The 70's seemed to be a rather good year for classic crime movies; Dirty Harry, Get Carter and The French Connection (all 71) The Godfather, Parts I and II and numerous others, though not as classic. So it really is a complement that Get Carter, not only widely regarded as one of the British films of all time, happens to be one of the best Crime Movies of the 70's; and yes, one of the best, and most brutal, ever.
The scenery really complements the exceptionally grim atmosphere of the film. The cinematography is damn near perfect; dark alleyways, open, rainy sea, smoky pubs and cobbled paths. But what really shines is the exceptional performance from Michael Caine, playing as a man loyal, and caring, to his family: and mercilessly sadistic to everyone else.
It opens with him viewing an array of pornography clips (which play a huge part to the plot in this film) with a variety of crime partners, bosses, and whores, and then his journey up to Newcastle where he finds, unexpectedly his brother in a coffin. Sounds cheery, eh? He's determined to find out who did it, even if it means gagging naked women and injecting them to death, leaving them in trunks and watching them fall to sea, torturing two men before killing them (with a chisel, and pushing another off a building) being mean, seedy and unpleasant and having sex in his spare time.
I won't spoil it, but the main point that strings the whole thing together is a punch to the gut and a kick in the teeth. It is in a nasty, horrible, unbearable scene to watch: but it stands as the best. After so long with a character who seems to care for nothing, and thrives on violence, you will be shocked to see him shed a tear. And, amazingly, even more so than the frankly graphic material that has gone before it.
More gritty than Dirty Harry, much more intriguing than The French Connection, less polished than The Godfather (this film has practically zero music, which really adds to the atmosphere) and more bleak, gritty and fantastic than all of them, this still remains a cult movie, but a classic all the same.
**** out of ****
The scenery really complements the exceptionally grim atmosphere of the film. The cinematography is damn near perfect; dark alleyways, open, rainy sea, smoky pubs and cobbled paths. But what really shines is the exceptional performance from Michael Caine, playing as a man loyal, and caring, to his family: and mercilessly sadistic to everyone else.
It opens with him viewing an array of pornography clips (which play a huge part to the plot in this film) with a variety of crime partners, bosses, and whores, and then his journey up to Newcastle where he finds, unexpectedly his brother in a coffin. Sounds cheery, eh? He's determined to find out who did it, even if it means gagging naked women and injecting them to death, leaving them in trunks and watching them fall to sea, torturing two men before killing them (with a chisel, and pushing another off a building) being mean, seedy and unpleasant and having sex in his spare time.
I won't spoil it, but the main point that strings the whole thing together is a punch to the gut and a kick in the teeth. It is in a nasty, horrible, unbearable scene to watch: but it stands as the best. After so long with a character who seems to care for nothing, and thrives on violence, you will be shocked to see him shed a tear. And, amazingly, even more so than the frankly graphic material that has gone before it.
More gritty than Dirty Harry, much more intriguing than The French Connection, less polished than The Godfather (this film has practically zero music, which really adds to the atmosphere) and more bleak, gritty and fantastic than all of them, this still remains a cult movie, but a classic all the same.
**** out of ****
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