Kyle Milligan
Stunt Coordinator
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2001
- Messages
- 86
There may eventually be an American version on the distant horizon, but none in the works that I'm aware of. So those who are interested might find it worth importing.
Director Paul McGuigan, once a successful still photographer, makes his directorial debut with “Gangster No. 1.” A gritty, unflinching crime flick that while is certainly flawed in some elements, holds its audience captive, and suggests a promise of great potential from the director, and certainly its young star Paul Bettany.
In his audio commentary, McGuigan praises his actors, (at the risk of being labeled a sycophant about loving McDowell’s face) and bemoans the dreaded extras from scene to scene. McGuigan took the camera himself for shooting some of the handheld scenes in the film, hence their ‘dodgy’ feel. He prefers the camera being on the move, to give the scene more immediacy and a sense of realism. But admitting that he wasn’t the best at it, he knows he missed some good stuff in a few bits.
Apparently Saffron Burrows did her own singing for the film, and all her own spitting too. Paul Bettany was expecting a hit, not spit, in the face, but he rolled with it like a pro. Saffron’s make-up was not advanced enough for her scene twenty five years later, and some of that footage was reshot (it needed re-doing, whether McGuigan realizes it or not).
The featurette is short, but still gives us a chance to hear from the principal cast and director. Without this piece, I might not have realized our protagonist / storyteller character doesn’t really have a name, and is known only as gangster.
In the deleted scenes segment, make sure the kids and grandparents are out of the room, this one is not for the faint of heart. Optional commentary for a torture scene reveals that even the director has his limits. The unsettling demise of this guy will likely make many squirm in their seat.
So McGuigan reflects on his film, pointing out his numerous, least favourite part(s) and takes a beat to point out that his film isn’t like that “Lock, Stock, cartoony shite” and based in realism, even if the main character is a bit extreme. “Gangster No. 1” hits the mark so hard it’ll knock you right out of your socks at times, but misses in other, albeit less crucial, bits. But with the aid of the commentary, you’ll better understand where he was coming from.
Full specs and details
Director Paul McGuigan, once a successful still photographer, makes his directorial debut with “Gangster No. 1.” A gritty, unflinching crime flick that while is certainly flawed in some elements, holds its audience captive, and suggests a promise of great potential from the director, and certainly its young star Paul Bettany.
In his audio commentary, McGuigan praises his actors, (at the risk of being labeled a sycophant about loving McDowell’s face) and bemoans the dreaded extras from scene to scene. McGuigan took the camera himself for shooting some of the handheld scenes in the film, hence their ‘dodgy’ feel. He prefers the camera being on the move, to give the scene more immediacy and a sense of realism. But admitting that he wasn’t the best at it, he knows he missed some good stuff in a few bits.
Apparently Saffron Burrows did her own singing for the film, and all her own spitting too. Paul Bettany was expecting a hit, not spit, in the face, but he rolled with it like a pro. Saffron’s make-up was not advanced enough for her scene twenty five years later, and some of that footage was reshot (it needed re-doing, whether McGuigan realizes it or not).
The featurette is short, but still gives us a chance to hear from the principal cast and director. Without this piece, I might not have realized our protagonist / storyteller character doesn’t really have a name, and is known only as gangster.
In the deleted scenes segment, make sure the kids and grandparents are out of the room, this one is not for the faint of heart. Optional commentary for a torture scene reveals that even the director has his limits. The unsettling demise of this guy will likely make many squirm in their seat.
So McGuigan reflects on his film, pointing out his numerous, least favourite part(s) and takes a beat to point out that his film isn’t like that “Lock, Stock, cartoony shite” and based in realism, even if the main character is a bit extreme. “Gangster No. 1” hits the mark so hard it’ll knock you right out of your socks at times, but misses in other, albeit less crucial, bits. But with the aid of the commentary, you’ll better understand where he was coming from.
Full specs and details
