It's the role that made Bob Hoskins' career, which lives through a day of mayhem as his gangster world crumbles down around him. This tough thriller might have been made on a very tight budget, but it was shot with style, and it polishes up beautifully for a DVD release that Bob's cockney gangster character would undoubtedly have described as "classy".

TECHNICAL FEATURES

Picture A massively popular hit for the then young video industry in the UK, the tape releases of this film always suffered from a grainy pan and scan presentation that didn't do the film any favours at all. The new transfer for this DVD is a massive improvement with far better levels of clarity.

Sound After only ever experiencing this film in flat mono, the rather vigorous 5.1 presentation of the music score takes some getting used to. You may find yourself turning the rear speakers down a bit, but otherwise there's a lot to like about this new pumped-up rendition of what is often an aggressive score.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Audio Commentary Director John Mackenzie's opening comment is about how the music takes him back 20 years. It literally does and he has no problem dredging up everything you might have hoped to learn about the movie. Interestingly, he reveals how he'd shot an elaborate opening sequence, which he then decided not to use. Presumably it's lost because it's not on the DVD, although Mackenzie describes it in detail. One striking point he does make is about the locations used in the film, and how most of them are now long gone, replaced with the shiny towers of the Canary Wharf development.

Press Interview Richard Jobson interviews John Mackenzie and Bob Hoskins in front of an audience at the NFT. As it turns out, Bob was in Mackenzie's sights early on, despite his limited film career at that point. The project was originally entitled "The Paddy Factor", and contrary to stories otherwise, Mackenzie confirms that the film was never planned as a TV project. Bob's most vivid memory seems to come from working with the real gangsters who appeared in the film. They quietly assured him that he didn't have to shout so much, an instruction he quickly observed!

Additional Special Features It's not often we highlight the animated menus on DVDs, but they're worth mentioning on this disc for their superior design. Apart from a stills gallery, the rest of the extra features are text-based. These include cast and crew biographies, film notes, and a very handy guide to all the slang used in the movie. As with any typical DVD release, there is of course a trailer too.

Region: 2
Chapters: 24
Ratio: 1.85:1 (anamorphic)
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 (stereo)
Technical Features: Scene selection, and animated menus.

This DVD was reviewed on a JVC XV-S57 DVD player.