A Gangster’s Life

The opening shots are of a huge mansion in beautiful sunlight not a cloud in the sky. That is soon contrasted with a couple of rogues Ant (Tony Cook) and Dick (Jonny Weldon) (the latter the subject of a tiring running joke hanging on hooks in a grim warehouse awaiting death or torture at the hands of head villain Emery (Tomi May).

They have developed a way of siphoning off his money using a computer virus. But its adaptable so convinced that it could be used to work for him, Emery hands them over to his right-hand man Clarkey (Bradley Turner).

But it’s not quite that clear cut as to achieve what they did, needed inside help. That was provided by Scarlett (Rina Lipa) a long-time disgruntled employee who has stalled in the criminal promotion ladder. Needless to say, Ant and Dick aren’t happy.

Their escape takes on more urgency when Clarkey is killed. Six months later they are at the large house in the sun, and Ant is with his partner Thea (Christina Gkioka).

A Gangster’s Life is a formulaic London/Essex gangster movie that while it has some interesting ideas is stalled by the pace and dialogue as directed by Zak Fenning and written by Roy Rivett.

The tone struggles too as it tries to blend a sense of menace with levity, mainly through the two witless fugitives. There’s some attempt at black humour with the villains that just doesn’t really work.

It also looks padded at times as the thin plot is stretched towards the end and an inevitable confrontation.
That said even having to deal with tired and cliched villain caricatures, the actors do a fair job. In particular Cook and Weldon who are fairly likeable. Rina Lipa makes an assured feature debut while May and Turner appear to be having a good time.

A Gangster's Life will be on digital platforms from 19 January 2026.