Don't Let Facts Ruin a Good Story

Rating: 7/10 (30 October 2015)

There must be loads of myths about the Krays so I can't go into what's true and what isn't because I don't know and it doesn't matter. All I do know is that I'm glad I didn't know them. For some of us who were alive in the 1960's the name still evokes secondary anxiety, mystery and repulsion, fuelled by newspaper headlines at the time and stories that came out later. The film glamorises them as on the one hand handsome and charismatic and on the other as bullies and racketeers who ruled those who simply wanted a peaceful existence. Thugs who got lucky or cockney princes?
The film starts at a point when their life of crime is already a success and is going to get bigger and better. The story of Frances (Shea)is for me a new insight and might explain some of Reginald Kray's (and indeed Ronald's)actions.
The setting is nicely evocative of the times, a big plus for me. The script at times is a bit Dick Van Dyke, and as another reviewer said, the violence is cartoonish (think maybe Kingsman church scene on a smaller scale) but it's not meant to be a documentary so that doesn't matter either. If you like a bit of history, a bit of gangster movie, a bit of love interest and a bit of humour - you're in luck.
I saw the film twice and recommend it.