Going Off Big Time

Saw this film on late night TV the other night and was entranced by

its sheer awfulness. Alas it surely must be added to the future

cult movie genre 'bad British gangster films' .

Right from the word go it was terrible, the clichés coming thick and

fast. The strippers, the snorters, the shooters ('did you bring it ?'),

the pretty blond lawyer, the flashbacks, the jail, the bully, the wise

old con, the predatory homosexual, the fights, the rise to the top,

the gay crime lord, the thick coppers........it just went on and on... It

is a crime film where the writer has been influenced by the genre

rather than any real knowledge of - or insight into -criminal

behavior. The end result is a rubbish plot and bad dialogue. The title itself

is a clue. Very poor.

The best I can say about it is that it was OK. Not a huge plot, probably realistic (not being an expert on prison life or gangster culture) so whilst it wasn't gripping, it was ok as a "whilst I am doing something else" film.

Mercifully short.

It hasn't aged amazingly but I remember when this came out and I love it just as much as I did back then. It's well written and impressive for its budget. The pacing is perfect.

This is another in the line of Brit gangster flicks that seem to be attracting backers money. To be honest, it doesn't add a lot to the genre apart from the fact it is set in Liverpool. Naturally this means that the script is given a scouse flavour and tinged with the humour that this city is renowned for. Some of it works, but other times it appears that what makes a good story in a pub doesn't quite transfer to the screen. I found it mildly amusing sometimes and other times cliched. The part with the bouncy castle should have left the laughter to the cinema audience and not the actors.

The main actors are believable as budding hoods and the scenes in the jail were well worked, albeit a little predictable. The story seemed competent till it got to the part where he met his girlfriend's father, I found this corny. Also I found it hard to believe that they would be so incensed by their arch rivals actions to react in such a heavy-handed manner, let alone kill him. Liverpool can be a tough city, but to execute someone for pouring a drink over you was a bit over the top. I felt overall that the script could have done with a more development before going into production.

Still, Going Off Big Time is worth seeing, especially if you have an affinity with Liverpool, and it was interesting to note that no one had a perm and a moustache and was drinking tea in times of crisis, which at least avoided one stereotype of the city.

Not as good as any of Guy Ritchie's, but still a credible addition to the Brit Gangster genre, which must surely be close to running its course.

The movie is a nice piece of art. Original not boring. Until the ending of this movie i would give it a 9, but when i saw the ending, I changed into a 7. It left a bitter taste in my mouth...