Sexy Beast Review ( 4k Second Sight Films)
Sexy Beast is a first-time watch for me. Somehow, despite it being on my list for the longest time, I’d never actually got around to seeing it. So, with Second Sight giving it the 4K treatment, complete with a beautiful new restoration approved by director Jonathan Glazer, I thought there was no better time to finally check it out.
This is Glazer’s feature directorial debut, and it is absolutely fantastic. Sexy Beast is an acting masterclass, with Ray Winstone and Sir Ben Kingsley both delivering incredible performances.
I’ve never really found Sir Ben Kingsley particularly intimidating, but in this film? He is genuinely one of the scariest characters I’ve ever seen. I would not want to meet this version of Sir Ben Kingsley in any situation, ever. Ray Winstone is equally fantastic as Gal, a man who’s retired from his life of crime and wants nothing more than to enjoy a peaceful existence. Of course, things don’t quite go to plan, and he’s dragged back into a world he thought he’d left behind. Winstone nails the character and gives us that classic British gangster-film performance synonymous with the late ’90s and early 2000s.Ian McShane and Amanda Redman are also fantastic, and honestly, the entire cast is brilliant.
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But one of the biggest surprises for me was Jonathan Glazer’s visual style. There are some really strange and visceral moments throughout the film, from the bizarre rabbit imagery to some seriously unsettling shots during the heist. It gives Sexy Beast this really interesting arthouse edge that sits alongside the traditional British gangster-film vibes. The 90s/00s gangster aesthetic is its own cinema genre at this point, and this film is needed in any film fan’s collection; you can see how this film influenced movies that have come after it as well, a real seminal piece of filmmaking.
It’s a fascinating combination, and one that I really enjoyed. And if, like me, you’ve somehow never seen Sexy Beast before, what better time to finally check it out than with Second Sight’s new 4K release? Alongside the gorgeous 4K restoration, the release also comes packed with some fantastic extras, including behind-the-scenes interviews and director commentary.
Sexy Beast completely lived up to the hype for me, and I’m very glad I finally got around to watching it. If you’ve never seen it, now is definitely the time to check it out.
Sexy Beast is released on 4K by Second Sight Films on Monday, 28th of September.
★★★★
On 4K from Second Sight September 28th/ Ben Kingsley, Ray Winstone, Ian McShane, Amanda Redman/ Dir Johnathan Glazer/ Film 4/ Second Sight Films
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