The Rise of the Krays ***½ (2015, Simon Cotton, Kevin Leslie, Josh Myers, James Weber Brown, Paul Blackwell) – Movie Review

Director Zackary Adler’s gritty, well crafted, scary crime thriller movie is the first part of the story of Ronnie and Reggie Kray, the twin brother gangsters who started as teenage boxers and rose from humble London East End beginnings to becoming two of the most feared and infamous criminals ever in Britain. The story is told by Reg’s close friend Frankie Fraser (Josh Myers).

Simon Cotton and Kevin Leslie are ideally cast, convincing in outstanding performances as Ronnie and Reggie, while James Weber Brown plays Leslie, the dogged copper on their case. Ken Brown and Sebastian Brown manage a credible, vibrant, informative, real-seeming screenplay, with good dialogue. Adler’s direction is commendable, sharp and spare.

Also in the cast are Anita Dobson as Madge, Nicola Stapleton as Violet Kray and Gino Picciano as the Mafia boss.

An independent British film, it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2015. Part two follows in January 2016 with The Fall of the Krays, with the same cast and director.

The story is also told in The Krays (1990) with the Kemp brothers and Legend (2015) with Tom Hardy.

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© Derek Winnert 2015 Movie Review

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