Did Michael Caine ever make an 'X' rated film? Surprisingly, the answer is Yes. Made in an era when respected films like Midnight Cowboy and A Clockwork Orange received the 'X' rating, Get Carter had enough violence and nudity to qualify. Of course, standards have changed over the past thirty years, and the film is now rated 'R'.

Some consider Get Carter to be Michael Caine's best film. But he has made several films that are better, including Alfie, Sleuth, and the underrated The Wrong Box. The Man Who Would Be King and Hannah and Her Sisters are both about equals with Get Carter.

The film is set in Newcastle, England. Carter (Michael Caine) is a hardened career criminal who learns that his brother has been murdered by fellow gangsters. Carter begins asking questions, to find those responsible, uncovering a cesspool of corruption that has even tainted his innocent young niece (Petra Markham). With Carter out of control, a contract is put on his life.

There's something uncomfortable about the film. The director encourages us to cheer for Carter as he gets revenge on all the hoods and flunkies that set up his family. Some of these crooks seem well deserving of Carter's wrath. Others you feel sorry for, as the punishment seems worse than the crime. Carter's cynical use of women is hardly refreshing, as is his lack of reflection. Could it be that his own criminal career has contributed to the death of his brother? Meanwhile, Carter's compassion for his attractive, blank-faced niece seems more than paternal.

But it is true that director Mike Hodges, making his feature debut, has made a good film. The casting is very good, with Caine perfect as the cold but still cool vengeful hitman. John Osborne, author of the play "Look Back in Anger" and screenwriter for Tom Jones (1963), has a rare acting gig as the refined, unflappable cardsharp Kinnear. Ian Hendry received the film's only British Academy Award nomination for his role as Kinnear's dedicated, crude enforcer. Denea Wilde has a great cameo as a jaded nightclub singer.

There's plenty of dry black humor mixed in, along with intense bursts of violence and nudity. The film has the hard, unromantic style common to both British and American films of that year (The French Connection, A Clockwork Orange, The Straw Dogs, Panic in Needle Park, 10 Rillington Place). Newcastle is depicted as a working class town consisting of drab tenements, alleys, and pubs.

Sylvester Stallone starred in a remake last year, which had Michael Caine cast in the supporting role of Brumby. Caine got to be on the other side of his most famous line from the original film, "You're a big man, but you're in bad shape. With me, it's a full time job". The remake drew poor reviews, and did poorly at the box office. (66/100)


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age