Review: Sexy Beast 4K UHD
Based on the stage play written by Louis Mellis and David Scinto, who had previously been behind the production of one of the best unsung British gangster films ‘Gangster No. 1’ and originally entitled ‘Gangster No. 2’, as part of a trilogy of plays. The writers said ‘We were naming our pieces like paintings, drawing a lot of inspiration from the art world. We used Francis Bacon as a source of reference for GANGSTER NO. 1, Hockney was mentioned for SEXY BEAST and Magritte for ‘44 inch Chest’.
What a trilogy of films they turned out to be.
Directed by amazing UK director Jonathan Glazer (Under the Skin) in his directorial debut, and starring Ray Winstone as the ‘anti hero’ Gary “Gal” Dove, Ben Kingsley in a carer defining role as Don Logan, and and Ian McShane as crime boss Teddy Bass.
Normally I give a brief overview of the plot, but not this time. Because if you’re reading this as a film fan and you haven’t seen Sexy Beast, you need to go and buy it.
It’s one of those films that needs to be seen for its acting, for turning characters on their heads, for the constant unease, for the script and story, for the sunshine and sweat. I think I’m not a Ray Winstone fan, his constant grunting makes me feel tired, but watching this you realise that he is, in fact, amazing (Nil by Mouth). Toxic masculinity? NOPE. Just a load of psychos, some of whom want a quiet life with their ex-porn-star wives. Then there’s Ben Kingsley’s performance, which is indescribable. He’s perfection.
A truly glorious restoration from the original camera negative supervised and approved by Director Jonathan Glazer makes you believe you’re in the baking hot sun with Gal, and that you’re sweating with him.
Special Features
- New Second Sight Films 4K restoration from the original camera negative supervised and approved by Director Jonathan Glazer
- Dual format edition including UHD and Blu-ray with main feature and bonus features on both discs
- UHD presented in HDR with Dolby Vision
- New audio commentary by John Bleasdale
- That’s the Job: a new interview with Actor Ray Winstone
- Poetic Drama: a new interview with Actor Sir Ben Kingsley
- The Real Criminal: a new interview with Actor Ian McShane
- That’s Cinema: a new interview with Producer Jeremy Thomas
- Finding the Rhythm: a new interview with Editor Sam Sneade
- Beast Mode: Creating Don Logan – a video essay by Leigh Singer
- Behind the Scenes
- On Location
- Archive Cast & Crew Interviews
Limited Edition Contents
- Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Neil Kellerhouse
- 160-page hardback book with new essays by David Michael Brown, Jamie Graham, Joel Harley, Nathan Lunn, Christina Newland, Katie Rife, Hannah Strong and Travis Woods
- 7 collectors’ art cards
Review by Tina from a disc kindly supplied by Second Sight Films via Aim Publicity.
