When we think great mob movies, we think of landmark pictures like The Godfather and Goodfellas. Every now and then we get a smaller film that, while not as grand, still manages to pack a punch. Sexy Beast is small in scale but big in textured performances.

Ray Winstone is an ex-hood trying to walk the straight and narrow. He's happily married and enjoying a crime free life. He finds that life interrupted when his former boss (Ben Kingsley) returns to town following a rather lengthy hiatus. Before long, Winstone is reminded of how hard it is to say no to a man as intimidating as Don "Macky" Logan (Kingsley).

Sexy Beast was directed by first timer Jonathan Glazer. He's not really interested in scope. Heös interested in character and detail. And while this picture is hardly flawless, it is stylish and well executed.

Ben Kingsley is a revelation, playing the heavy with absolute ferocity and glee. His stare alone is convincing enough. And while this will surely earn the Schindler's List and Ghandi star awards and recognition galore (deservedly so), I'd like to give a shout out to the brilliant Winstone who plays off of Kingsley's nastiness brilliantly. Both of these actors are absolutely mesmerizing in this film.

Sexy Beast is a small, gritty picture with a strange title, full of rich performances and a quiet intensity that sets it apart from many of the big films this summer. Like the equally effective The Score, this is a movie about a guy who wants out, but keeps getting pulled back in.