a london gangster bos take a short break abroad and return to find someone have it in for him . the film that take bob hoskins from minor british actor to hollywood and the rest of the cast back to mainstream british television . helen mirren prove she be one of the few actress that can play tough and sexy at the same time . this modest budget film be quite clever . it wear the clothes of a gangster film but be actually a violent whodunit . the setting of london give it novelty and like all british picture it have an array of small part play with gusto by local actor . the film seem to borrow from real event ( at one time the mafia do want to bring gamble junket over to london ) but be mostly a work of fiction . also curious be that it seem to give the impression that police corruption be rife which be not true of the late 70 . but this at least help u understand hoskins power . this be not to be miss if you be a fan of gangster film and want a change of scenery . hoskins performance alone be worth the price of admission and look out for pierce brosnan at the end in a non speaking role .