Preview by Jon Donnis
Miracle Media is set to release A Gangster's Life, a sharp new British crime feature that dives into a world of crazed mobsters, loyalty stretched to breaking point and the sort of betrayal that leaves no one sleeping easy. It comes from award-winning filmmaker Zak Fenning and brings together Tony Cook, Jonny Weldon and rising newcomer Rina Lipa, who appears here in her first feature. The film lands on UK digital on 19 January.
The story pulls you straight into the underbelly of organised crime, with a clear nod to classic British gangster films such as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and The Gentlemen. Fenning, known for his work as a cinematographer on Fried, steps into his directorial debut with a slick approach that keeps the tension simmering. Cook and Weldon take the lead as Ant and Dick, two amateur scammers who end up in trouble the moment they cross Emery, a ruthless London gangster played by Tomi May.
Once Ant and Dick fall into Emery's grip, they find themselves pushed deeper into the criminal world. They become part of his dangerous crew, which includes Rina Lipa and Bradley Turner, and the pair are forced to adapt fast in order to survive. Things turn even darker when a member of the mob winds up dead, leaving Ant and Dick facing a betrayal from someone close. Their only option is to flee to Greece and hope they can dodge the fury of the merciless boss on their trail.
The film also features Christina Gkioka and Sasha Latoya, adding to the mix of characters circling the edges of this violent world. Even once the pair escape London, leaving the past behind proves harder than expected. Trouble catches up quickly, and the question becomes whether they have the luck to survive a second time.
A Gangster's Life arrives as an energetic new entry in the Brit crime scene, offering a blend of danger, dark humour and a look at what happens when small-time crooks stumble into a world far bigger than they can handle. It hits UK digital on 19 January from Miracle Media.
