St Georges Day (film)

Plot

Infamous cousins Micky Mannock (Frank Harper) and Ray Collishaw (Craig Fairbrass) run London's top firm. But their supremacy in the capital's gangster underworld is threatened when they lose a drug shipment belonging to the Russian Mafia. The stakes could not be higher as they plan an audacious heist in Berlin. If successful, this could pay off their debts and set them up for life. Hiding out among an English super-firm gearing up for a massive showdown as the 3 Lions play Germany on St. George's Day, their gang have just one shot at the job. But with the cops and Russians on their trail, the last thing they need is a grass in the ranks.

Cast

Release and reception

The premiere of the film took place at the Odeon in Covent Garden, London on 29 August 2012. The premiere was attended by stars of the film, such as Frank Harper, Craig Fairbrass, Keeley Hazell and Tony Denham, and other actors, such as Bruce Payne. The general release of the film took place on 7 September 2012. The film has received mixed reviews. The film has a rating of four out of five on Time Out's London magazine website while The Daily Telegraph gave it a rating of two out of five and The Independent gave it a rating of one out of five. One reviewer stated that Harper just about pulls off the 'globe-hopping plot involving gangsters, drug deals, heists and more than a touch of double-crossing betrayal' and that whilst the film is 'sometimes predictable, it's never dull, with a fast-paced plot and a terrific cast'. Phelim O'Neill, who reviewed the film for The Guardian, stated that 'it's a low-budget film with enough ambition to take the action overseas, and it's nicely shot'. Joanna Ebuwa, who reviewed the film for Britflicks, stated that 'this is the best British gangster film since Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, it's thoroughly entertaining, funny, nostalgic and pokes fun at the police and the establishment. Harper has been studying from Guy Richie and is definitely one to watch'. Matthew Bond, who reviewed the film for the Daily Mail, stated that it is 'littered with f-words, guns and genre cliches' and speculated that although 'the film won’t make a serious impact at the cinema' as a 'celebration of the genre and with the surprising presence of Charles Dance as an underworld Mr Big, it could become a cult classic on DVD'. Likewise, John Parrot, who reviewed the film for The Film Review stated that 'St George's Day is so excessive, rude and genuinely Cockney that it may become a cult movie'. In contrast, Stephen Kelly of Total Film stated that 'not even the formidable presence of Charles Dance can salvage a script this woeful'.