Get Carter (1971)

The critic calls it arguably the best British gangster movie ever made, praising its brutal, bleak mood and unflinching revenge tale that never lets up.

Ebert calls the film a tense, hard-boiled crime movie that showcases Michael Caine at his most authoritative and vicious. He praises its sure feel for the proletarian underbelly of society and Hodges' skillful direction that gives it the quality of a strong American detective novel.

The review highlights the film as a Brit classic with Michael Caine at his most relentlessly malicious, noting Carter's cool lines and evil nature make it a movie to love despite its bleak tone.

The review deems it a superior crime action meller with Michael Caine as an English hood seeking vengeance. It highlights Mike Hodges' top-notch adaptation that maintains interest with rare artistry, restraint, and clarity amid brutal and sordid plot turns.

The piece positions Get Carter as a landmark that rewrote the gangster movie with its cold, nihilistic violence and pitiless portrait of Newcastle’s underworld. It notes the film’s initial critical dislike on 1971 release before later re-evaluation as a social document.

Schjeldahl finds the film ghastly in its unremitting violence and vile view of humanity, yet finely acted and crafted in a way that makes it spectacularly better than most of its genre. He singles out Michael Caine's performance as a ticking, glinting bomb and the film's overall taut execution.

The critic finds the film a cool, clinical neo-noir that exploits its Newcastle setting well and shows promise in Hodges' direction and strong performances, but notes it lacks the mythic aura of classic American thrillers and includes some contrived or sentimental elements.

The critic calls Mike Hodges’ 1971 film a Brit-crime magnum opus and a stone-cold classic on re-release. He singles out Michael Caine’s dead-eyed, ruthless performance as gangland enforcer Jack Carter and the film’s blend of violent pulp with dour working-class realism.

The original review finds the film ridiculous and unconvincing as a thriller, failing to match Chandler or Bogart. It criticizes the off-hand style, unclear plotting, and the protagonist’s implausible paragon status amid a confusing trail of violence.

The review hails Michael Caine’s tour de force as the cool, quotable London gangster Jack Carter investigating his brother’s death. It praises the film’s stylish brutality and iconic lines while noting dated elements in its treatment of women as a reflection of the unpleasant characters.

The critic calls the film a tough but groundbreaking British gangster movie with gritty realism and an uncompromising vision. Caine's iconic, cool performance is singled out as making it arguably his finest hour and a landmark picture.