Sexy Beast – 2000

Ben Kingsley  is an actor I have utmost respect for. He can play a myriad of roles and always manages to transform himself in a brilliant performance. Unfortunately for me, even though he was acting brilliantly, my eyes kept prompting me to ask, “Why is Gandhi in this movie?” Kingsley’s performance as Gandhi defined him for me for many roles to come. It wasn’t until his role as Don Logan in 2000, that I was finally able to break the stranglehold Gandhi had on my definition of Kingsley and it was my ears this time that broke the paradigm as I was then prompted to ask, “Why is Gandhi uttering the F-word every other word?”

Beyond a swearing Gandhi, Sexy Beast has a great story and incredible style. The imagery is amazing. I swear I can feel the sun on me as the main character, Gary “Gal” Dove is laying out burning in the Spanish sun at his villa by the pool. What interrupts his baking in the sun is visually stunning in a great opening scene. Gal is a retired gangster who Logan comes to harass out of retirement.

I really like this little known jewel of a movie and find that as long as people can get by the aural assault, it is a movie that most people really enjoy.

Enjoy

Bill