The Business

Before i saw this film at the pictures i decided to check out what everyone else thinks of it first - i was disappointed with their reactions but went to see the movie anyway. I pleasantly surprised. This film doesn't claim to the blockbuster of the year nor does it contain the sparkle and polish of snatch and lock stock. What it does do however is provide an amusing and gripping view of the rise and fall of an 80s wannabe gangster. To anyone outside of the UK this film may seem abit alien, but there are enough twists, turns and cheeky slang to keep you amused throughout. Just watch it don't take it too seriously and make up your own mind.

(Frankie knocks on Sammys door) Sammy Answers: "did anyone order a c***?"

I loved this film, the music and the costumes, just caught the feel of the 80s and got it spot on.

Yes, none of the actors are that well known, but then in my book thats a good thing, I don't go into the film with any pre conceived ideas.

And yes sometimes the language does cut very close to the bone, but these people are hardened criminals, and its a 18 cert as well, so that should give you some idea of the content.

I say go and see it, and just enjoy yourself and have a few laughs for 2 hours.

And did i mention the sound track, dust off those shell suits and enjoy.

Thatcher's 1980s heralded a new Britain where anything was possible – opportunities for undreamed-of wealth side by side with the emergence of beggars on the streets, and riots from unemployment and racial tension. 'Our Kid Frankie' (played by Danny Dyer) wants to 'be somebody' and not end up like his dad, so he does a little delivery job to 'Playboy Charlie' in Spain and gets hired as a driver at Charlie's lucrative nightclub.

Nightclub owners have a glamour appeal often shared by politicians, and this was particularly seductive in the 80s. Around Charlie, everything just 'happens' – you are out having a good time and he is the person who makes it all possible – effortlessly and continuously. 'Welcome to the pleasure dome,' croons the iconic pop song of the day.

From here on in, The Business is almost an homage to the decade. A scene on Charlie's boat – who is "so cool his bed makes itself in the morning" - recalls the famous Rio video by Duran Duran. Fashions, cars, dialect and attitudes are all mimicked with loving precision. Alan Durant once criticized music videos (which began in the 80s) for their tendency to glittery escapism, musical portraiture, and fixing the "currencies of sounds". Charlie fixes the currency of the world around him, particularly the currencies of crime, women and drugs, the three things Frankie's father had told him to avoid. But what else is there?

Soon they meet up with Charlie's partner Sammy, who is "so hard even his nightmares are afraid of him." Sammy is the financial brains of the operation and his hobbies include a jealous obsession with his girlfriend Carly, and also killing people. The fact that Charlie largely keeps him under control not only maintains the light-hearted roller-coaster, neon-lit feelgood factor, but sets it apart from films like Sexy Beast where the grandstanding stars give in to their characters' nastiness rather more readily. The undercurrent of criminal activity, just as in real nightclubs, is one of those things you speak about as little as possible, and always second in conversation to the finer things of life, such as the latest cocktail or trendiest clothes. Naturally things tend to go up or down rather than stay still, and even though Charlie manages to buy off the local mayor, things occasionally get a bit nasty. The skewered head scene is particularly liable to spoil the taste of that glass of Bollinger.

Like the world it portrays, The Business can be criticised as superficial and derivative, but it accurately depicts the headstrong, cheesy, glamour of the 80s and both glamorises and exposes the drug dealing high-life. My guess is it will either turn you off in the first ten minutes or carry you along with an adrenalin rush of New Wave dance anthems and snappy one-liners. The slangy witticisms are so consistent, as is every other aspect of this blood, sex and smarm soaked poolside party of a movie, that you may just decide to let go and snort a full line of it as you identify with personalities you'd never dare to in real life.

The 80s had a self-confident brashness guiding how people presented and expressed themselves, embracing or rejecting the new political and social divides. The Marbella look was in vogue – Hugh Heffner, Bunny Girls and pop stars. Now it looks dated and a bit tacky. But have we learnt? If we could view ourselves now from 20 years hence would we cringe at how prevailing trends suck us in? Even the relatively 'normal' gangsters wives in The Business seem hoodwinked to accept the status quo unquestioningly. The pervasive ideologies of our society are often invisible except in retrospect.

Love it or hate it, The Business confronts us with bygone clichés many would prefer to forget, but on its own terms it's a devil-may-care joyride of a movie – slide the Ray Bans back and get hammered on it.

Rocket by a fine soundtrack, the story of a British gang, that has to leave England after a psychotic member screw up a robbery, they move on to a sunny Spain, there they are a successful on marijuana, supplying the England, then show up the newcomer Frankie, the leader Charlie sympathize with the boy, causing jealous on the troublemaker Sammy, moreover his beauty wife has an slight interest on the boy, the business is going up, the Mayor of the city allowed just marijuana and forbid cocaine, but due the cocaine has strong profits, they face the Major, average picture display to us the raise and fall of a powerful drug dealer, women, money and betrayal, when the things going down, just interesting, but nothing fresh!!!

Resume:

First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7

I completely disagree with the vast majority of reviewers so far, this was a great film. Granted, it may be similar to other films of its genre, but the 80s settings were meticulous in my view. Spanish Guardia Civil with their feared (now banned) tri-corn hats, 80s cars, definitely NOT the modern Malaga airport, and the fashions and language used.

I left Cineworld feeling exhilarated - great soundtrack and good plot. I would recommend this film to anybody, Nick Love has done it again after the superb Football Factory. How can anybody call Danny Dyer Z-List?? Granted, he may be no Michael Douglas, but just because he is young, and obviously has a talent for the types of part he tends to play in movies, does not make him a bad actor at all, in fact, i think the exact opposite.

I will definitely be pre-ordering the DVD.