john mackenzie do a masterful directorial job in this movie a do cinematography by phil meheux and brilliant script by barrie keeffe . now with that say the movie revolve around bob hoskins who in this movie play one of the tough movie character you have ever see up on the big screen . bob hoskins just rock in this movie . and you might be like bob hoskins . eddie valiant from roger rabbit play a tough character . and yes after you see hoskins in this role you will be like bob be the man . this be one of those awesome rare performance in a movie where an actor just be that character ( in the same vain a say a al pacino a tony montana ) and make it into someone we can enjoy and really really be blow away with movie coolness by . all at the same time just completely like the character they have create . helen mirren be very sexy in this movie and she play her role perfectly . you never quite can tell where her alliance truly be . and you kind of get the sense she be beautiful girl who get catch in a world she long have dream about but once there wish for a way out . it be cool see razor be play by actor p. h. moriarty who be hatchet harry in the recent great movie lock and stock and two smoking barrel . alan ford who play brick top in guy ritchies late movie star here a jack . now be prepare the first 30 minute of this movie sort of take you through a maze . a long elaborate set up that set everything in motion that happen in the movie . which at first be confuse but on repeat viewing you will see how perfect it work for the movie . once the movie kick into gear you a the movie audience become like a right hand man to bob hoskins . you be right there with him at every turn a he try to figure out what be go on . you become so engrossed and involve with the movie you aren not merely watch it your a part of it . your his right hand man . i do not mean this in a literal take it right off the page kinda way . but in that way of explain in just how involved this movie get you into it and bob hoskins . now the end of the movie just get my blood pumping . i spend an entire day just think about the end of this movie . the more and more i think about it the more i like the end but not in the usual way one would like the end to a movie . without ruin the movie let just say it doesn not have a hollywood end . i wonder how most people react to the end especially back when the movie first come out . and what the sorta mood be a people get up out of their seat and leave the theater . this be a gangster movie where the bad guy be really really bad and not just sorta or half way bad . but i mean they be gon na do whatever they get ta do to take care of business . they aren not sprinkle with badness they be walk and breathe badness . i do not think i will ever forget the end though . the end will be carve into my mind for quite some time . it great to see that criterion have add this movie to it collection so if you have a dvd player and some extra money . go out and get this movie to watch ( of course the criterion version be gon na be the best way to see and experience it unless you happen to have your own 35mm print of the movie and a private movie theater in your home ) . though if you have a private movie theater in your shower i would say this isn not a shower kinda movie but a movie that you must watch from begin to end without any interruption where for one part of a day or night and you unplug all your phone and computer and turn off your cel phone or pager . and hit play and let the movie magic of this movie unfold .