Ben Kingsley rocks. He plays the upper level thug with a bit of a social and mental problem. He's odd, mean and determined. Sort of a rainman with all the wrath of the mob behind him.

Anyway, like a boulder in a swimming pool, he "rains" on the parade of a "retired" thug. Gal (the peaceful thug) tries to tell Kingsley "No." This is the best part of the film.

Of course, Gal is deeply in love with his wife and treats the local boy who helps at the mansion like his own son; and besides once having been a bad guy ... he seems pretty earnest now. So we like him and root for him as he goes face to face with Kingsley for a bout of "Yes you will" "No, I won't". This brilliant intercourse aside, the dialogue is crisp, sharp, fresh, and fun, and vulgar though non-brit's may have to keep both ears keenly open to brave the accent.

Of course there'd be no movie if Gal wasn't forced into the job. Though there's a bit of a twist there, the film becomes much less interesting at that point. I would have challenged the filmmakers to go the tougher route and actually find an interesting way for Gal to snake out of the job.

Anyway, there certainly was a great deal of Oscar talk for Kingsley ... all well deserved. And the rest of the bunch did a spankin' job as well.