This gangster tale set in 1968 London is told in flashback style as an old lag (McDowell) chronicles his ruthless rise from trainee gangster to top of the mob.
Freddie Mays (Thewlis) is the Butcher of Mayfair and has recently employed a new gangster (Bettany).
The new recruit is enjoying the lifestyle - the money, the women, the clothes and of course, the violence. He is excelling at his work and begins to even frighten the big boss.
Lennie Taylor (Jamie Foreman) is a rival gang boss and is hatching a plot to kill Freddie, but the new Gangster finds out and plans to take out Lennie and Freddie at the same time.
Lennie winds up in jail while Freddie ends up dead and the new 'number one' finds himself alone at the top.
This is a gritty, cold and violent film, which will grip and chill you from start to finish.
It is told from a gangster's point of view and effectively draws the viewer into the world and the mind of a violent criminal.
Obsession and envy are portrayed beautifully by Bettany, while the path of greed, deceit and violence he takes is inevitable yet shocking.
Gruesome torture scenes will tempt you to close your eyes but resist, as you'll miss some of the most artistically choreographed brutality in years.
Despite the violence, the film still finds room for humour, some of it eliciting nervous laughter during the more visceral scenes.
McDowell gives a brilliant performance as the nameless gangster and his younger cast-mates - Bettany, David Thewlis and Saffron Burrows - act their hearts out and obviously enjoyed filming every second.
Dominic Bloch
http://movies.sky.com/gangster-no1/review
