Who Needs Enemies

I am a sucker for British Gangster movies so when I got a look at "Who Needs Enemies" I was pretty psyched. While most films in this genre kind of stick to a set storyline, Who Needs Enemies adds something more; awesome cinematography.

This film is beautifully shot and some of the scenes deserve to be framed and hung on a wall. Director, Peter Stylianou does an excellent job of framing and pacing and Andre Govia (cinematographer) wrings every bit of emotion out of each shot. The colors range from warm yellows and browns to cold blues and greys so seamlessly that it keeps the story going.

Now make no mistake, as beautiful as this film is, it is also incredibly violent. Something that I also like in my crime movies. The plot is one of old friends turning on each other and in the seedy underworld that pretty much means that someone has to die.

Tom Sheridan, played by Ian Pirie, is a gangster who owns a successful strip club in London. His old friend, Ian (played by Michael McKeil) rents out the club for a private party all seems well. Unfortunately, there are some unspeakable acts going on during the party and Tom decides to get revenge on his old mate.

Not to give too much away, but this feud starts an all out war on the streets of London as the body count rises.

The entire cast is not well known but they deliver solid performances. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them are connected guys. Overall this is a beautifully violent film that takes the British Gangster genre to a new level. Very much recommended.

Most movies made in the U.S. nowadays are pretty low brow and seem to cater to Hollywood elites and their sophomoric sensibilities. Not so with the British and Australian film industry. Solid story, characters are well defined, actors are top notch though not widely known. The weaving of the story in chapters works well. I have been a fan of the British gangster films for quite sometime now. Pistols are held and fired as pistols, violence is in your face when it needs to be and subtle when it adds to the story. Nothing gratuitous about it. Good direction as well. If you are fan of the genre this is a little known gem.

This was decent and the acting first class, the cinematography is exceptional so what is not to like? At times it seems they want to use every trick available, flashbacks, scenes played from a different angle, I think if they kept it simpler it would have made a better movie. I did spot the gaff when he said bullet then knife, surprised that was not spotted in editing.

Not sure about the title missing a question mark or the narrative jumps but overall a good solid film. I was confused for half of the story but gradually managed to catch up.

I didn't expect much, but I found it very entertaining and full of unexpected little twists. Well acted and written. This is a lower budget film but does not cut corners, austere natural locations, nothing fancy, very down to earth. Filmed in a very Pulp Fiction way, disconnected moments come together. If you enjoy the British gangster film, I believe you not be disappointed.