The Long Good Friday

Audience Reviews

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Finn S Jan 17, 2019 'So this is where we're gonna build the 1988 Olympic Stadium..." I just found it a bit confusing but maybe if I had been alive in 1979 that wouldn't have happened. See more

Anakin S Jul 7, 2018 A London gangster film with a virtuoso performance from Bob Hoskins, ably complimented by the MAGNIFICENT Helen Mirren. Good script, use of locations and soundtrack keep everything humming nicely. It also features one of the best ending of all time! See more

Abraham W Feb 16, 2018 The most American movie ever made in Britain is lead by a stellar Bob Hoskins performance.

Ron S Feb 3, 2018 Really good gangster pic. Bob Hoskins is awesome and intense, as a kind of cockney Edward G. Robinson. Helen Mirren isn't your typical first lady of crime, her character has substance and feels genuine. It's odd seeing such a young Pierce Brosnan too. See more

Ron R Aug 16, 2017 With an intriguing plot and superb acting, 'The Long Good Friday' is a great character study of a very British gangster trying to deal with an assault on his operation that seems to come out of the blue, cranking up the tension with each act. And with a wide variety of expertly picked locations and a good deal of travelling between them, the film gives you a realistic-feeling sense of the London underworld, it's machinations and the stark contrast between the luxurious front that is presented to the world and the dirty work done in seedy places that is necessary to achieve it. At the end of the day, however, the most impressive thing about this film is Hoskins' incredibly intense performance that'll have you mesmerised right up until the very memorable and fantastic ending. See more

Draco M Aug 8, 2017 Harold Shand (Bob Hoskins), a London gangster, is aspiring to become a legitimate businessman and is trying to form a partnership with the American Mafia, with a plan to redevelop London Docklands, including building a casino. However, his world is suddenly destabilised by a series of unexplained murders (including Harold's best friend Colin and exploding bombs from an unknown foe. He and his henchmen try to uncover his attackers' identity whilst simultaneously trying not to worry their American Mafia visitors. Harold rightly realises if the Americans think he's not in full control of his affairs, they won't go into partnership with him. This becomes impossible when a pub in which they are about to have lunch is blown up. This forces Harold's girlfriend, Victoria (Helen Mirren), to tell the Mafia representatives Harold is under attack but from an unknown enemy. Victoria tries to reassure the Americans Harold is working hard to quickly resolve the crisis. At this point, Victoria starts to figure out Harold's right hand man, Jeff (Derek Thompson), knows more than he had been letting on about who might be behind the attacks. Jeff begins to realise Harold might be onto him and tries to prevent people talking through intimidation, including nailing a security guard to the floor. After some further detective work, Harold then confronts Jeff, who confesses he sent Harold's long term friend Colin on a job to Belfast to deliver money raised by Irish Navvies (construction workers) to the IRA. When Harold discovers Jeff had accepted a job to deliver funds to the IRA, he becomes extremely angry and vows to destroy the IRA in London. Jeff advises against this and then explains the IRA aren't just annoyed about the £5,000 they are missing, they are wrongly holding Harold responsible for the murder of the 3 IRA men. Harold loses his temper and - realising Jeff isn't to be trusted - kills him with a broken whisky bottle. Harold then tries to get even with the IRA and sets up a meeting with them, which Councillor Harris reluctantly agrees to organise. Harold appears to offer them £60,000 in return for a ceasefire but double crosses them, having them shot when they are counting the money. Will Harold´s bloody mayhem solve his problems? "The Long Good Friday" is another film that has been on my to see list for a long time. It´s a gripping, bleak and violent look upon the London underworld. Harold Shand was Bob Hoskins breakthrough film role and he puts on such a great performance of this quite despicable character, but Hoskins adds as well a lot of depth into Harold. The film has a looming British 80s feeling to it (of logic reasons), but the direction, editing, photography, soundtrack and acting are quite fine. The blend of violent attitude/actions/tactics and who´s dunnit detective work is put together in a fine way by director John Mackenzie and writer Barrie Keeffe. Yes, the storyline is maybe sometimes a bit confusing as there´s plenty to keep track of. And I do love the sort of "open" final sequence. "The Long Good Friday" is I reckon a landmark in the british gangster genre that weaves together events and concerns of the late 1970s, including low-level political and police corruption, IRA fundraising, displacement of traditional British industry by property development, UK membership of the EEC, and the free-market economy. Trivia: Bob Hoskins voice was dubbed over by a Wolverhampton actor, for fear Americans wouldn't understand his London accent. After Hoskins threatened to sue Jack Gill and British Lion (the original producers before HandMade bought the rights) the dubbing was removed. He was supported by Richard Burton, Alec Guinness and Warren Beatty. A sequel to was actually announced in 1983 named "Black Easter Monday". It opened with Bob Hoskins's character escaping from the IRA after the car was pulled over by police. Hoskins would retire to Jamaica, then return to stop the East End being taken over by the Yardies. However, the film was never made. See more

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The Long Good Friday

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