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Essex Boys
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Release
Date: July 14th 2000
Distributor: Pathe
Certificate: 18
Starring: Sean Bean, Alex Kingston,
Charlie Creed-Miles, Larry Lamb, Holly Davidson
Director: Terry
Winsor
Running Time:
102
mins
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| The
starting point of this film is actually a documented police case, where
a Range Rover was discovered in an Essex wood with three bodies inside,
all of whom had been shot to death. Of course the rest of the movie is complete
fiction as to what led up to this bloody execution-style shooting, placing
aside the fact that two men are currently serving life sentences for the
murders while another is living under an assumed name. From this bloody
beginning, the story moves back in time ('Reservoir Dogs' 'The Usual Suspects'
style) to give us the story of those involved, incluing the killers and
their victims. |
Sean
Bean plays Jason Locke, a newly released con who is none-too-pleased with
the fact that he's been stuck in a prison cell while his ex-associates have
been raking in the readies. Behind every bad villain there's a bad woman
and in Locke's case, it's his wife Lisa (Alex Kingston) who believes that
they have both suffered enough and that hubby should lean on the old gang
for some financial compensation.
As we see Locke's story unravel, we also follow the path of 'wanna-be villain',
Billy Reynolds (Charlie Creed-Miles) who acts as the narrator as for the
unfolding events and who is hired by influential businessman John Dyke (Tom
Wilkinson) to act as Locke's chauffeur. Billy, first of all wary of the
fiery and abusive Locke, soon begins to admire his no-nonsense stance and
the power and control he has over various villains and ordinary folks. |
| We know
that he is going to get himself in way over his head, not only because of
his oBuena Vista Internationalous gullibility and naivety, but also because we've unfortunately
seen it all before in countless other gangster movies, both here and in
the U.S. Since 'Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels' everyone seems to have
jumped on the band-wagon ('Circus', 'Gangster No. 1', 'Love, Honour And
Obey') and this again proves that maybe the wheels of the said wagon should
be removed once and for all. Everything begins to feel that it's being overdone
for the sake of theatricality rather than realism, from the crude language
to the obligatory ultra-violence with everyone trying to be harder than
the next man. |
It's
not all bad, in fact if this movie had appeared three or four years ago
it would have been considered quite entertaining. But it's subject matter
is tired. So tired that it should be allowed to sleep for a while. It's
one saving grace is that Sean Bean does turn in a very creditable and believable
performance for once as a bad guy on the make, as does Alex Kingston as
his wife and the excellent Tom Wilkinson as the shady businessman…
but three top turns does not a good film make.
BY DARRELL FINN |
