I watched this again recently, it’s a real actor’s film (although it’s not clear who the Sexy Beast of the title is) Winstone has never been better and Yorkshire’s own Sir Ben Kingsley shines as the crazed Don Logan. I find the scene with him talking to himself while he shaves my favourite in the film.
Again, there are lots of films about ‘one last job’ but this one swerves all the clichés and delivers a brilliant, tight, and funny tale that doesn’t take many prisoners.
There is a hint of surrealism, the music and sound mix are breath taking and the cinematography is top notch. This film was released back in 2000, that’s fifteen years ago now and it doesn’t look to have aged at all.
The script by Louis Mellis and David Scinto is full of great dialogue, but it also keeps the plot simple, taut and cuts out everything that isn’t necessary. That’s fine art.
So, 87 films to go!
Matthew Cooper has written for Emmerdale, Eastenders, Hollyoaks and Family Affairs. He was winner of the first ever Lloyds Bank Channel Four Film Challenge and the Oscar Moore Screenplay Prize. His first short film starred a then unknown Ewan McGregor and was picked up by Channel Four when Matthew was 19 years old. He’s been a script writer for hire and filmmaker for hire for over 20 years.