The Crew

Starring: Scot Williams, Kenny Doughty, Rory McCann, Stephen Graham

Synopsis:

The Crew centers around Ged Brennan (Williams), a gang boss who is having problems – his latest heist went awry and his gang are getting fidgety, and a property deal he’s trying to set up is in jeopardy because he’s behind on the investment. Things get worse when one of Liverpool’s biggest crime-lords is found murdered, and some of Ged’s crew get ambitious. Can Ged keep things together to pull off his next big score?



Review:

I like to think of myself as someone with his ear to the ground, finger on the pulse as far as movies are concerned, but I have to confess that The Crew was completely off my radar until I saw a quick tv spot late one night the other week. Intrigued by what I saw I sought it out immediately. And boy, I’m glad I did.

Adrian Vitoria has developed his own script (adapted from the best-selling novel Outlaws by Kevin Sampson) for his debut feature, set in and around Liverpool. He paints an interesting picture of everyday life for the criminals, using hoodies as informants and meeting in a private pub in which you have to hand over your cell-phone. What’s interesting is the police don’t even get a look-in (although Ged is very aware of the consequences of getting caught) – this movie is only concerned with gangland justice.

The plot for the most part is very taut, with just about every scene serving the story. The only times it goes awry is when it follows Ged’s cousin Moby (MaCann) on his sordid sex adventures (and believe me, they get pretty sordid!).

The opening scenes are fantastic, full of tension as Ged and his crew await the lorry they intend to hijack. As you’d expect for a gritty Brit Crime flick, things get pretty violent at times with some realistic looking gore fx but these scenes merely pepper the movie, not overpower it.

Like a lot of brit-gangster flicks, The Crew relies on quality tv talent. You probably won’t recognise the names but the faces are familiar. Scot Williams plays Ged like a tightly coiled snake, the tension written all over his face just waiting for someone to say the wrong thing to him. Stephen Graham though steals the show as Franner. His character oozes a calm menace as he moves between the gangs of hoodies trying to find information on his boss’s killer.

Verdict:

A tightly made crime-flick devoid of any police, this deserves a big audience.

7 out of 10 (MikeOutWest)

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