A_Different_Drummer First and foremost (this written in 2017) the film would be a shocker to any millennial who sees Caine mainly as the crying butler in Batman.The film was done at the peak of Caine's career, a time when he had proved he could play anything from a sex god (Alfie) to a spy (Harry Palmer.) In many ways this film combines the two into one.Add to the mix the grittiness of London in the 70s, the emergence of "gangster swag," the treatment of women in general (the words "politically correct" did not exist then) and the outrageously cynical/nihilistic ending -- and you have a timeless classic.If you want to go deeper, and see the film as a prophetic vision of Britain in the 21st century, you can.And for the most fun of all you can compare and contrast to the Stallone version, with its massive rewrites.Stallone did his version at a point in his career where -- unlike Caine -- he knew he had the clock working against him and he desperately needed properties to show his own brand of swag. In the later version, there is more action, less loving, and Stallone does indeed bring to the party his own unique style of physical menace, simply by being in the frame.But this is the version that film buffs of the future will cherish.

zardoz-13 Michael Caine plays the most despicable character of his entire career in freshman director Mike Hodges' "Get Carter," a violent, cynical, sex-laden crime melodrama that wallows in the unsavory British underworld. As the eponymous character, the "Alfie" star is an armed and dangerous torpedo in the London crime world. Unfortunately, he has learned that his brother Frank has been killed up north in Jack Carter's hometown, and he plans to get to the bottom of the scummy barrel and learn who murdered his brother. Along the way, our fair-haired but savage hero discovers that his brother's daughter has been recruited for a short porno movie. If Carter had it in for the Newcastle mob when he arrived to unravel the mystery of his brother's demise, he goes totally ballistic after he watches the porno. Our stalwart protagonist holds off the Northern mob until they hire a long-range sniper who eliminates our hero with a bullet to the head. By the time that Jack Carter sprawls dead in the shore, he has shattered the Newcastle mob. Basically, "Get Carter" is a crime versus crime saga, with the standard-issue "crime doesn't pay" message. Caine is electrifying as London gangster on the rampage. Hodges directs this gritty thriller with verve and ingenuity. The way that Hodges and "Italian Job" editor John Trumper cross-cut a sex scene between Carter and a woman with the woman driving a gear-shifting car is nothing short of brilliant. The scene where Carter ushers two rival thugs off his premises with a double-barreled shotgun and nary a stitch on is fantastic. The scene where Carter stashes Glenda in the trunk of her Sunbeam sports car and cruises around town gets the most horrifying payoff when those rival thugs push the car into the river. Of course, Glenda is still inside the trunk. "Get Carter" qualifies as an unforgettable British gangster movie.

paulg-67221 This film is an excellent of British cinema, let alone British gangster cinema. This film is about Jack Carter (Michael Caine), a mob enforcer from London who goes to Newcastle to attend his brother Frank's funeral. While there, he suspects that Frank's death was an assassination and seeks the truth.The main strengths of this film are its gritty realism and Caine's performance. The violence is brutal (as it should be, violence is never pleasant). The location of Newcastle is an unpleasant place to be, the perfect breeding ground for criminals. This also adds to the aesthetic of the film, its not attempting to glamorise the gangster lifestyle like Scorsese's films do (nothing against this movies - they're still great). Caine's character is angry throughout the film (and rightly so - his brother died). But in the scene when he realises why his brother was killed was well done. In this scene he watches a scene from a pornographic movie and discovers his niece was in it. Caine's performance in this scene is good: he went from happiness to sadness to anger in a short space of time.The ending is good, after getting his revenge Carter is killed by an assassin. The ending was to show Carter's actions were not justified and that violence only leads to more violence.While looking through the reviews here, someone criticised that this movie did not focus on the inner workings of the gangs. I think this is justifiable for two reasons. First, this film is a revenge story. Second, it is also Carter's story. Carter works for the London mob not the Newcastle mob. Gangster films that show the inner workings of gangs do so because they're told from the perspective of someone from the inside. Carter is an outsider. Another thing that is criticised is the lack of character development. This is true. The characters aren't very deep, but they don't need to be, their motivation is clear. The reason I gave this movie an 8/10 is because it's rough around the edges and is a little dated. This is understandable considering it was the director's first film as well as being low budget. I would still recommend the film.

SnoopyStyle London gangster Jack Carter (Michael Caine) goes to Newcastle for his brother's funeral and investigate his death. He suspects foul-play and dives into the Newcastle underworld. His brother leaves behind his daughter Doreen Carter and mistress Margaret. He tracks down crime boss Cyril Kinnear where he also meets Glenda. Meanwhile his boss Fletchers back in London sends henchmen to Newcastle to Get Carter back. He's having an affair with his other boss Gerald's girlfriend Anna. He is given businessman Brumby's name but Cliff Brumby points the finger at Kinnear. He finds a porno where Doreen is pushed into joining.There are just so many characters coming in and out of the story. It's a bit confusing and muddies up the tension. Many movies of that era don't always keep things clear. Michael Caine is terrific and super cool. The violence is sudden and brutal. A simpler plot would have allowed the audience to concentrate on the film's strength which is Caine and his vicious character. I can certainly see why this is a cult classic for many gangster movie enthusiasts.