'Sexy Beast' is a little film out of the UK.  It didn't play to a wide release 
in the US and earned Ben Kingsley his latest nod from the Academy of Motion 
Picture Arts and Sciences for his supporting role of Don Logan.

Gal (Ray Winstone) has left the crime game across the Channel.  He's living high 
on the hog in a Spanish villa with his beautiful wife, Deedee (Amanda Redman).  
He's even got an old mate living nearby with a beautiful wife of his own (Cavan 
Kendall and Julianne White). All is good, until a boulder tumbling from a nearby 
cliff crashes into his pool, nearly missing our boy Gal.  Then, Don Logan pays a 
visit.  Don is in Spain for one reason, to get Gal out of retirement for one 
last bank job.  This human boulder won't take no for an answer.  Gal won't say 
yes.  

As an American film viewer, I've come to expect something from a battle of 
wills.  Two hard asses lock eyes and the tension can be cut with a knife.  
Perhaps the only well developed part of 'Sexy Beast' is the power play between 
Gal and Don.  Gal doesn't have the nuts that Don Logan does (even their names 
give that away), so there's no fierce deadlock.  Don applies pressure, Gal seems 
to crumble under it, but then simply and consistently replies 'No, Don'.

This is where my praise for 'Sexy Beast' ends. There are a handful of stylized, 
visually entertaining shots and sequences, reminiscent of 'Snatch' sprinkled 
sporadically throughout.  While these are well executed, their infrequent use 
leaves the film feeling more haphazard than stylish and modern.  Apart from Ben 
Kingsley the acting is mediocre, leaving me uninterested in scenes that don't 
involve him.  The storyline isn't as engaging as it could have been, and the 
symbolism of the murderous 6-foot tall rabbit was lost on me.  Not recommended.  
If you are forced to watch it, fast forward through every scene (maybe even 
every shot) that doesn't have Ben Kingsley in it.