It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

The acting in this movie is really good.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

This is a film that really explores so many concepts of crime & justice, but basically leaves you to consider. Can a vicious criminal be reformed or redeemed, can the police cross borderlines due to knowledge of events. This film cleverly leaves you in limbo, is this vendetta the fault of the cop activity in the present or the past conduct of the criminal. Neither of these come out as heroes or villains, or possibly they do. It's very clever, but there is a happy ending for those who require it.

I rated this film a 6 due to the fact I only seen it ten years after its release. I had read the reviews and expected a lot more than the film delivered. If I had not read the glowing reviews I would have probably would have rated it higher. The raw story of a reformed former debt collector (Billy Connolly) and obsessive police officer(Ken Stott)who wants to give the now successful former villain a hard time. He pushes the boundaries of the law and events happen due to his obsession. Then you get the villain worshiping teenager who idolizes the former gangster(Connolly). He wants to prove himself and make a name for himself. As you may expect the end to the wannabe gangster is inevitable. There is some good hardcore violence scenes in this movie which could have been worked more. Connolly and Stott play two excellent roles and the casting is well suited for the characters.This movie is without a doubt worth a watch if you like the Lock Stock violent type of movie.It is a raw film but for me I would of liked to see more of the rawness come through.Give it a go. Especially now it is in the weekly section of the Video store.

Great character story. No good guys and no bad guys, just human beings. Yes, we find it difficult to sympathise with any of them, but then it's not supposed to be an emotional story, just a series of character sketches. Connolly did not give a great performance and in many scenes where others might survive a close-up we see his head drop out of view (what's he hiding - lack of ability perhaps?). However, I would recommend it to anyone who likes sombre tales about ex-cons who do or don't make it. I'd like to see a remake with De Niro and Pacino - although I think they've already done it. What's it called?

Certainly no evidence of soft, sweet Edinburgh Rock here, instead a hard, boiled "soor ploom" of a film. The explicit realistic, yet necessary, violence does leave a shocked aftertaste, but this is mollified by some humourous sweeteners. Non Scots may wish to take a "universal translator" with them, but the use of dialect merely underlines the authenticity in the setting of the piece. Acting is superb and the story hangs together..well maybe except for the cheesy "tattoo" scene. I certainly would recommend it...and take plenty of sweeties!!