A Gangster’s Life Review

A Gangster’s Life is the directorial debut from Zak Fenning, and it’s a wild ride from the get-go. Wearing its influences proudly, the film feels unmistakably Guy Ritchie–esque: a proper British crime caper steeped in dry humour, eccentric characters, and underworld bravado. The opening title sequence sets the tone well, landing somewhere between a Bond intro and a late-night crime TV series, immediately signalling the genre it wants to play in. The film follows two low-level crooks who make the fatal mistake of scamming a ruthless London mob. Forced to flee to rural Greece, they soon discover that distance offers little protection from the consequences they’ve set in motion. It’s a familiar setup, but one that allows the film to lean fully into its character-driven chaos.< The performances are largely the film’s strongest asset. The criminal double act in particular is a standout, conveying a surprising amount through silence alone. Tony Cook and Jonny Weldon are especially good, with Weldon clearly enjoying his role as “Dick” – a name that predictably but effectively invites a steady stream of very blunt British humour and penis jokes. It’s on-the-nose, unapologetically British, and often lands. Tony Cook fits neatly into the Jason Statham archetype of the gangster genre. With his bald head, deep London accent, and natural charm with the women on screen, he comes across as an actor perfectly suited — and often typecast – for this kind of film.

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Rina Lipa fits neatly into this world, feeling entirely at home within the genre. Her presence recalls Dua Lipa’s turn in Argylle: it’s stylish, confident, and well-matched to the film’s tone. As a whole, the film ticks nearly every box you’d expect from this kind of gangster story: quirky nicknames like Clarky, exaggerated personalities, glamorous women, and the obligatory bald, Stath–style hard men delivering deadpan one-liners with British dryness.

That said, A Gangster’s Life struggles at times to justify itself as a feature film rather than a TV drama. It often feels more suited to an ITV crime series, with its low budget showing through in key moments. One beating scene in particular feels amateurish, with close-ups that make it obvious the blows are landing on a high-vis jacket rather than a person. A cut-away paired with stronger sound design would have sold the violence far more convincingly. >Still, there are flashes of genuine style. The gambling scene channels a Casino Royale–meets–gangster energy, the opening sequence is also extremely tense and stands out as one of the film’s more confident sequences. While A Gangster’s Life may not re-invent the genre, it clearly understands it – even if its ambitions slightly outpace its execution.

★★ 1/2

On Prime Video from January 19th / Tony Cook, Jonny Weldon, Rina Lipa/ Dir: Zak Fenning / Miracle Media / 15

About the Author

Megan Hilborne

Author

Megan is a freelance writer and film critic based in Portsmouth. She graduated with a degree in Film in 2020 and has continued her study of the medium in her day-to-day life. She takes particular interest in indie, horror, feminist and queer cinema. Some of her writing credits include an interview with Academy Award winner Sean Baker and Time’s 2025 Most Influential People inductee Mo Abudu.

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