Gangster No. 1

Name: Gangster No. 1
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: June 14, 2002
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 60

2002

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 53 Ratings

See All

8.4

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8.4	Your Score
8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 53 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Gangster No.1

Now Playing: Gangster No.1

Movie Details & Credits

IFC Films | Release Date: June 14, 2002 | R

Summary: The brutal, mesmerizing story of a deadly battle of wills between a gangland leader and his apprentice, a young man who emulates him to the point of psychosis and beyond. (IFC Films)

Director: Paul McGuigan

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 103 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

New Times (L.A.) Gregory Weinkauf

While you think you're watching just another in a series of British gangster films, you may suddenly realize that you're watching what is, thus far, the year's best horror movie.

Ella Taylor

Like almost everything in this clever, brutal and strangely soulful movie, the time and place are accomplished by suggestion. Read full review

Kevin Thomas

Taut, corrosive and compelling, Gangster No. 1 has the galvanic appeal of "Little Caesar" and "Scarface" in its full-sized portrait of a brilliant but twisted and savage criminal. Read full review

Peter Travers

It's Bettany's portrait of the monster as a young man that rivets attention. So remember the name, or don't. Just watch Bettany strut his stuff. You'll know a star when you see one. Read full review

A.O. Scott

The psychological underpinnings give this picture a charged emotional atmosphere. The dizzying unspoken feelings between the two men mesh so well that the movie seems to have been worked out like a perverse drawing-room comedy. Read full review

Jami Bernard

The movie's key asset is young Bettany as a worthy successor to the "Clockwork Orange" tradition of McDowell. With Bettany, a star is born, even if his character is horrific.

Michael Atkinson

The actors all function as best they can as glowering clichés, though the narrative's temporal jump presents difficulties. Read full review

SEE ALL 15 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

DavidJ.

Sep 27, 2005

Better than getting kicked in the face with a pair of golf shoes.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MovieSpud

Dec 29, 2018

Paul McGuigan directs this stylish, well-paced, well-executed and compelling gangster drama.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

rotku

Aug 4, 2011

Enjoyable tale of a aging London gangsters reminiscent look back upon his violent rise from muscle man to top dog through the 1960's and 1970's. Well acted all around and Paul Bettany plays the role of a psychotic young hood brilliantly. Well worth a watch.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

WinstonJ.

May 16, 2006

This is a painfully bad film, though stylish to a degree. It betrays its origins as a play throughout. Whereas a film like Closer, for instance, achieved the transition from stage to screen with some good results, this fails miserably. In particular, the progression from the Sixties to This is a painfully bad film, though stylish to a degree. It betrays its origins as a play throughout. Whereas a film like Closer, for instance, achieved the transition from stage to screen with some good results, this fails miserably. In particular, the progression from the Sixties to modern day is ludicrous: summaries of the Seventies (a shot of Sid Vicious), and Eighties (snorting cocaine) are perfunctory, and the 'ageing' of the actors - powdered wigs etc. - is ludicrous. McDowell is a terrible miscasting; the scene between him and the older Frank is excruciatingly bad. And the phoney East-End accents? Bettany's performance redeems it marginally (who could forget "this is my favourite axe..."). Otherwise, this is a trainwreck. To be avoided.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SEE ALL 4 REVIEWS