The Business (DVD)

The Business is a DVD well worth a look. If you are like me, the wrong end of your thirties.. you will enjoy this trip down amnesia lane.
The Business is a fast-paced, expletive-ridden gem of a film... charting the meteoric rise and fall of 'Frankie' (the unquestionably brilliant, and much under-used Danny Dyer (Human Traffic, Football Factory) through his swift and enforced exit from South London, to his eventual heady Booze, Birds and Drug-fuelled high life in Malaga......but then all too soon the Eighties ended, and for Frankie (just like the rest of us) the dream was over.
If you were an Eighties Casual, you will be familiar with the classic sporting attire on show, Fila Terrinda, Trimm Trab & Settanta Zip-up's and vintage adidas Trainers abound.

Great soundtrack - Shannon's 'Let The Music Play' and A Flock Of Seagulls 'I Ran' are blinders - great Lad's-night-in film.

The Business.

A young London tearaway gets embroiled with British gangsters on the Costa Del Sol. Tough crime thriller from writer-director Nick Love
If Nick Love's The Business wants desperately to be GoodFellas, well, which modern gangster film doesn't? Martin Scorsese isn't a bad role model and Love grafts hard for his 1980s-set British answer to the definitive mob epic. Safegeezers, anyone?

Granted the language is more "fackin 'ave 'im" than "fuggedaboudit", but otherwise it's all here: the callow, impressionable youth seduced by the alluring, ruthless criminal underworld; the street smart mentor who takes him under his wing; the loose cannon partner; and the greed for power and money that finally topples their little empire.

Love also co-opts Scorsese's visceral, kinetic style and it doesn't hurt that his protagonist Frankie (Dyer) leaves glum south London for glam southern Spain early on. Damian Bromley's fine camerawork gets punch-drunk on Malaga's bleached-white villas, lobster-red bodies basted in sunshine and the trappings of the 1980s "loadsamoney" lifestyle.

Almost as soon as he arrives on the Costa Del Crime, Frankie hooks up with flashy drug dealer Charlie (Hassan, who'll never get a better screen entrance than here), along with his psychotic mate Sammy (Bell), their crew, and Sammy's teasing minx of a girlfriend Carly (Chapman).

As with any business, cost-effective expansion is the name of the game and Charlie's mob move smoothly from taking over a local nightclub to eventually running marijuana from Morocco. They even sweet talk the local mayor, although once they renege on a promise not to deal cocaine, the stakes are dramatically raised all round. And that's without Frankie's growing attraction for the duplicitous Carly.

Love clearly wants to resurrect the 1980s from terminal un-hipness. He provides a jukebox of the decade's best tunes and a catwalk of shoulder-padded fashion. (While the music stands the test of time, it's doubtful whether Fila leisurewear can be viewed with anything other than irony.) Unfortunately this idolatry of the period blunts the social commentary. We get a brief clip of Margaret Thatcher on TV early on, and in some ways, Charlie's gang are carrying out her mandate.

Unlike Scorsese, Love doesn't engage in the contradictions and complications that arise. Ultimately, he'd much rather go for the 'cool' attitude, showing his middle finger to community, morality and the conventions of an ending where crime doesn't pay. And despite solid work from the three male leads, there's a troubling misogyny at play. Every female character here is a combination of cheap, foul-mouthed, and untrustworthy and it seems to run deeper than the characters' own view of women.

Verdict
Bravura filmmaking and an involving if familiar crime saga are compromised by a dependence on flash surface thrills and a lack of depth.

The film stars danny dyer,tamer hassen,geoff bell & georgina chapman.

Frankie (danny dyer) is on the run from the high-rise's of south london to a new new life in malaga,with nothing but a biscuit tin full of money.
having no idea that thid delivery of cash to super-suave playboy & ex-con,Charlie (tamer hassan)will change his life forever,he soon becomes one of the gang, & finds himself drawn into a flamboyant & violent world of organised crime.
The business,directed by nick love (The football factory) is a story of passion,crime & hardships tested to the limit.

The film is set in the 1980's with an excellent sountrack.

I had this film a few years ago & now i had to get it on blu-ray.

Thanks for taking the time to read my review & i hope it was helpful for you.

In the opening minutes of Nick Love's highly assured gangster flick, young Frankie (Danny Dyer) sees a passing jet spell out the words 'Be Someone' above the concrete prison of his South London estate. Armed with this ambition, and with the blood of his abusive father still on his hands, Frankie sets off for Malaga. Within days he is embroiled in the dodgy deals of British heavies who have swapped England's dreary skies for the Costa del Crime.

Frankie's life on the Spanish coast is a playground of primary colours, soundtracked to dancefloor anthems of the 80s and dressed in sports casual. Once established, he follows the traditional rake's progress of the apprentice gangster, a story that's instantly familiar from Scorsese's standard-setting GoodFellas. Hooking up with perma-tanned playboy Charlie (Tamer Hassan), Frankie finds he has an aptitude for crime. But there's trouble in store from psychotic hardcase Sammy (Geoff Bell) and his unlikely femme fatale girlfriend Carly (Georgina Chapman).

"A CLUTCH OF MUSCULAR PERFORMANCES"

There is little in The Business that gangster fans won't find familiar. What sets it apart is Love's inviting direction that finds neon-lit beauty in the tackiest beachside watering holes and a clutch of muscular performances. The hilarious outfits and never-ending stream of cheesy pop hits provide a strong sense of period, and there's a sly sense of humour beneath all the salty geezer talk and bloodletting. Frankie's dry narration, "He was so hard, his nightmares were scared of him" betrays an amused, ironic mind at work. In all, it's an impressive take on a familiar genre.


