Kingsley breaks the mold in 'Sexy Beast'

In the opening scene of Jonathan Glazer's "Sexy Beast," Gary (or "Gal"), the movie's ad hoc hero, is almost flattened by a boulder that comes rolling down from the hills surrounding his Spanish villa and into his swimming pool. Understandably jarred by this occurrence, the paunchy retired gangster has no idea that a far more lethal boulder is simultaneously barreling towards him, in the form of Don Logan.\nLogan is played by Ben Kingsley -- yes, Ben "Gandhi" Kingsley, or Ben "Schindler's List" Kingsley, but in this film the great British actor gets to try on an entirely different set of acting trousers. Logan is a wiry, brutal enforcer who has come from London to coax Gal back for One Last Job (cf. this summer's "The Score"). But perhaps "coax" is the wrong word, for that implies a certain subtlety that Logan definitely lacks. Instead, he chooses to let his reputation precede him. He has a marvelous way of answering people's questions before they finish talking, as if he contemptuously anticipates what they are going to say before they know themselves. He is terrifying, and he is wonderful to watch. This sort of role is like the Home Run Derby for actors; Kingsley gets to shout and sneer and make the vein in his forehead pop out, but he also injects just the slightest touch of humanity into the character, as in a scene where he talks to himself in the mirror, reprimanding himself for giving too much away in an earlier conversation with Gal.\n"Sexy Beast" is a crime movie on the surface, but it's not really about crime -- it's about one man trying to impose his will on another. The sledgehammer subtlety of Guy Ritchie's recent live-action cartoons "Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch" may have set the standard for Brit caper flicks, but in "Beast," the caper almost comes as an afterthought. In fact, when the logistics of the job are revealed, it's not at all apparent why Gal's so-called "expertise" is necessary anyhow. But I'm willing to cede that point to the filmmaker's prerogative, because it serves to bring Winstone and Kingsley together in a remarkable battle of wills. Winstone might not immediately stand out next to Kingsley, but his performance is no less crucial and no less excellent -- the two characters are diametrically opposed. Even physically, Gal is soft and doughy while Logan's skin looks like it's stretched too tight over his body.\n"Sexy Beast" is Jonathan Glazer's first film -- he got his start in music videos, including a few memorable clips for Radiohead and the unforgettable promo for UNKLE's "Rabbit in Your Headlights." But like fellow video grad Spike Jonze, he doesn't get too visually flashy, relying on great performances and close-ups instead of flashy camera work or quick cutting. With the exception of the bloody but necessary climax, the physical violence is minimal. It's the emotional battle that's really violent.