ORIGINAL GANGSTER

Directed by: Savvas D. Michael

Starring: Alex Mills, Steve Guttenberg, Ian Reddington, Vas Blackwood, Isabele De Rosa

 After witnessing the execution of his parents, young Castor is saved by Milo, the very hitman sent to murder him. Left to fend for himself on the streets, Castor grows to be a violent, animalistic thug. A chance encounter with Milo brings his life full circle and he finds his violent skills in popular demand, especially with Jean-Baptiste Philippe, the most powerful crime boss in London…

Original Gangster is a film packed with incident. It opens with the gangland execution of Castor's parents having just happened off screen (although we do hear the sound fx) and winds up with two guys facing off against an army of armed thugs. In between there is a lot of other murders and squabbles but the one thing you will remember about this film is the presence of Steve Police Academy Guttenberg.

The film certainly has an original protagonist. After Milo saves his life, Castor is left to fend for himself.  He may have been picked up by Social Services at some point but as a young adult he's living rough on the streets and mugging people for money and food. When he robs a drug dealer there are repercussions which bring him face to face with Milo for the first time in over a decade. Milo has since moved on from being  a hired gun and has carved himself a small drug selling business. Castor has placed Milo on a pedestal and wants to emulate what he sees as a successful life, so Milo lends him a kilo of cocaine to go and sell.

 It turns out that Castor is a little naïve and not really cut out for the drugs business. The scene where he tries to sell the coke to a scuzzy buyer isn't bad but it is very old fashioned and cliched. We've seen this set-up loads of times, with the flaked out addicts, graffiti covered walls and  a dealer who can't help but deliver a lengthy monologue about, of all things, making spaghetti sauce. This took me temporarily out of the film as I couldn't help wonder whether all criminals in this world have their own special personal story to use as a metaphor, that they have rehearsed no end to ensure the correct pauses and beats help build tension in any situation. This is an aspect common with the other two films in this loose trilogy.

Needless to say, Castor's actions following the failed drug meet drive Milo to distraction but by this point, other people have started to take note of Castor and he finds himself being sent before Jean-Baptiste Philippe…and this is where the film threatens to come off the rails.

Milo takes Castor to this compound where Jean-Baptiste resides. There is a nice, one-take tracking short as they walk through, past many different groups, some of whom acknowledge Milo as they pass, until they come to a door flanked by a couple of heavily armed bodyguards. The viewer is on tenterhooks as to the identity of Jean-Baptiste Phillipe and we follow the camera as it passes through the doorway to reveal…..Steve Guttenberg, with long hippy hair and rose tinted glasses, and speaking in a voice which reminded me of Emo Philips.

What are you supposed to do with that? There are a number of larger-than-life characters in this film but they all pale in comparison to the creation sitting before us now. Jean-Baptiste has this silly, playful demeanor as if he's not taking anything too seriously, like he's even more of a man-child than Castor. Its incredibly off-putting at first. However, over the course of the remaining film he kind of grows on you. There are a couple of scenes where he cuts through the bullshit persona he's shrouded himself in and lays bare the facts.

Original Gangster contains lengthy narration from Alex Mills' Castor. It’s a very monotone delivery, which I'm going to assume is a testament to Castor's emotionally stunted, stoic character rather than the actor. Luckily the narration contains some good exposition and internal dialogue to keep it interesting.

THE VERDICT

Original Gangster is a very technically well-made film - in particular the sound design, very important considering the number of gunshots in the film. There are some interesting music choices, including a spaghetti western soundtrack for the drug deal. The script is, for the most part, very good, although I take issue with the drug deal scene - monologues may be my new bugbear! There's a lot going on in the script - my review has side-stepped at least one major sub-plot, regarding Milo. However it is the presence of Steve Guttenberg which is what this film is likely to become known for. I am actually on the fence as to how I feel about it but it is definitely a film that should be watched.

 7 out of 10 (MikeOutWest)

 ORIGINAL GANGSTER IS NOW AVAILABLE FROM ALL DIGITAL DOWNLOAD PLATFORMS.