Not your standard run of the mill Brit 'geezer / gangster' flick this. Refreshingly set in Liverpool as opposed to the usual London / Essex locations. Much more of a family drama in The Godfather mould than most Brit crime movies of the last decade. Showing criminal life in a (probably) more realistic light than usual. Also features some great acting, featuring some fresh talent as opposed to the usual old faces, with the exception of Stephen Graham (Al Capone in Boardwalk Empire), who turns in the usual quality performance, even if he isn't stretched at all.
If you are open minded to a slightly different type of gangster movie, give this a try. Sure there is violence, what do you expect - they are gangsters, but it is not excessively graphic unlike some of the more 'hooley' / Essex boys type films. Some have noted that some of the characters are hard to care about (it is a film - do we ever really 'care' about the characters? - It is entertainment pure and simple), but at least they are slightly different, mainly family people with the usual problems most of us have, and it is refreshing to have a 'Kingpin' who doesn't want to deal in drugs (if only because of the prison sentences involved as opposed to morally). Highly recommended.
If you are open minded to a slightly different type of gangster movie, give this a try. Sure there is violence, what do you expect - they are gangsters, but it is not excessively graphic unlike some of the more 'hooley' / Essex boys type films. Some have noted that some of the characters are hard to care about (it is a film - do we ever really 'care' about the characters? - It is entertainment pure and simple), but at least they are slightly different, mainly family people with the usual problems most of us have, and it is refreshing to have a 'Kingpin' who doesn't want to deal in drugs (if only because of the prison sentences involved as opposed to morally). Highly recommended.