BRILL FILM!!

anthor danny dyer gangsta film set abroad. another spin off of football factory, Frankie's about to learn the hard way that a trip to the Costa Del Crime and some flash new sportswear doesn't entitle you to a charmed life without a little legwork, maybe not one to add to the collection but definetly worth a watch!

Another gritty British film from Nick Love (The Football Factory) with Danny Dyer in his token cockney geezer mould. Sun, sex, guns and violence come together to make a great lads' movie. You will notice a few familier faces you love to hate if you watch British films regularly.

The ending is a bit dissappointing but you go through a lot of good stuff before you get to that- especially the Sergio Taccinio shorts Dyer adopts- get me a pair of those.

Certainly one to watch lads!

This film is like no other! An inspiring story line and the perfect soundtrack. Starting with a frankie living a donkey kong playing life with no money an no future. Getting an offer to start a new life in the cost del sol. meeting the playboy Charlie and his gang, soon becoming part of.

Artists include: , Duran duran, Simple minds, Martha & The Muffins, David bowie, Blondie and not forgetting Frankie goes to hollywood!

If you enjoyed this film you will also like: Layer cake, Essex boys and scarface.

More deeper films: Goodfellas, The godfather and The usual suspects.

This is certainly not one of Nick Love's better films but it is enjoyable enough in its own right. There are mixed performances from the under-rated Tamer Hassan and Geoff Bell, and Dyer does end up becoming a bit cliched and you have heard his one-liners many times before.

I suspect that as Dyer has became more type-cast and generic this film has got progressively panned by the critics. It also suffers from comparisons with the superior intensity and drama of Sexy Beast.

The sound-track is a decent mix of eclectic alternative 80s electro-pop and the backdrops do evoke a few memories of both unspoilt Spain and the ruined Costa del Sol. There are also a few amusing fringe characters including the Mayor and Dyer's sidekick from Peckham, Sonny.

if you`re old enough to remember the 80`s,then this is the film for you.
a great story,top class BRITISH actors and one of the best soundtracks around
DO NOT MISS THIS FILM 10/10

This is one of the best Gangster films iv ever seen, iv enjoyed watching, SCARFACE, GOODFELLERS, CARLITOS WAY, BELLY, etc, and this film Has got it ALL, i have watched this film a few times and, unlike some films, This Film You Will Never Get Bored of.... Its In My TOP 5. Just Excellent

its a good-easy too watch film.me and my boyfriend both enjoy this film-worth a watch.bit like resevoir dogs meets green street sort of film.

the movie was fantastic and i couldn't wait to get my own copy after i'd watched it at the cinema,and after i'd seen how cheap it was on E-bay i couldn't refuse the other

Great Quick Slick 80's style British hit with a great soundtrack that complemented this film very well,i liked the poignant message that drugs dont work and just end up ruining lives,there was a great roll down to this and it ended how i expected it to do.Frankie goes to Hollywoods Welcome to the pleasuredome track also played its part well in the beginning.I also loved OMD'S Joan of Arc playing in a very crucial scene all great 80's music a very entertaining film.

Great movie. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I like films that are a little different and not the ususal run of the mill stuff that is getting churned out. Had a good twist to it and had a good plot. With some english actors in which makes a nice change.

I don't think there was anything much I disliked about it. There was quite a bit of violence which I am not that fond of but it was part of the story.

Absolutely brilliant film!! from the outfits to the wicked soundtrack!! an amazing storyline backed up with a fab cast of top british actors!! if you like football factory you'll love The Business!

i would like to say this film blew me away its fantasic must have watched it a dozen times or more even the making of it on the xtras is as good as the film.the story line the music just makes the film 110% ive even been out and bought a sierra xr 4x4 all though they was not seen in the business just the feeling off driving the car brings back the good times,fila top is on its way lolol.

this film was fantastic the dyelog the characters and the sound track what can i say im very pleased i brought this film

This film is a great watch and has many twists and turns in the story line to keep you gripped all the way through and you never lose interest. The film may not be for everyone though as does show a lot of drug taking and some moderate violence which may disturb or shock some although it starts by glorifying the lifestyle by the end it shows you the ups and downs of the life and the greed it causes. The detail in the film is first class and makes you really feel like you are in the eighties, the performances from all the main actors especially danny dyer and tamar hassan (the playboy) really keep you gripped as well as the many unknown actors who make you feel like they are the real deal. The film has been excellently directed by Nick Love and for a small budget film still manages to give you a feel of a larger hollywood film. Overall its a great watch

what a great film, its up there with football factory nad green street.
if you like ganster kind of films, you will like this one.
cheers mart

This film is a must see, if you where growing up in the 80s. I have watched this film several times. It does not poke fun at the shell suit-wearing 80s-just reminds us of the good times.Great music also,reminds me of clubbing before it got nasty. Exellent story line,well acted by all & beliveable.Recommended.

i like everything about it. buy a copy and witness the dream. danny dyer plays the role of charlies right hand man. they hit good money dealing in ganja but get greedy and turn to cocain but the law shuts them down so they turn to stealing cocain to feed there habbits and in the end frankie (danny dyer) tricks sammy another member of it into death and takes the lot to hollywood.

best film ever been my favourite film for time so decided to buy it finaly always forgot the name of it just remembered danny dyer init lol its just such a great film you have to watch it to understand really so watch it people!!!!!!

I absolutly love this film, it has it all. I even love the tracksuits which were in once. Danny plays the same sort of character as always, but thats why we love him. great great film