su·per·cil·i·ous·ness

Website: sydneyfilmfestival.org
Director: Malcolm Venville
Lead: Ian McShane
Co-Star: John Hurt
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 105mins
Rating: NR
Stars: 3

I got to see 44 Inch Chest at a screening in the Sydney Film Festival which was ahead of this films release in the UK. It features a total truckload of huge English actors in a film about Colin Diamond (Ray Winstone) who has just found out that his wife doesn't love him anymore.

Now Colin is a real old time gangster and along with his mates Peanut (John Hurt), Meredith (Ian McShane), Archie (Tom Wilkinson) and Mal (Stephen Dillane) set about finding the guy who has been fucking his wife and making amends.

We find out in flashback that Colin has beaten his wife until she gives up the name of the man she is now in love with. We watch as the group go and drag him out of the restaurant he works in and then Colin and the others spend an evening verbally and physically abusing him. This is a total shame because the unnamed younger love - Melvil Poupaud - is a total hottie.

The dynamic between these old time gangsters is interesting. The language is almost unbearable - the word cunt is used with such venom and seems appropriate (and almost comedic) for the first five minutes or so - but ultimately it becomes way too much to bear. I found myself feeling uncomfortable for the older couple sitting next to me even though they didn't seem to mind at all. Add in the sliminess of the Meredith character who is gay and the homophobia of Peanut were a little grating as well.

Despite almost completely happening in one room, this film is well shot and they capture the angst of the main character who is finding his world falling apart well. But I would recommend waiting for this one on DVD before parting with your cash.