Peaky Blinders 2014

     The setting of this film in 1919 just after WWI in Birmingham, England.  It is centered on a Romani/Irish gang and they wear caps with razor blades sewn in the peaks.  Tommy Shelby is their boss and he intends to move up in the world.  He served as a Sergeant Major in the war, he comes from a big family and he is the brother of Arthur, John, Ada and Finn.  Chief Inspector Major Chester Campbell is a detective in the Royal Irish Constabulary and Winston Churchill sends him from Belfast to Birmingham.  His new job is to clean the city of the IRA, communists, gangs and common criminals.  Additionally, he is to suppress disorder, uprisings and recover a stolen cache of arms to be shipped to Libya. 

     There is a LOT of violence in this series.  The gang does use their cap razor blades against others.  Many times it seems like this is taking place in Ireland and not England?  The post-war mental state is contributing to the gang activity and the violence.  Many of the men have PTSD but this was unknown until much later.  They have nightmares, have given up on faith and their fellow man in general.  The gang operates off track betting and 25 machine guns have been stolen.  The conditions begin to change when Campbell arrives.  A lot of people become very interested in this series but I just could not keep my mind involved?  3* (This series is OK)

BBC TV, each episode 60 minutes, 3 episodes on each DVD, 3 seasons, Drama directed by Steven Knight with Cillian Murphy, Paul Anderson, Joe Cole, Helen McCrory, Sophie Rundle, Ned Dennehy, Ian Peck, Annabelle Wallis, Tony Pitts, Sam Neill, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Eric Campbell.

Note:  Imdb 8.8 out of 10, 89% critic 95% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.3* out of 5* with 109 reviews, Metacritic 8.9 out of 10 with 194 ratings.

Special Note:  Filmed in Birmingham, Bradford, Dudley, Leeds, Liverpool, Port Sunlight, Keighley, Damems, Black Country Living Museum England, UK.  Birmingham has more canals than in Venice, Italy.  The title comes from the razor blades in the peaks of the caps.  The show has received criticism for the accents used.  Many UK viewers believe they are watered down versions to appeal to US viewers.  BBC has ordered a fourth and fifth season of this show with Season 4 released to be in late 2017.