Carolyn Jenkins is a writer at Collider whose expertise varies from horror to drama and has a long history of variously consuming narrative television
Not every classic needs an origin story, but the British gangster film, Sexy Beast, is one of the rare ones that was perfectly set up for one. The original film was directed, surprisingly, by The Zone of Interest’s own Jonathan Glazer in 2000.
Sexy Beast follows a retired thief, Gal , who is happy to live in Spain with his wife for the rest of his years. His plans are blown up when his psychotic former crime associate, Don , knocks on his door, demanding he do another job. Kingsley, who was an Academy Award winner at that point, received an incredible reception for his portrayal of Don Logan. The film became a cult classic in the years that followed and ushered in a wave of British crime films. Because Sexy Beast takes place during Gal’s retirement, there is a lot of backstory to explore, which the Paramount+ prequel does. The series stars James McArdle and Emun Elliott as Gal and Don, respectively, showing their origins as criminal partners. Ian McShane’s original character, Teddy Bass, also makes an appearance, this time portrayed by Stephen Moyer of True Blood fame. Those who know Moyer as Vampire Bill may get a kick out of seeing him with his native accent, as well as reaching beyond the iconic HBO series. Sexy Beast has regrettably garnered a 32% on Rotten Tomatoes, despite all the efforts of placing the characters in the period-accurate time of 1992. Even so, the series should still be commended for commencing on an ambitious journey. ‘Sexy Beast’ Does a Decent Job of Filling Big Shoes The biggest leap in the Paramount+ series is attempting to measure up to the Oscar-nominated feature film that it gets its name from. Other prequels have had moderate success, but they have the benefit of not being underrated giants in the film industry. The Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, was a perfect decision since the new series came about only a few years after the demise of Game of Thrones, and it had the opportunity to correct a famously controversial finale. Sexy Beast is quite the opposite. Ben Kingsley made a masterclass performance, and Jonathan Glazer impressed in his directorial debut. This prequel wasn’t necessarily something that anyone was asking for, but even so, the attempt resulted in a decent crime caper. James McArdle was perfect casting for the charming Gal, and fans could see how the character ends up in Spain in retirement at the beginning of the original film. The series also improves upon elements of the film that weren’t the focus. Gal’s wife, DeeDee, has more of a role to play than in the film, this time portrayed by Sarah Greene, as viewers watch how the two characters fall in love. Even though viewers of the original film know that the two end up happily married later in life, it is a joy to see how they began. Sexy Beast also succeeds as an engaging crime period piece. The early ‘90s have been a point of nostalgia for many prequels of this kind, and watching a new crime story set at that age is an escapist joy. Though Sexy Beast could never truly hope to measure up to its namesake, the Paramount+ series is still a decent criminal romp to enjoy. Fans can watch all eight episodes streaming on Paramount+. Genres Crime, Drama Creator Michael Caleo Powered by Expand Collapse
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