source: 44 Inch Chest

Such a bad film... it is built up in writing as being witty and revenge filled, in actual fact it is neither. The only bit of action that happened was a woman getting punched in the face. The plot drifts from daydream to reality, neither of which are remotely entertaining, and ends in the biggest of all anti-climax. If you like watching a group of aged men sit down, swear and talk about things which they might do (but never actually do), then watch this film. If you prefer watching a film that is entertaining, do not watch this. Rubbish

I did not enjoy this film in the slightest. I was expecting a little bit of action and or violence, and got none. What I did get is a bunch of old men sitting around a warehouse for an hour and a half trying to talk hard and failing. They swear constantly and try to talk like scary London criminals, but it's just embarrassing. There are no redeeming events in the plot and all in all this is just a bad film. The ending is a complete anti-climax, where nothing really happens. I expected better from the likes of Ray Winstone and John Hurt. If you like listening to a bunch of old men swear, drink whiskey and try and talk dangerous, then watch this film. If you have better things to do then don't bother, especially if you're a Ray Winstone fan.

It is apparent that you will either love or loathe this film. Unfortunately I fall into the later category as I could not gleam any point to the story. In essence the principal character's relationship with his partner fails because of her sexual relationship with another. Because of his past and his associates he is able to exact a violent physical revenge on the new lover which is everyone's principal reaction, realising the futility of this action in restoring his relationship he does nothing. The lover for his part learns the effect his actions have caused. That's it, hardly educating. The main feature of the film is continuous swearing which although typical really adds nothing and becomes quite tedious after a few minutes. We are treated to a flashback of how one character won £40,600 last night, why? Any relevance to the plot? In reality of course these low life individuals would have beat the life out of the lover and felt quite good about it. Sorry I can't manage to intellectualise a boring tale punctuated by obscenities inter dispersed with shots of railway arches - highlight as they were! Or any of the occasional snippets of music which again seemed to bear no relevance. The 2 points were for the lighting and cinematography!

If you are looking for a gangster film this ain't it. Perhaps this is why the poor reviews as a result of disappointed viewers expecting another 'Sexy Beast' or 'Reservoir Dogs'. This film is about marriage and what happens to a man on seeing everything he lives for fall apart. The 'gangster' setting is a device that allows the issues and emotions to be addressed in their full harshness and the cast handle it extremely well. Colin Diamond (Winstone) displays how strength & purpose is gained from the marriage bond and how vulnerable it can leave you. This is very well contrasted by Merediths (McShane) refusal to be tied and how it leaves him invulnerable but also somehow inhuman. The other members of the gang also serve to reflect aspects of attachment to another person. Ray Winstone gives the lead character violent/twisting/agonising emotional turmoil in the way that only he and DeNiro can do. If this was Winstones first film he could easily win awards, unfortunately for him the public has come to expect to see stuff like this from him. The other main actors also give excellent performances. This film must be viewed in its own light, if you expect it to be a gangster film or a love story you will be disappointed. Take it as it is and it is well worth watching. It is certainly well written, acted and produced, and examines a subject familiar to most of us. However, it still only feels like a 'little' film and will not stay with me so I can only give it an 8.

I saw the film last night and have been puzzling over it ever since. The homosexual references in the film are many and I think I can detect the 'message'. The hard man who can't find the spirit for revenge; the old man who lacks respect from others in his old age; the lover who can't defend his love; the wife who can't be faithful to the man who truly loves her and so forth. Victor Mature and Hedi Lamarr in the spliced-in clip from 'Samson' - an anti-feminist blast if ever I've seen one. The character who comes out best is the one played by Iain McShane. He is unremittingly witty, has a functional attitude to sex yet has an eye for beauty. In the end, the old man agrees to accompany him to the Clayton (a gay club)and therefore seems to be getting to grips with his superannuated homophobia. The gangster's conversion through love gives rise to a new kind of world where other characters can find their true selves. What else could explain the grafting of the wife's head on to the old man's body, for instance? As a non-homophobic heterosexual male, I'd have appreciated a lot more up-front honesty about the film's themes. I think I've just seen 'Brokeback Mountain Meets No Country for Old Men' but with British cultural references.

