GANGSTER MOVIES. “Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.” / “A New Breed of Criminal.” / “A Gang Story.”

“Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man” (2026, Netflix) British crime drama. Set during World War II in 1940, the story follows an exiled Tommy Shelby as he is pulled back to a bombed-out Birmingham to thwart a Nazi plot to collapse the British economy using counterfeit money. 


       Stars Cillian Murphy, Sophie Rundle, Stephen Graham, Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, and Barry Keoghan. 

       The production design is enthralling, the script is fleshed-out tight, the sound editing is gripping, and ensemble performance, A-1. But if you saw all six seasons of “Peaky Blinders,” this immortal man movie denouement is simply the end of the TV series. A fitting finale. Done. No more prequels or sequels or spinoffs, please! 🎥💻📽


“A New Breed of Criminal” (2023, Prime Amazon) British crime drama. Inspired by a true story, the 87-minute film follows the lives of the infamous Sayers brothers as they rise from a troubled childhood in Newcastle's West End to the top of the criminal underworld. 



       The Sayers family is a notorious, organized crime dynasty based in Tyneside, Newcastle, UK, led notably by brothers John Henry Sayers and Stephen Sayers. For decades, the family has been linked to armed robberies, tax evasion, gang feuds, and violence.

       Be warned: The film is rated 18 for themes of strong bloody violence, domestic abuse, and very strong language. 

       But then, the violence etcetera here isn't really so big a deal. I mean, they are not executed with panache and “elegance” as in Martin Scorsese's movies, and the foul language isn't delivered as an “entertaining” taunt the way Joe Pesci does. Still, “A New Breed…” is tame. 

The real-life Sayers family was heavily involved in the project. You know what I"m saying. 

       Still though, I don't want to say this movie sucked. Nope. Maybe a -B rate? Regardless of flaws in story continuity and editing, that is. 🎥💻📽


“A Gang Story” (2011, Tubi) French drama. Inspired by a real-life person or the Gang des Lyonnais, a gang responsible for numerous armed robberies in the 1970s. 



       This movie is a heavily dramatized adaptation of the autobiography of Edmond "Momon" Vidal, the real-life leader of the infamous "Gang of Lyon" (Gang des Lyonnais). Plus references to Michel Neyret, a former police chief of staff, who was indicted in 2011 for corruption and various offences. 

       I don’t have any complaints with Olivier Marchal's direction. Tight pacing, crisp editing, dramatic tension and all. High-five as well to the performance by Gerard Lanvin (as Momon) and the great Tcheky Karyo as longtime friend and partner in crime Serge Suttel. 

       But the toned-down (per crime guilt) and soap operatic depiction of Momon went beyond “dramatized adaptation” limits, I think. A moralizing excuse. But then this movie was based on Mr Vidal's bio so that'd be it. 🎥💻📽


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