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      The Krays

      R 1990 1 hr. 59 min. Crime Drama Biography List
      82% 17 Reviews Tomatometer 80% 5,000+ Ratings Audience Score Twins Ronnie (Gary Kemp) and Reggie Kray (Martin Kemp) are raised in east London, under the influence of their hateful but doting mother, Violet (Billie Whitelaw). As they grow up, Ronnie's violent nature takes over, and Reggie follows his brother's lead. The two become notorious crime lords who rule over the East End club scene. But at the height of their power, the brothers veer into different lives, giving the older crime bosses a chance to reclaim what the Kray twins took from them. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      Andrew H H Good film, spoilt by Gary Kemp's hammy, amateur performance. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Violent and insightful regarding a certain way of life during a certain period of time. They don't know you, but you know them. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Im forget this movie... Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Based on the infamous 1960s east-end Kray twins. The deadpan portrayal of brothers who held a stature of significance. A dated play of life's reality resonating through the experience of each character. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Brought up in London's East End in the 1930s, Ronald (Gary Kemp) and Reginald Kray (Martin Kemp) are raised in the resentful world of their doting mother Violet Kray (Billie Whitelaw), who is hateful of her lot in life and bitter at the control men have in running the world. The twins react to each other almost telepathically and they take out their anger by clogging the nose of their sleeping father (Alfred Lynch), pushing around fellow schoolboys, and even beating each other to pulp at a boxing match. When her mother chastises them for their fight in a fairground boxing ring, the twins veer into the London underworld in the 60s. In their self-contained world of Us-Against-Them, the Krays rapidly rise to the height of power, first taking over the territory of a petty mobster by violent means and then putting together an underworld empire of posh clubs, cars, and fancy suits. But at the height of their fame, the twins begin to break from each other. Reginald falls in love with Frances (Kate Hardie), while Ronald gets involved in a homosexual relationship with one of his underlings. Ronald, in a jealous rage over Frances stealing his brother away from him, becomes even more brutal in his crimes and while the brothers' backs are turned, a group of older mobsters challenge the Krays' authority, invoking a horrible bloodbath that effects not only the two brothers but Frances and Violet as well... I remember when "The Krays" came out, but I never saw it back then. The film is for sure a so so production, with the problem of being uneven when it comes to the acting, the scene structure, the editing and the violence doesn´t feel that threatening as it should. You don´t root for the main characters, the Kray twins, nor for somebody else in the film. Gary and Martin Kemp are not that convincing as Ronald and Reginald, yes some scenes stand out, but it´s not enough. The film miss the tension and dramatic set up you´d expect from a gangster film. Director Peter Medak has also used a slower pace which is not helping the film. I would recommend you to see "Legend" from 2015 with Tom Hardy as both Ronald and Reginald instead, despite the fact that I haven´t seen it yet myself. Can only be better than "The Krays". Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Not altogether that factually accurate, this is still a pretty good, entertaining film, led by two quite solid performances from Gary and Martin Kemp. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

      View All (17) Critics Reviews
      Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: B Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times The movie is not simply a catalog of stabbings, garrotings and bloodletting. It goes deeper than into the twisted pathology of twins whose faces would light up with joy when their mom told them they looked just like proper gentlemen. Rated: 3.5/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Entertainment Weekly Rated: B Jun 1, 1990 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com ...walks a fine line between commentary and exploitation... Rated: 3/5 Jun 17, 2021 Full Review Karl Soehnlein OutWeek Though cinematically accomplished and containing strong performances by British theatrical heroine Whiielaw and most of the female cast, The Krays remains, for all its pop psychoanalysis, resolutely superficial. May 20, 2020 Full Review Victor Stiff Goomba Stomp Medak stuffs [The Krays] with all of the brawling, bloodshed and wise guy grandiosity that a fan could want in a gangster flick. Mar 30, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Twins Ronnie (Gary Kemp) and Reggie Kray (Martin Kemp) are raised in east London, under the influence of their hateful but doting mother, Violet (Billie Whitelaw). As they grow up, Ronnie's violent nature takes over, and Reggie follows his brother's lead. The two become notorious crime lords who rule over the East End club scene. But at the height of their power, the brothers veer into different lives, giving the older crime bosses a chance to reclaim what the Kray twins took from them.
      Director
      Peter Medak
      Production Co
      Fugitive TV Productions, Parkfield Entertainment
      Rating
      R
      Genre
      Crime, Drama, Biography
      Original Language
      English (United Kingdom)
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Sep 26, 2018
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $1.6M
      Sound Mix
      Stereo, Surround