GANGLAND/GANGSTER MEMORABILIA MOVIE REVIEW - FALL OF THE KRAYS (2016) Director: Zackary Adler This is the sequel to The Rise Of The Krays. Having secured their empire and their infamy, the brothers must now fight to keep hold of both as the obsession of one police officer becomes entwined with a burgeoning romance and a dangerous state of mind for Reggie and Ronnie respectively.
Cast: George Webster, Simon Cotton, Adrian Bouchet, Kevin Leslie, Josh Myers GGM says: For those of you that didn't like the first movie then you are going to be in for a BIG shock with this movie...because the sequel is GOOD - in fact its VERY good indeed. The story obviously carries on from the first and focuses on the really juicy parts of the Kray story - the Cornell and McVitie murders, the breakout and subsequent murder of Frank Mitchell, and the disappearance of "Mad" Teddy Smith - and to be honest they do it in the way that we all hoped for - something that Tom Hardys "Legend" failed to do miserably.
As the title suggests, this movie goes into when things started going wrong for the twins - which is when it starts to get more interesting for the movie-goer. Reg (Kevin Leslie) has a much bigger part in this movie and as the film builds up to Frances suicide (which is done with dignity and in good taste), we begin to see Reg spiral down into the depths that ultimately became his undoing. The actor does a good job showing the full range of Regs dark moods and violent outbursts - a far stronger performance by Kevin Leslie this time.
Whilst still the lead role, Simon Cotton (Ron), has much less screen time this time out, In the first movie, I felt he was guilty of overacting at times but he plays the part much better here - more controlled. In addition, the character "Dickie Baker" has a significant role in the movie. I think I wrongly assumed in the first movie that Dickie was Dickie Hart (the Krays cousin).but it now appears that Dickie is actually "Albert Donaghue" as his story matches Alberts and reveals his relationship with Lisa Prescott - the hostess brought in for Frank "The Mad Axeman" Mitchell.
Throughout, the movie has some instantly recognisable scenes and uses authentic phrases that we all believe were said by the twins, right down to the immortal "Be a man Jack..." - "I'll be a man but I don't want to die like one".
The film is an accurate portrayal of John Pearsons "Profession Of Violence" and refreshingly include references to all the "unsavioury" parts of the twins lives that the original Kray film was unable to, or were too scared to mention - things like Rons sex parties, Regs inability to make love to Frances, and the twins corrupt dealings with Boothby and Driberg.
Overall, FOTK is a whole lot better than the the first movie and in my opinion, is far more accurate and watchable than Legend. FOTK is the Kray movie we have all hoped for. The fact that the only dodgy bit about the film is Kevin Leslies hair dye is a credit to just how good a movie it is. Put aside the fact that the movie costs a hefty £9.99 to be downloaded from Sky, this is a really good film that all Kray fans will enjoy watching.
All credit to the producers, directors, actors and everybody involved. They have made the movie that Hollywood could'nt. At last, a worthy successor to the original and my favourite out of all four Kray movies.
GGM RATING: * * * * * * * * (8/10)
Cast: George Webster, Simon Cotton, Adrian Bouchet, Kevin Leslie, Josh Myers GGM says: For those of you that didn't like the first movie then you are going to be in for a BIG shock with this movie...because the sequel is GOOD - in fact its VERY good indeed. The story obviously carries on from the first and focuses on the really juicy parts of the Kray story - the Cornell and McVitie murders, the breakout and subsequent murder of Frank Mitchell, and the disappearance of "Mad" Teddy Smith - and to be honest they do it in the way that we all hoped for - something that Tom Hardys "Legend" failed to do miserably.
As the title suggests, this movie goes into when things started going wrong for the twins - which is when it starts to get more interesting for the movie-goer. Reg (Kevin Leslie) has a much bigger part in this movie and as the film builds up to Frances suicide (which is done with dignity and in good taste), we begin to see Reg spiral down into the depths that ultimately became his undoing. The actor does a good job showing the full range of Regs dark moods and violent outbursts - a far stronger performance by Kevin Leslie this time.
Whilst still the lead role, Simon Cotton (Ron), has much less screen time this time out, In the first movie, I felt he was guilty of overacting at times but he plays the part much better here - more controlled. In addition, the character "Dickie Baker" has a significant role in the movie. I think I wrongly assumed in the first movie that Dickie was Dickie Hart (the Krays cousin).but it now appears that Dickie is actually "Albert Donaghue" as his story matches Alberts and reveals his relationship with Lisa Prescott - the hostess brought in for Frank "The Mad Axeman" Mitchell.
Throughout, the movie has some instantly recognisable scenes and uses authentic phrases that we all believe were said by the twins, right down to the immortal "Be a man Jack..." - "I'll be a man but I don't want to die like one".
The film is an accurate portrayal of John Pearsons "Profession Of Violence" and refreshingly include references to all the "unsavioury" parts of the twins lives that the original Kray film was unable to, or were too scared to mention - things like Rons sex parties, Regs inability to make love to Frances, and the twins corrupt dealings with Boothby and Driberg.
Overall, FOTK is a whole lot better than the the first movie and in my opinion, is far more accurate and watchable than Legend. FOTK is the Kray movie we have all hoped for. The fact that the only dodgy bit about the film is Kevin Leslies hair dye is a credit to just how good a movie it is. Put aside the fact that the movie costs a hefty £9.99 to be downloaded from Sky, this is a really good film that all Kray fans will enjoy watching.
All credit to the producers, directors, actors and everybody involved. They have made the movie that Hollywood could'nt. At last, a worthy successor to the original and my favourite out of all four Kray movies.
GGM RATING: * * * * * * * * (8/10)