THE BIG UGLY

US, 2020, 106 minutes, Colour.

Vinnie Jones, Malcolm Mc Dowell, Ron Perlman, Nicholas Braun, Leven Rambin, Brandon Sklenar, Lenora Critchlow, Bruce Mc Gill, Dan Buren, David Myers Gregory.

Directed by Scott Wiper.

The title is not deceptive. This is a blokes and blokey film, emphasis on hostilities rather than mateship.

While the setting is the Appalachian mountains, there is a lot of atmosphere of the London criminal.

And here is Vinnie Jones once again, playing a thuggish killer with a philosophical bent. He accompanies his gang boss from London, Malcolm McDowell. The aim is to do a money-laundering deal with a local oil man played by Ron Perlman. So far, so, perhaps, predictable with each of the stars and their swaggering presence.

However, trouble starts with the son of the oil man, Junior, who has his way with the gangster’s girlfriend and kills her. Needless to say, this leads to all kinds of trouble, conflict between the gangsters, the obsessive intentions of Malcolm McDowell, the exasperations of Ron Perlman taught his son. And not everyone surviving!

It leads up to a confrontation between Vinnie Jones and the locals, with one of the foreman trying to keep some kind of peace but brutalised for his efforts.

A macho film for audiences with macho tastes.

1. The impact of the title? Attractive? Curious? And who was the Big Ugly? Or the situation?
2. The West Virginia settings, Kentucky locations? The remote mountains, the oil drilling site, the town, the bar? The contrast with the jets and the high flyers? The musical score?
3. Preston’s story? Ron Perlman? Oil drilling? The authorities – or not? Financial issues? The gradual revelation of the past, in England, marriage, honeymoon, the tragic death of his wife? His son and his spoiling him, permissive about his behaviour and attitudes? The past friendship with Harris, support at the time of his wife’s death? Relying on him for the loan, laundering money? The meetings, the discussions, his personality, working with his men, his friendship with Milt, Milt his loyalty to Preston? Concern about his son? His son’s behaviour, disapproval, yet supporting his son?
4. Harris, London crime, wealth, lending the money to Preston, his associates, the girlfriend in the plane and her sexual encounter with Junior and Harris dismissing her as a hooker? His relying on Neelyn, the hitman for many decades, the passenger in the plane, Neelyn shooting him, Milt observing? The return to London?
5. Neelyn, a Vinnie Jones character, hitman, tough, lined face? In the entourage, depending on Harris? His relationship with Fiona, genuine tenderness? Her disappearance, his grief, not getting back on the plane? Getting the information, finding her in the river, burying her, his revenge? His age, the fights, his being beaten up, not the triumphant hero?
6. Junior, his attitudes, 20s father, finance, the job, towards women? With Harris’s girlfriend? Propositioning Fiona, her death? Will, keeping an eye on him, Will failing, confrontation, Will wanting to give up the job? Will and his attraction to Kara, her work in the bar, friendship with Neelyn, supporting him? Junior and his violence towards Will?
7. Milt, keeping some law and order, yet loyal to Preston? Knowing what was going on, observing, following through – and his being killed?
8. The workers, bonding, the bar, the manager, giving a sympathetic ear to Neelyn? Kara and her working, needing the job? The workers on the site, the locals and their backwards behaviour?
9. Neelyn, meeting Thomas in the bar, giving him the drinks? Thomas and the friendship, the joke about steady hands, keeping an eye for Neelyn, helping him out at the end, helping Will and Kara to escape?
10. Harris, to London and back, the confrontation, the hold on Neelyn, Neelyn putting the bag over his head to escape? Harris and the discussion with Preston? The drinks together, friendship, honour, each shooting the other?
11. The site, the confrontation with Junior, his taunts, Will and the confrontation and fight, the guns, Will shooting Junior? Neelyn, overpowered, tied up, rescued, the truck, the escape, Thomas and the alternate route?
12. Neelyn, his death, some nobility in his hitman life? The young couple and their future?