"Essex Boys" is a 1999 "gangster" film that takes us into the gritty, dangerous domain of Essex's drug-dealing underworld. The story is narrated in part by a lad named Billy, a lowly (but fairly quick-witted) driver for the self-important kingpins, and though we don't see everything from Billy's vantage point, it is an effective and engaging means of presenting the story. Though the characters and the story are pure fiction, the inspiration for the film came from the murder of three suspected drug dealers whose bodies were found in a Range Rover in Essex in 1995. The story created around this real-life event is highly imaginative, plausible, gripping, and suspenseful. Death and imprisonment lurk in the shadows, and the 'firm' are certainly ruthless and reckless, but in "Essex Boys", the 'firm' never appear quite as menacing as the filmmakers would like. Larry Lamb riding round in a Merc' smoking a cigar accompanied by a long haired Michael McKell and a scenery chewing Sean Bean just doesn't seem true to the realities of top (ok, upper middle) level criminality. But then, most of us wouldn't really know.
The plot revolves around double crossings and drug deals gone wrong, with some romantic intrigue (Alex Kingston on mesmeric form) thrown in for good measure. This is all well and good, if you can follow the plot, but the film's main strengths are - in order of successful execution - atmosphere and acting. This is a world of strip light underpasses flashing by in the early hours, of rendezvous by the estuarine bridge, in the shadow of the oil refinery. Essex has never looked so bleak. Bean, Kingston, Creed miles etc. certainly give it their all, and the acting is strong and committed. Bean's accent is not perfect, but this doesn't detract from the overall success of the film. This is a gritty, violent film that doesn't hold back any punches in its depiction of the drug underworld. It's a good story with a very satisfying ending. It's a first-rate production and is consummately acted by all involved.
Overall rating: 7 out of 10.
The plot revolves around double crossings and drug deals gone wrong, with some romantic intrigue (Alex Kingston on mesmeric form) thrown in for good measure. This is all well and good, if you can follow the plot, but the film's main strengths are - in order of successful execution - atmosphere and acting. This is a world of strip light underpasses flashing by in the early hours, of rendezvous by the estuarine bridge, in the shadow of the oil refinery. Essex has never looked so bleak. Bean, Kingston, Creed miles etc. certainly give it their all, and the acting is strong and committed. Bean's accent is not perfect, but this doesn't detract from the overall success of the film. This is a gritty, violent film that doesn't hold back any punches in its depiction of the drug underworld. It's a good story with a very satisfying ending. It's a first-rate production and is consummately acted by all involved.
Overall rating: 7 out of 10.