Predrag "Essex Boys" is a 1999 "gangster" film that takes us into the gritty, dangerous domain of Essex's drug-dealing underworld. The story is narrated in part by a lad named Billy, a lowly (but fairly quick-witted) driver for the self-important kingpins, and though we don't see everything from Billy's vantage point, it is an effective and engaging means of presenting the story. Though the characters and the story are pure fiction, the inspiration for the film came from the murder of three suspected drug dealers whose bodies were found in a Range Rover in Essex in 1995. The story created around this real-life event is highly imaginative, plausible, gripping, and suspenseful. Death and imprisonment lurk in the shadows, and the 'firm' are certainly ruthless and reckless, but in "Essex Boys", the 'firm' never appear quite as menacing as the filmmakers would like. Larry Lamb riding round in a Merc' smoking a cigar accompanied by a long haired Michael McKell and a scenery chewing Sean Bean just doesn't seem true to the realities of top (ok, upper middle) level criminality. But then, most of us wouldn't really know.The plot revolves around double crossings and drug deals gone wrong, with some romantic intrigue (Alex Kingston on mesmeric form) thrown in for good measure. This is all well and good, if you can follow the plot, but the film's main strengths are - in order of successful execution - atmosphere and acting. This is a world of strip light underpasses flashing by in the early hours, of rendezvous by the estuarine bridge, in the shadow of the oil refinery. Essex has never looked so bleak. Bean, Kingston, Creed miles etc. certainly give it their all, and the acting is strong and committed. Bean's accent is not perfect, but this doesn't detract from the overall success of the film. This is a gritty, violent film that doesn't hold back any punches in its depiction of the drug underworld. It's a good story with a very satisfying ending. It's a first-rate production and is consummately acted by all involved. Overall rating: 7 out of 10.

zardoz-13 This abrasive British gangster movie set in Essex, a county due east of London, thrives on double-crosses galore. None of the underworld characters are role models, much less noble individuals, and they live to ascend to the top of their rackets over anybody's dead body. No, the English accents are not thatthick, but you may find it difficult to make it through this thoroughly unsavory crime thriller. Everybody is prepared to kill, kill, kill and the rugged life of British mobsters is short-lived. Incidentally, the British police loiter on the edges of the action. Ostensibly, the story is told by an enterprising but harmless cabdriver named Billy Reynolds (Charlie Creed-Miles) who gets mixed with with ex-convicts Jason Locke (Sean Bean of "GoldenEye") and John Dyke (Tom Wilkinson of "Rush Hour") who operate in the cutthroat narcotics smuggling business. They specialize in Ecstacy, or what they refer to as 'spotted pills' and a bad shipment threatens to undo the partnership between Locke and Dyke. Locke mistreats his wife, Lisa Locke (Alex Kingston of NBC-TV's "ER")with casual abandon and openly has sex with any tart to whom he takes a fancy. When she catches him giving it to another woman, she goes ballistic and howls about how she maintained her loyality to him by abstaining from sex during the five years he spent in prison. He reminds her that he does as it likes and them publicly humiliates her and sends her groveling to her knees in front of everybody. As we learn later on, Lisa is a woman not to be scorned.Director Terry Winsor and scenarist Jeff Pope based this 102-minute, R-rated thriller on the notorious Rettendon Range Rover Murders," where authorities discovered three gangsters gunned down and left for dead shot in a Range Rover during one snowy evening. Billy proves his worth as a driver and Dyke loans him to loose cannon hood Jason Locke who has no qualms about throwing people out of windows or strangling uncooperative girls that refuse to let him have his way with them. Action develops gradually with less characters winning in the end over the crazed Locke. Winsor handles things nicely enough and the ending is truly a revelation along with Alex Kingston's role as Locke's wife. Not as charismatic as "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels" or for that matter any of the other Guy Ritchie crime melodramas. Humor is singularly lacking in this no-nonsense outing. The moral is obvious: do not associate with shady characters who use guns to settle their arguments and are forever paranoid about witnesses to the massacres they have seen.

Angelus2 This shows the life of three gangsters through the eyes of their driver as they meet their untimely death.The film is a British gangster classic and captures the hard and gritty life of the Essex drug gangs, the film captures Jason Locke an ex-con who has come out of prison ready to start up his empire. The characters lack depth and seem to only love violence and drugs, then again thats all gangsters; the shoot out in the Land Rover however was an eye opener and kept me watching...There are odd appearances from veteran British actors every now and then which keep the film going....All in a ll a violent gangster movie...nothing more.

psp777 Gripping - often complicated (so watch it twice) - true (fact) based UK roots driven thriller, with all the hallmarks of the UK (Southend) 'Urban Myths' for enjoyment AND the realities of Essex Boys & Gangsters in contemporary UK - yep, Southend have a few nights out. Gutsy, violent, nasty paybacks, pill-popping, surprising, brilliant acting (considering Bean is in it) - its one hell of 'sexy' flick!Everything is happening so fast at times, you really need to do a mental rewind during the less demanding scenes - Essex Boys allows you to meet some of the more 'curious' as well as stereotypical 'known' type villains - don't let a fur coat fool you - on a man or woman! For our international friends, bear in mind that Southend is a place where shooting is not just reserved for photographers.(In REAL LIFE the shootings of Patrick Tate, Anthony Tucker and Craig Rolfe were carried out by Michael Steele and Jack Wholmes) (1995) who were played convincingly by Tom Wilkinson and Peter Chase; Steele is almost amphibious on those marshes!Loads of local scenes to goggle at - something for everyone - in a weird way it - I guess it depends who and where you are!New to the country? It Could act as a 'Public Information Film' for the curious! lol - ENJOY!The pace is slowed occasionally and reviewed with a narrative by a young Charlie Creed-Miles - who plays 'Billy Whizz' and his description - without which, you may be left - well maybe just left... and remember - its dark out there.***MUSIC*** The soundtrack often gives a manic pace in exactly the right places - and its carefully chosen for the 'era' of the 'pill-popping' (e) house - type stuff around then. It really DOES add to the film; the music that is ;)I'm probably not alone at being surprised at the groans of other comments referring to the 'cheap' or 'no class' touch to the film - sure there's no Spectacular Hollywood effects, but the pathos of the acting dispenses with the need for a multi million budget. OK, it only grossed just over 100k the opening weekend - but what the heck? - it a pretty off the wall gritty EXCITING Crime Thriller, and pacey film; Absolute Cult Value in years to come.I'm giving it a NINE (9) coz as a reviewer, it really floated MY boat!Look out for it on ITV4 during April 06 (FREEVIEW!) as well as the now FILM4 (Freeview) which it will no doubt pop up on soon.