The Crew

A mixed drama/crime genre movie, which IMDb lists only as crime genre. Lets make clear that it is not intended for everybody. Most people are not interested in the life of some robbers and their wives. However for me it was an intense film, that attracted my full attention in its two hours playtime. I found all the characters very realistic, except, Scot Williams. As Scot is staring in the movie, I would dare to say that he doesn't fulfill the role of the gang leader, I would prefer a "tougher" looking guy for this role. This is not a unique film or featuring some original ideas, but despite that I enjoyed it for its realistic approach to the British small crime scene.

Movies from across the Pond are occasionally Excellent and they do tend to be Proud of their Gangster and Comedy Films that can sometimes influence Hollywood. Here is another in a current trend of Organized Crime Thrillers, British Style. These generally fall into two Categories. Wink and Smirk, Guy Ritchie Types, or Dirty and Gritty. This one is the Latter. It is definitely Dirty. Not only in its Look and Tone but Sexually Speaking. Trouble is that while attempting to be Realistic and Unfettered, the Unfiltered Lens shows some Ugly, Disturbing, Disgusting, and Perverted Scenes that seem Staged for nothing more than to Elevate the Bar of Bad Taste. One such Scene is so Brutal that its not only Annoying but asks the question Why?, than the Realization come along, that it is just a not so Subtle way to separate this abhorrent Behavior, from the other Lesser abhorrent Behavior, so the Audience can side with the more Civilized Criminal. The one who is Married, wears tailored Suits, has a Son, and doesn't do Drugs. The Plot is Unforgivably Confusing and there are Scenes and Subplots so Undeveloped that the whole thing just Collapses and takes on a Complexity that is more Frustrating than Intriguing.

Being born and raised in Liverpool I have been waiting for something like this to come along, something that shows the true grittiness of the Liverpool streets away from the City Centre and The Beatles, Liverpool is one of the hardest cities in Britain if not the world, places like Huyton, Toxeth and Norris Green are a war zone, gun shots can be heard every night as the rise to the top of the food chain from rival gangs rages on and The Crew portrays this in stunning detail, massively under rated in my eyes, lads I don't recommend watching this with the missus or your kids but trust me you wont be disappointed, action packed, gritty, scouse!

I have to admit that I had a vested interest in seeing this film as I've co-produced and co-created a pilot ironically in Glasgow called The Crews. Which is being punted as The Scottish Sopranos. So when this film came along naturally we were pretty despondent as it could be construed that we are jumping on a bandwagon when in fact I'd never heard of the film until it's release on DVD. Then the PR blurb surrounding it called it the Liverpudlian Sopranos. LOL. What made it worse for us is the film is actually very good. Standouts include the ever excellent Stephen Graham and Scot Williams as the lead Ged. If I had a criticism of it; ironically enough is it plays like a pilot episode of a TV show itself as you expect a follow up. Here's to stepping on toes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJxJIT57krg http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Crews/169254085135?ref=sgm

It's very rare for me to consider a reply to negative reviews. Indeed, I have never done so. As a former Cambridge University literature and theater graduate and NYU film alumnus, and having read certain reviews, I was ready to write off this film before I watched it. Thankfully, I did not. Some of the reviews have talked about the overacting in the first 1/2 hour. I note that, and agree with that. There are even some slightly preposterous plot elements. But once you look beyond that this is a very tightly planned movie with, on the whole, very good performances from the actors. This isn't quite a modern day morality tale, nor is it a Greek tragedy , nor is it a Senecan tragedy, although it is close to being a tragedy from Seneca. I did feel invested in the characters after the first 1/3, and it is indeed a pretty nihilistic vision. It's raw, gritty stuff, and everything that happens has a reason. It reminds me of Takeshi Kitano's movies from Japan, like Hana Bi and Sonatine. It's not remotely as beautiful, but it is very true to life, and, ultimately, compelling. I would love to give this movie a six, but I would prefer to give it an 8 because it really did come together and keep me watching. A movie that in the ensemble, and direction, is better than the sum of its parts. Speaking honestly, I was riveted. That's good film making. Isn't it?

