The Business

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 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.

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.

Frankie is just a typical South London chav (or whatever they were called back then) until he runs an errand to the south of Spain for a local gangster. He delivers a bag to Charlie in the Costa del Crime and gets taken on as his driven. As time goes by Frankie becomes more than just "the kid Frankie" and this continues even when Charlie's violently irrational partner Sam gets back on the scene. However as the cocaine high of the 80's comes, the risks of his criminal live come all the realer to Frankie.

Clearly aiming to be some sort of "Costa del Goodfellas" story, Nick Love's film is a very by-the-numbers sort of affair that relies too much on the superficial things while forgetting things like characters and narrative. The storyline is very basic and it is all pretty obvious what the arch of the story will be, if not the exact detail. Love has put more effort into capturing the feel of the 1980's which, in fairness he does pretty well thanks to his set and costume people as well as a constant pop music soundtrack. This is all well and good and the story itself moves forward with this style as its driver but it doesn't really have much going on below the surface in terms of character.

Of course it doesn't really help that some of the performances are weak. Dyer does his usual cockney geezer thing and does change across the film (albeit in a basic way) but his narration is terrible. It feels like he is just reading the words and certainly isn't delivering them with any sense of who is character is or with any sense of emotion or understanding of the story he is telling. Hassan is a solid presence and actually does well with his character in the later stages of the film. Bell is obvious but OK while Chapman isn't half as sexy as she clearly has been told she is.

Overall then a fairly so-so British film that looks "the business" in regards the period and 80's gimmicks but really doesn't have much else going for. Maybe worth a look though if your expectations are reasonably low.

Classic British gangster film set in Spain. Great dialogue and funny scenes. The third act is a little dark but overall it's an enjoyable film with a great 80's soundtrack.