Near perfection to the last detail is accorded to THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN. Unfortunately for the perpetrators of the cinematic crime, the same "near perfection" is what does them in. Hawkins is so angry at having been mandatorily retired by the British army that he decides to put his
service experience to devious use by masterminding a huge bank robbery. He enlists a group of his old buddies in his plan and promises that each will receive a share of the million-pound heist. Every painstaking phase of the operation, plus the psyches of the miscreants, is shown in a fascinating,
even humorous fashion. We, the audience, grow to like these guys and want them to succeed. When the moment of the robbery arrives, the men jump into action with military precision and use all of their expertise to make it a success. Gas masks, smoke bombs, radio jamming--the lot--are utilized, and
they get away with it. However, we've all learned that "crime doesn't pay," and the heist is uncovered when Coote, a drunken pal of Hawkins, arrives unexpectedly. Through his stupidity, the authorities are led to the den of thieves where the crooks are nabbed before they can divvy up the cash.
THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN starts a bit slow as the plot is unraveled but then begins to move like lightning. The film might have been played straight for thrills and intrigue, but the screenplay (by Forbes, who also plays the role of Porthill) and the direction are lighthearted, providing each
characterization with some comedic quirk that makes it distinctive from the others. leave a comment