The British Gangster film has a noble tradition, this does not add to it.The Liverpool setting has great potential both as a backdrop, and as an opportunity to explore some real regional character. Both are squandered. Director Adrain Vitoria's credentials sit with soaps like The Bill,Hollyoaks and Brookside. he is totally out of his depth with a full feature, his only previous effort "Capital Punishment" having sunk without trace.Kevin Sampson wrote the novel on which this is based, but the screenplay was written by Ian Brady who shows a spectacular inability to write convincing dialogue and paint colour into character. How he needs to hire Martin McDonaghs "In Bruges" to discover how to write dialogue and use settings. What we are offered is lazy, clichéd fare, with a formula plot, you know, the "one last job" plot.When a gratuitous lesbian clinch is shown between gangsters molls, Debs and Marie it is hard to tell whether their smiles are of acted pleasure, or of stifled laughter at the absurdity of the script.Stephen Graham and Scot Williams sleep walk through proceedings which are interspersed with episodes of extreme violence designed to inject some interest into a strangely flat production. Best forgotten, which will not be difficult.

This was a very poor attempt at a gangster flick. The characters were unconvincing. The acting was poor, and in the case of Scott Williams was over the top and unbelievable in places. I thought Stephen Graham would salvage the film but his part was too small. The story line was disjointed and full of clichés. And when it tried a Ritchie-esk climax it fell flat on it's face. The ending was pointless and unfulfilling. Overall very disappointing. If you want a British gangster flick that isn't based in London then watch "Going off Big Time" it's a great film.

The basis of the film sounded promising,the finished product was a letdown. Now I won't tell you to avoid this film, I'd like you to watch it and discover for yourself how bad films can get. Guy Ritchie's gangster films may not reflect the reality of a gangster's life but they do have something in abundance-entertainment. I looked hard for one redeeming feature of this film, something with which I could hold up as an example of hope for you. I couldn't find one. The actors aren't convincing, the script is weak and the lines delivered with such blandness. Stephen Graham gives the worst performance I've seen in a long time and that has to be the fault of the writer/director as Graham isn't a bad actor.

There are people out there who will swoon over the Brit-Gang genre as if it were a member of Girls Aloud offering a snog (not the ginger one...). The problem is that, along with rubbish slasher/hacker films and naff 80s movies, that is because they have developed a cult following; i.e. a group of people fanatically worshipping everything about them, even if it is rubbish; perhaps even because it is rubbish. The truth is that, when I watched this film, I genuinely felt like I was watching a late night episode of Hollyoaks. The acting was either over the top, or underplayed to the extent that it felt like I was watching a rehearsal. The plot itself is boring, and whilst the undertone of nihilism could be construed as an admirable quality, I actually felt that it merely enhanced my own despair, and feelings of nothingness. If this is your thing, and you are a member of this apparent cult following of rubbish British Gangster films, by all means watch it, and love it if you must. But for those of a less biased disposition, avoid this like the plague. If you want a serious British gangster film, watch Gangster No. 1 (admittedly an average storyline, but one that is absolutely acted off the screen by Malcolm McDowell and Paul Bettany; and where the gratuitous violence is used in a far more artistic fashion) or even go retro and watch The Long Good Friday, or Get Carter (The Michael Caine version, not Rambo in disguise.)

Well this is just a bit of a mess really i mean it starts out OK and then parts bore you to to tears then it picks up a bit and gets more interesting and then its back to boredom for a while this happens about 6 times in the duration of the film. Its half hour too long with some horrible filler in there, the scene with the down syndrome smack head being forced into giving one of the gangsters a * turned my stomach and was totally uncalled for, also the savage beating given out by ratter to the female smackhead who was giving him head just serves to make you look forward to him meeting his demise. Also where he creates a scene at the barbecue in front of everyone openly talking about being a criminal and wanting more work is just there to really make you hate the character and continue watching just to see him get whacked. The main character jed swore more times than is humanly possible making up for his small size with a big mouth, its hard to take him seriously as the leader when he is about 9 stone wet through and looks about as intimidating as Michael owen. As the film came to a close and we see jed on his way to take revenge on the con artists who tricked him and his wife (the con artists wife seduced jeds wife into a lesbian affair which was very unbelievable and just further served to interest the 18-22 year old intended audience) i thought oh ill enjoy this scene seeing him kill the con artists who milked him for over 100k, then the film ends without showing us this scene and giving closure, this annoyed me. All in all worth a watch only if you really have nothing else better.