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The Long Good Friday - 25th Anniversary Limited Metal DVD Slipcase Edition [1979]


RRP: £15.99
Our Price: £4.46 (subject to change)

Who Lit The Fuse That Tore Harold's World Apart?
Review date: 2008-06-21 Rating: 8 out of 10




"What I'm looking for is someone who can contribute to what England has given to the world: culture, sophistication, genius. A little bit more than an 'ot dog, know what I mean?" Harold

Harold played by Bob Hoskins starts his Good Friday anticipating the day ahead of him. His plans include a large party on his yacht for a group of monied business men and a couple of men from New York. His plan is to tie up a massive real estate deal. The 1988 Olympics are coming to town and he plans to convert all the old docks into land for the Olympics.

Then the entire scheme comes apart when the 'bombings' start. First his chauffeur is bombed in his car, next his casino is blown apart and then one of his best men is killed at a gym. Harold has no enemies that he knows of. The London world of crime has been quiet for a couple of years. Who is his enemy?

Bob Hoskins keeps this film alive with his performance. Instead of retribution, Harold spends this day wondering and looking for clues. His men are spectacular. An interesting point is that real criminals worked on this set. Who knew that criminals would make good actors:-)?

Helen Mirren as Harold's class act wife is low key but she has an important role. Sexy and intelligent, she is the hostess with the mostest and charms those around her. She and Harold share a true love and they depend upon each other. I am viewing all of Helen Mirren's films and this is the start of her career as a leading lady.

When the adversaries become clear, the film shows a let-down. A true to form revenge mission is planned and the ending is not that surprising.
All in all this is a film about character and Bob Hoskins is the kind of boss one would want in the underworld.

"As long as it keeps up the mystery, the film sustains interest. This is due in no little part to Hoskins, just entering his film career after a decade of TV work but already in possession of an authoritative presence that was impossible to ignore." Chris Barsanti

A day and a night in the life of London underworld. A shrewd, intelligent film with some memorable performance by Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren.

Recommended. prisrob 06-21-08

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Reviews


Razors!
Review date: 2008-06-07 Rating: 10 out of 10

What I love about this film is the way it has aged so beautifully and how the writer's huge intuition then, has given us such wonderful new perspectives now.

The Long Good Friday is a film about change; those who control it, those who want to control it and those who are swept aside by it. Hoskin's character happens to be a gangster, but he could just as easily be a businessman; an old fashioned captain of industry naively self-assured that he is master of his own destiny when all the time the destructive forces of capitalism and fanaticism are about to crush him.

Harold Shand (Hoskins), despite his model for the future (East End regeneration and the Olympic Games) is woefully unsophisticated and out of touch with reality. He's "old school" and deep down he knows he is. Thus, in moments of uncertainty he retreats into the comforting reminiscence of days gone by and the Long Good Friday is abundant with references to the glory of "old London" when there was "no scum".

As the film progresses, Shand's archaic villianous moral code is eroded by a faceless enemy that he doesn't understand and who's violence is on a scale way beyond his ability to deal with. It's no surprise then that his pub, another monument to the past lovingly resorted, simply explodes in his face.

Confused and wounded, Shand lashes out on the offensive; but it is his non-comprehension of reality that will be his ultimate downfall as besieged on all sides his resources begin to dry up or run for cover. Only at the end in an astonishing and brave final sequence does the scale of his own naivety and realisation of impending doom actually dawn across his face.

This, the greatest and most intelligent British ganster film there has ever been, has an awesome performance at it's core from Hoskins and includes a chilling, brutal and swaggering score that perfectly captures the scale of intent behind the production.


Best British Gangster Film EVER
Review date: 2008-01-06 Rating: 10 out of 10

At the time of writing this, I've just been thoroughly impressed by a rare British TV screening of 'The Long Good Friday', a gripping, bleak and uncompromising study of a supposedly untouchable underworld kingpin whose organization collapses around his ears when a mystery adversary begins murdering his colleagues and blowing up his favourite haunts. Bob Hoskins is just incredible in this film. His performance sears the screen with its burning intensity. His character is undoubtedly a vile individual, but Hoskins employs so much depth and subtlety in his portrayal we actually find ourselves caring for him. The much-remarked-on final sequence is an absolute tour-de-force that takes your breath away. Doubtful whether any current director (let alone any current actor) would have the guts to even attempt something like that. Hoskins makes it all look so easy, the mark of a true professional. Be warned, however, that this is not a film for the faint-hearted, and the squeamish will most certainly wince more than once. The direction, editing, photography, soundtrack and acting are all top-notch, displaying a rare degree of outright quality that the British film industry rarely seems able to muster, for one reason or another. There's also some degree of fun to be had from spotting the familiar faces in the supporting cast - 'Charlie Fairhead' from Casualty, 'Denzil' from Only Fools and Horses, 'Terry' from Fawlty Towers, a couple of the sadistic warders from Alan Clarke's brutal borstal flick 'Scum' and a young Gillian Taylforth of Eastenders fame. I have one final comment to make regarding this movie. Guy Ritchie should be forced to watch this at least fifteen times in a row, in the vain hope that it teaches him something about the genre he idolizes but seems unable to make a decent job of depicting. Watch and learn, all you young 'mockney' pretenders, this film is the work of the masters.



Great movie, however...
Review date: 2007-07-21 Rating: 10 out of 10

... despite being mentioned in the user reviews, this edition does NOT (or at least not anymore) include the Soundtrack CD as of July 2007.

I do not regret ordering the title, but the user comment about the soundtrack finally nudged me into the purchase, and in this aspect, I have been disappointed.

Edit: It appears I am an idiot.
The Soundtrack CD is in the back of the front lid, hidden behind a leaflet.

Suggestion to Amazon: Please update the product description to 2 DVDs + 1 CD.

Long good friday
Review date: 2007-06-02 Rating: 10 out of 10


This film is a must.You get the C.D of the soundtrack included!!!!
Look under music for The long good friday[ with Amazon ] and you will see that people are asking up to £225 !!!! for the C.D. so it is worth buying the 25th anniv. just for the soundtrack.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Eddie Constantine
Helen Mirren
Pierce Brosnan
Dave King
Bob Hoskins

Creators:
Bob Hoskins (Primary Contributor)
Helen Mirren (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Starz Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Starz Home Entertainment
EAN: 5060020625725
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: Anamorphic, Box set, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2006-09-18
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 110 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1979
Language: English (Original Language)

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