Opens like a western. The grimy backdrop reminds me of Once Upon a Time in America. The gangs and ultra-violence and period make me think of Gangs of New York. In terms of plot and pacing, it's akin to The Godfather in its story of family and cunningly timed outbursts of violence. The look of it evokes The Road to Perdition.
The plot's good: World War One horror flashbacks and unity between returned comrades; family clashes and loyalty (especially when Dad turns up); the bar maid who's a police agent; the vengeful police chief; the way the brother's marriage plans turn out. Tommy thinking one step ahead.
Cillian Murphy, Sam Neill, Helen McCrory, Paul Anderson, (Arthur Jr.) Annabelle Wallis (Grace), Iddo Goldberg (Freddie Thorne), Ned Dennehy (Uncle Charlie), Charlie Creed-Mills (Billy Kimber), Sophie Rundle, Joe Cole (John), Tony Pitts, David Dawson. And should mention Samuel Edward-Cook as the unfortunate 'Danny Whizz-Bang'.
The Shelby's street is actually in Liverpool (Admiral Grove and Powis Street) and extensive filming also took place at the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley.
Knight wrote Dirty Pretty Things (2002), Eastern Promises (2007), Locke (2013), The Hundred Foot Journey (2014), Burnt (2015), Allied (2016 WW2 drama-romance with Brad Pitt,) Taboo (2017 long-form with Tom Hardy in 1800s Britain), Woman Walks Ahead (2017 1890s Native Americans), The Girl in the Spider's Web (2018), lots of others including an upcoming Christmas Carol. He was also one of the creators of Who Wants to be a Millionaire! His mum and dad grew up in Small Heath and used to tell him stories that otherwise weren't depicted anywhere, concerning family members that were involved in bookmaking and law-dodging. The Garrison was a real pub there.
Photographed by George Steel, who then went on to The Honorable Woman and War and Peace, also directed by Harper.
The acting's terrific with Cillian a mesmerizing lead.
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