thought provoking, relevant ideas, most notably about the state of Britain, and while at first it would seem that the film simply champions the nation upon closer inspection it appears that it is actually trying to raise a question about whether Britain really is the empire it used to be or whether it has fallen by the wayside.