The best British gangster movie of all time featured the inimitable Hoskins in his greatest 2 hours as crime boss Harold Shand and charted the downfall of his London underworld kingdom. His performance featured all the great Bob Hoskins trademarks - a hard man capable of showcasing real emotions, his capability of stealing every scene he's in and of course that irresistible cockney charm. Despite sharing scenes with some of Britain's best character actors, including Dame Helen Mirren, this is rightly Hoskins' movie. He deals with every bomb, every death and every betrayal with a quiet grace and acceptance that wouldn't be as successful in anyone else's hands. Everything exceptional about the role is distilled in the final five minutes where Shand confronts the two shady American businessmen he has attempting to make a deal with throughout all the destruction and gives one of British cinema's greatest speeches. This is nothing, however, compared to what comes next - two whole minutes of silence as the camera focuses on Hoskins as he quietly accepts his fate; a masterclass in minimalist genius. Which is your favourite Bob Hoskins role? Share your own picks below in the comments thread.
