A VERY BRITISH GANGSTER
UK, 2007, 97 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Donald Mac Intyre.
It seems that everyone else was in the know that this was a documentary about actual people. As I watched it, I was presuming that it was a fiction told in a documentary style, that this was an invented story about a Manchester criminal. No, it is actually a documentary, filmed over several years, about an actual criminal called Dominic Noonan.
As I watched (not aware of the truth), it seemed to me that the film was to some extent glamorising the character and his feats (though he had spent most of his life in gaol). Discovering that it was all real and that Noonan had allowed the film to be made (and probably insisted on re-takes), it seemed that the whole thing was pandering to Noonan’s vanity. At the end of the film, he is in prison again but, at least, he has been immortalised on film!
The director has done investigative films for British television and he has an eye for character revelation as well as action. He himself is off-screen asking questions. He had plenty of material to edit and, of course, one wonders about what was left out.
Dominic Noonan is a rather disagreeable, ugly (physically and morally) boor of a man who had a harsh upbringing in institutions but, with an amoral calm, asserted his authority over neighbourhoods in Manchester, moved from petty crime to armed robberies and became a local godfather figure solving people’s problems.
And then his Catholicism. The Italian Mafia have given the church woes and, sometimes, a bad name. Noonan cheerfully professes his Catholicism, goes to church to pray, nonchalantly explains that he can go to confession and get everything forgiven – and then start again. His murdered addict brother’s funeral is attended by crowds. But the prayers of the ritual seem ironic and out of place with this mob.
As a portrait it is well done, builds up a character, shows details of his life and relationships (especially with his two sons by different mothers). But, you wouldn’t want to meet him.
1.An effective documentary? The blend of fiction style with verite? The intercutting of the different styles?
2.The Manchester setting, the film and television style, stylised, the bright colours, the darkness? Musical score?
3.Audience knowledge about Dominic Noonan – or not? Audiences thinking it a fiction? Discovering it was true?
4.The portrait of Dominic Noonan, glorifying him or not? Pandering to his vanity? The effect? Insight into a character?
5.The portrait of Dominic Noonan, his deed poll name of Lattlay Fottfoy? His size? Bald, fat? His back-story, the family, the orphanage, sexual assault, his power, physical strength, a gangster reputation, his crimes? His ability to talk about himself and his crimes? His brother, addict, his sons, his relationship with them? The amount of time he spent in prison? His being a patron in the neighbourhood, people turning to him, his providing solutions? Standover tactics? His self-image?
6.His talking about himself, moral and immoral perspective, the irony of his Catholicism, going to church, his praying, his spirituality of going to confession and everything put behind him – and starting again? His brother’s funeral, the cortege, the priest, the praying of the Catholic prayers at the funeral, the boy singing ‘My Way’? Audiences making a moral verdict on him?
7.The portrait of the children, their life, the young boy smoking, the singing at the funeral, their future?
8.His brother, the drugs, the dealer, his death, reaction, vindictive, the funeral and his speech? The aftermath of his own arrest for gun possession?
9.His status in Manchester, the local authorities, respect, fear? The police?
10.The role of the interviewer, the questions, his attitude towards Noonan, his stances about his behaviour? Noonan’s responding to the camera and for the audience?
11.Noonan’s arrest, jail – and his future? At least immortalised in the film?
