The End reveals the bloody history and confessions of the cockney gangster.The End reveals the bloody history and confessions of the cockney gangster.The End reveals the bloody history and confessions of the cockney gangster.
- Awards
- 3 wins & 1 nomination
Photos
Storyline
Did you know
Featured review
A film in 2 halves?
I attended a special screening in the East End of London of the 70 min version of this very personal documentary, directed & produced by twin daughters of one of the (real) East End ex-gangsters.
The first half was the best using ECU/CU/MCU shots of the ex-gangsters as they catalogued their inter-gang violence, which match Godfather I for horror content. Understandably they could only talk about crimes for which they had been caught & tried, which makes you wonder what other worse things they may have done! It also used a very specific editing style, which helped build a threatening atmosphere to match the content - not quite confessions as they mostly seemed quite proud of their ultra-violent reputations.
The second half was less consistent, with a inter-mix of sub-themes: reflections on their early lives; how each handled 'retirement' to normal life; views on the East End now vs then; etc. Whilst many of the individual elements were interesting, I was left wondering where the film was going. The editing was also less stylised & consistent.
The screening was followed by a Q&A with the director & producer. It was quite poignant that they retain their E London accents though they now live in LA, where the film was financed & presumably edited. The documentary is intended to explain what led their father & his friends into such a violent life of crime, and to be a record of the old East End, which has changed beyond all recognition. In that I think they have succeeded.
Don't be put off seeing it because of my modest score - I would have scored the first half much higher & it is definitely worth a look.
The first half was the best using ECU/CU/MCU shots of the ex-gangsters as they catalogued their inter-gang violence, which match Godfather I for horror content. Understandably they could only talk about crimes for which they had been caught & tried, which makes you wonder what other worse things they may have done! It also used a very specific editing style, which helped build a threatening atmosphere to match the content - not quite confessions as they mostly seemed quite proud of their ultra-violent reputations.
The second half was less consistent, with a inter-mix of sub-themes: reflections on their early lives; how each handled 'retirement' to normal life; views on the East End now vs then; etc. Whilst many of the individual elements were interesting, I was left wondering where the film was going. The editing was also less stylised & consistent.
The screening was followed by a Q&A with the director & producer. It was quite poignant that they retain their E London accents though they now live in LA, where the film was financed & presumably edited. The documentary is intended to explain what led their father & his friends into such a violent life of crime, and to be a record of the old East End, which has changed beyond all recognition. In that I think they have succeeded.
Don't be put off seeing it because of my modest score - I would have scored the first half much higher & it is definitely worth a look.
helpful•39
- alasdair-macdougall-1
- Mar 11, 2009
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- The End: British Gangsters
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 21 minutes
- Color
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content