This classic London-set gangster film may be almost thirty years old but some its themes feel very contemporary: the development of the East End, the prospect of a future Olympics, and the shadow of a terrorist threat. Its greatest strength is its carefully selective use of scenes of extreme violence, which make for effectively discomfiting viewing precisely because they do not occupy the whole of the film. But cheeky-chappie Bob Hoskins struggles to convey the impression of a man feared by others, and the sophistication of the portrayal of the criminal underworld seems a bit lacking: if you're a fan of 'The Wire', with its hyper-real portrayal of gang-lords in Baltimore, you might find it hard to completely believe in the world shown here. What is interesting is inadvertent: the contrast between the Britain of 1979 and that of today. A 21st century remake would be an interesting idea.
Review of The Long Good Friday
