This South African movie tracks the rise of a once-petty criminal to the heights of the criminal underworld. After cutting his teeth on hijacking, before moving onto bigger game, an ambitious man hits a setback when most of his gang are shot.
Startlingly original, if occasionally overambitious. This is Tsotsi without the feel-good glow, a tale of entrepreneurship's perils and boundless pleasures.
– Joe Morgenstern,
Wall Street Journal,
10 Jun 2010
rotten:
The opening credits of Gangster's Paradise note that it was "inspired by real events." It would be more accurate to say that the film was inspired by Brian De Palma's Scarface and similar fare.
– V.A. Musetto,
New York Post,
11 Jun 2010
fresh:
It's easy to overlook the formulas and just enjoy the ride.
– Mike Hale,
New York Times,
11 Jun 2010
fresh:
Writer-director Ralph Ziman strings it all together with slick competence, but given that leading man Rapulana Seiphemo does a persuasive line in moral ambiguity, it's disappointing that the proceedings too often default to glib shoot-'em-up.
– Trevor Johnston,
Time Out,
6 Jul 2010
fresh:
rags-to-riches tale cut from the same cloth as City of God, Goodfellas and Scarface.