It's so simple, but just fantastic. Dump of a warehouse, cheated husband,5 faithful friends( thugs or thugs wannabe's), and funny, brilliantly profane, smart script and actors to die for.If you are easily offended with cussing( and I never understood the nation appalled with word f..k, and in the same time in exaltation with violence in their favorite sports and news), just miss this movie. It just isn't for you and your ilk. This is a treatise on machismo and marriage and friendship, and it shows why man are the weaker sex. After all the bluster and violence, what stays is bottomless sadness. This is not "Sexy Beast", it is much better and deeper. Just fantastic...It just proves my point that I've been informed that my review contains a prohibited word. If I owned 20 guns and rifles, nobody would care. But a word that describes a common sexual practice scares everybody.

Not knowing much about the film beforehand, I was a little apprehensive about watching this, thinking it was going to be another 'gangster' film (having seen the cast list). I was very wrong, and surprised by the intelligence of the film. People who largely enjoy "bubblegum movies" (all flavour and no substance) will probably be bored and dislike the movie, but viewers who think between the lines will hopefully see the intelligence of the film and the excellent acting and scenes between the group of characters. I saw the film as a trip into someones nervous breakdown and inner battle with his conscience. ***possible spoilers*** The wife of the lead character (Ray Winstone) has cheated on him and the film is centered around his decision to seek revenge or not. It becomes clear that he has a tenuous grip on reality as he explores his conscience and decides the fate of the french lover his wife cheated with. To summarise, an excellent film, strong performances from the cast, a well written script, and a thought provoking concept.

When i heard that Louis Mellis and David Scinto , the writers of one of my all time favourite films - Sexy Beast - were teaming up again to write the script to a film starring Ray Winstone and Ian McShane , i couldn't wait for it to come out. It seems to have been ages in the making but finally i got around to seeing it today on it's UK release and while it's no "Sexy Beast" it's the best movie i have seen so far in 2010. Colin Diamond is in agony, shattered by the bombshell of his wife's infidelity with a young French waiter. His motley crew of friends - Old Man Peanut , Meredith , Archie , and Mal - kidnap Loverboy , and assemble a kangaroo court so that Colin can restore his manhood with revenge. A very bumpy night ensues for Loverboy whose life is at stake as Colin wrestles with heartbreak, anger, madness, love and gargantuan self-pity. Within five minutes of the opening of 44 inch Chest , it is quite obvious you are watching a movie written by the same people as Sexy Beast . The language is that of Don Logan yet Logan is nowhere to be seen . This time we have fantastic characters such as "Old Man Peanut" , played brilliantly by John Hurt and Archie played by "Tom Wilkinson". This in not a gangster movie , although the people we see are hardly squeaky clean. it's more a film about retribution , betrayal , forgiveness and hurt and no one shows those emotions better than Ray Winstone . He is quite superb as Colin Diamond and his performance is arguable his best to date. 44 inch Chest might not appeal to everyone , especially if you are offended by extreme language , but i have got to say , this was right up my street. Rumour has it that writers Louis Mellis and David Scinto have fallen out with each other and do not even speak and if that is the case it will be a tragic loss the British movie scene , so please guys , sort it out and keep scripts like this coming!

This film was truthfully shocking! Colin's (Ray Winstone) wife cheats on him... they lock the french guy (who doesn't speak one word in the film) she cheated on her husband with in a wardrobe in a derelict house, that has electricity?!.. they then talk to the wardrobe- well swear at it, using stupid quotes, trying far too hard to be classic lines and appear as good as the Snatch, Fightclub or Lock Stock storyline! then they go on and let him out of the wardrobe... swear at him.. then let him go.. film over! The word C**t was excessively used.. annoyed me a lot! And they just seemed like old guys, bar one trying to be gangsters! so so disappointing! If you like watching a film about nothing, where nothing happens.. this is well worth watching!