By the half hour mark, I had pretty much realized this film was going to be a dud. But I had really been looking forward to it, so I watched the rest hoping it would somehow redeem itself but it never happened. The OP used the correct terms in saying it seemed to "roam around" without the viewer not quite knowing where it was going next. Even if it had been edited it still wouldn't have saved it from its lack of substance. IMHO it didn't let the viewer care about any of the characters...no background, no real source of the motivation for their actions. The best developed character was the wife.
It's been many, many years but I remember really liking the 1990 film "The Krays." I'd love to see it again to see if I still appreciate it as much and compare the way the story was presented.
Lastly, I know I've said it before but IMHO this film reminds me so much of "Black Mass" it's not even funny. Both gangster biopics that missed the mark in the same way...no character development...no flow at all...very poorly edited...and somehow they managed to take an interesting story and make it boring. I just don't know how they OK'd the final cut....not to mention how it screened with good remarks (I would assume, anyway). Two films I was really looking forward to and ended up in awe how badly the end result was...besides the acting, almost everything else was wrong. They did a great job of making it look authentic and I can't knock any of the actors but that's about it...the screenwriters and producers, and editors dropped the ball. Such a disappointment.
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Tyler-A-Arse
8 years ago
it didn't let the viewer care about any of the characters...no background, no real source of the motivation for their actions.
^^This.
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slidell333
8 years ago
Thanks...I mean, using their older brother or almost anyone else be the narrator would have at least helped a little bit. Tell their story. It just jumped straight into them having already making a name for themselves and having money, without any background at all. If it is a biopic, wouldn't that be important? I want to know why they do the things they do, and how they got to where they are, even if I already know their story. I'm not the biggest fan of flashback scenes but something to tell the story. And for a movie that is 2 hours long, it's sorta mind-blowing.
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