Sexy Beast

This week the podcast dives into Sexy Beast, the 2000 black comedy crime film directed by Jonathan Glazer (his feature debut) and written by Louis Mellis and David Scinto.

Starring Ray Winstone, Ben Kingsley, and Ian McShane, it follows retired safecracker Gal Dove, whose peaceful Spanish exile is shattered by the arrival of a terrifyingly unhinged gangster demanding one last job in London.

The Scotsman loves this one. The dialogue is razor sharp, and he’s fully in his Cockney element. The Aussie doesn’t stand a chance.

There’s a Cockney quiz. There’s a dramatic reading of the film’s dialogue. There’s a running tally of how many times the Scotsman, channeling Ben Kingsley, calls the Aussie “his chubby little friend.” It’s relentless.

The return of the fruit platter — because they watched it together — becomes comedy gold in itself. The Aussie makes the bold claim that the Scotsman has never stepped foot inside Subway. Tensions rise.

Chas & Dave’s Snooker Loopy gets airtime. Any mention of snooker means Jeremy appears again. Singing follows. Naturally.

Cockney rhyming slang flies around: “trouble and strife,” “dog and bone,” “Barnet Fair,” “butcher’s hook,” and “Adam and Eve” all make their way into full sentences.

The Scotsman draws links to the unseen menace in Jaws and Duel, and even the word “Don” sends the studio into hysterics.

They discuss the film’s Foley artistry, indulge in a bit of scene acting, and revel in just how controlled and theatrical Kingsley’s performance is.

A trivia nugget surfaces: Ben Kingsley won the 1985 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for The Words of Gandhi, following his Oscar-winning role in Gandhi. A fact delivered with surprising reverence before things descend again.

Rohan Reminisces? Chaos. He chooses 2002 instead of 2000. Basic calendar error. He recovers slightly by discussing the hottest day of the year but still manages what might be the biggest faux pas of the season. A generous 7/10 this week.

If you have to rent this film, it’s worth every cent. The dialogue alone is admission price.

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