Reviewed by Cassam Looch
Directed by Donal MacIntyre | UK Certification 15
Runtime 98 minutes | UK recommended retail £15.99
Documentary filmmaker Donal MacIntyre brings his quizzical ways to infamous Mancunian gangster Dominic Noonan. More a criminal with charm than the stereotypical high-flying American Soprano, Noonan and his "family" have a fearsome reputation, and one which quickly draws the filmmaker in. The observations are clinical and frank; however, MacIntyre never really explores them in sufficient depth. This may be due to his television background, but given that this was released on the big screen, the documentary falls short when compared to the recent output from Hollywood. That said, the fact that the subject is "very British" means that he seems more familiar, perhaps frighteningly so.
The film’s most interesting element was the presentation of a criminal class. Those who aren’t forced into a life of crime by environment or financial circumstances, but instead somehow belong in it. Whilst never glamorising it, the film does show the allure of such an idea, embodied by Noonan, and ends up posing some interesting questions. The deliberately grainy feel to the visualisation also shows an attempt to for go the TV roots of the filmmaker as we search for a cinematic theme. The search is ultimately fruitless, although MacIntyre does make some startling discoveries along the way that put pay to many stereotypes.
The techniques used are more Michael Parkinson than Jonathon Ross, which is probably understandable given the nature of the subject, but you still feel that with the fillip of this unprecedented access someone else have done more. Without a doubt the subject matter makes the film, and in no small measure the director must at least take some credit for having the balls to go through with his idea. Mildly incisive, and surprisingly entertaining given its duration the DVD release might just be the best way to watch this film.
EXTRAS None