Charlie (2004)

Malcolm Needs follows up his 2003 gangster flick SHOREDITCH with another foray into the London underworld of gangster dealings and double-crossings, but this time it's the 1960s. Protagonist Charlie Richardson is based on the notorious leader of the "Torture Gang," and is brought to life in this biopic in a remarkable turn by Luke Goss (BLADE II), who endows the legendary criminal with a mixture of cool restraint and startling brutality. Ruling South London throughout the decade, Charlie has gone down in history as one of the most powerful crime bosses London has ever seen, building his empire up from nothing by employing tactics of intimidation and violence. The film traces Charlie's rise from a crime ring run from a scrapyard to business dealings with Johannesburg's diamond-industry royalty, much of which was ostensibly accomplished through his propensity for stomach-churning violence. Eventually a threat to England's Prime Minister, Charlie was finally brought down in one of the most publicized events of the decade. Despite his storied ruthlessness he is portrayed here as a tragic victim of the system, giving his character intriguing depth and complexity and creating a unique gangster film imbued with the true grit of reality.