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Ray Winstone, Ian McShane, Tom Wilkinson, John Hurt, Joanne WhalleyDirector: Malcolm Venville
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Unlike the dreadful Births, Marriages, Deaths, 44 Inch Chest is well worth watching. John Hurt's 'Peanut' is authentic and Ray Winstone is reminiscent of Hamlet as he procrastinates over the fate of his wife's captive young lover. Winstone's gang are a nasty bunch and there are more cunning stunt expletive's from 'Peanut' than Evil Knievel managed in his career. Ian McShane plays an intriguing gangster queen and Steven Berkoff makes a great cameo appearance as a coke-fuelled gambling mobster resplendent in a black fur coat. From the other reviews I'd suggest that this movie is underrated perhaps because there is not much action - no guns or car chases thank goodness - but it does portray betrayal and emotional pain perfectly. Winstone is devastated when wife Joanne Whalley (stunningly seductive here) tells him she has met someone new. Ray is shocked, furious, violent and then has a mental breakdown while deciding whether to kill her lover or not. He excels at this kind of thing. His ability to summon up greif and suffering would not be out of place in a Shakespearian tragedy. One scene, where the hostage puts his hands on the tearful Ray's head, has biblical iconography.
I have just two criticisms. Firstly, actors never seem as nasty as real bad guys. Perhaps because we would not want to see that level of evil in a movie. Secondly, this is very short film. After an hour I was curious as to what would happen next? The answer was nothing. It was the end. It states approximately 90 minutes but it seemed more like an hour at most. What there was of it was very enjoyable. If you've ever been rejected by someone you love passionately you'll understand the meaning and message of Ray's performance. JP.
I have just two criticisms. Firstly, actors never seem as nasty as real bad guys. Perhaps because we would not want to see that level of evil in a movie. Secondly, this is very short film. After an hour I was curious as to what would happen next? The answer was nothing. It was the end. It states approximately 90 minutes but it seemed more like an hour at most. What there was of it was very enjoyable. If you've ever been rejected by someone you love passionately you'll understand the meaning and message of Ray's performance. JP.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
The film is outstanding in its portrayal of a "man who loved too much" going psycho and then pulling back.
The language is extreme but given a stylised almost poetic rhythm; great nods here to David Mamet and his stylised approach to dialogue.
As others have said it feels very much like a stage play in its claustrophobic 5(+1 in hood) men in a room talking heads approach; and if you're after the usual car chases, blood and guts and trite ending this is not for you.
The characters are, I think, ciphers for different aspects of Ray's character, Colin Diamond's mind
John Hurt's old man peanut is a vicious misogynist, angry about everything
Steven Dillane as Mal, violent without conscience, wanting an eye for an eye
Tom Wilkinson as Archie, loyal, loves his mum and wants life long commitment
Ian McShane's Meredith, the cold intellectual. Who never loves, with sex being an act not an emotion. His gayness perhaps being used to convey Colin's feeling of loss of masculinity because of his wife's infidelity.
These characters are used to get Colin to face his dilemma and decide on revenge (on the hooded & cuffed perpetrator in the corner) or acceptance that he has lost, and let the perpetrator go .
The other characters, Joanne Whalley as the wife and a weirdly OTT cameo from Steven Berkoff are seen in flashback to fill out the back story.
I was gripped by this well acted film from start to finish and as I ejected the blu ray from the machine was left with the question, was any of it real, or was this all played out in Colin's mind in the drunken aftermath of his wife saying "I've met someone else"...I don't know but I'm glad the film made me think something!
The language is extreme but given a stylised almost poetic rhythm; great nods here to David Mamet and his stylised approach to dialogue.
As others have said it feels very much like a stage play in its claustrophobic 5(+1 in hood) men in a room talking heads approach; and if you're after the usual car chases, blood and guts and trite ending this is not for you.
The characters are, I think, ciphers for different aspects of Ray's character, Colin Diamond's mind
John Hurt's old man peanut is a vicious misogynist, angry about everything
Steven Dillane as Mal, violent without conscience, wanting an eye for an eye
Tom Wilkinson as Archie, loyal, loves his mum and wants life long commitment
Ian McShane's Meredith, the cold intellectual. Who never loves, with sex being an act not an emotion. His gayness perhaps being used to convey Colin's feeling of loss of masculinity because of his wife's infidelity.
These characters are used to get Colin to face his dilemma and decide on revenge (on the hooded & cuffed perpetrator in the corner) or acceptance that he has lost, and let the perpetrator go .
The other characters, Joanne Whalley as the wife and a weirdly OTT cameo from Steven Berkoff are seen in flashback to fill out the back story.
I was gripped by this well acted film from start to finish and as I ejected the blu ray from the machine was left with the question, was any of it real, or was this all played out in Colin's mind in the drunken aftermath of his wife saying "I've met someone else"...I don't know but I'm glad the film made me think something!
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Loved it. (swearing aside)
If you want a 'geezer gangster' movie- this is not it.
A lovely well crafted film that will make you think- (yes, actual audience participation required)
It's bit like 12 angry men- no flashy effects, proper acting. A process occurs throughout the film leaving you at a different point at the end than the one you started at...
Forgive the ramble. A great film, give it a chance!
If you want a 'geezer gangster' movie- this is not it.
A lovely well crafted film that will make you think- (yes, actual audience participation required)
It's bit like 12 angry men- no flashy effects, proper acting. A process occurs throughout the film leaving you at a different point at the end than the one you started at...
Forgive the ramble. A great film, give it a chance!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
blood lust and evil on the one hand and justice, decency and humanity...
How far would you go to avenge betrayal? Colin Diamond (Ray Winstone, Sexy Beast) is about to find out in this gritty, provocative thriller. Read more
Published 15 days ago by S. F. husseiny
p= PANTS
i can sit through most films,and i love Mr Winstone....but this film is dead where nothing happens. Don't listen to the good reviews this film is PANTS
Published 2 months ago by berty boy
OMG!
I love these actors but what a boring film! If you have ever seen Jarhead, it's worse than that!! Acting was fine, film was awful! Save your money.
Published 4 months ago by Britpc
Awful - Do not waste your time!
This film is so bad I was compelled to write a review. Billed as - By the People who did Sexy Beast, I thought that it would be well worth a watch. Read more
Published 4 months ago by D. W. SMITH
Expected more....
With such a stellar cast of big name actors I thought this would have been a great film. Sadly the plot and script are full of cliches' and a somewhat predictable ending. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mascalzone
Classic British gangster film offering a different perspective.
Most of the negative reviewers on here seem upset about the bad language in this film, it was an 18 rated gangster film, what did they expect, Mary Poppins? Read more
Published 9 months ago by The Truth
44 inch vest
As a fan of Sexy Beast and Ray Winstone I had high hopes for 44 inch chest as it came from the same writers. I found the film cloying,bleak and utterly joyless. Read more
Published 10 months ago by G. R. Donaldson
SWEAR FEAST
USUALLY BRITISH MOVIE,USE AS MANY SWEAR WORDS AS POSSIBLE,THE BRITISH SCRIPTWRITERS OF TODAY.THE FILM IS MAINLY SET IN ONE ROOM, ABOUT A MAN WHO FINDS OUT HIS WIFE IS CHEATING ON... Read more
Published 10 months ago by V. Pykett
Terrible
One of the worst films i have seen in a long time. Extrememly boring. Should have been produced as be a play (and a bad one at that), not a movie.
Published 12 months ago by B. Bishop
44inch letdown
I am a avid Ray Winstone fan from his early days in "Scum" however, although this movie was recommended, I found it slow and confusing. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Pip Morgan
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