Film Review: Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man

Cillian Murphy reprises his role as Tommy Shelby in Netflix's movie, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, a film following on from the six-season series about the Peaky Blinders in Birmingham.

A TV show I've enjoyed over the past few years is Peaky Blinders. It's a Birmingham-based series that follows the Peaky Blinders gang, made up of the Shelby brothers and friends, set in the early 1900s, following World War I.

I really enjoyed watching Peaky Blinders, and when I heard Netflix were making a Peaky Blinders movie, with Cillian Murphy returning as Tommy Shelby, I knew I had to watch it.

Last week, I decided to settle in for the night and with the house to myself, I watched Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man and thought I'd share my review with you all.

My Review of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man

Genre: Period Drama

Stars: Cillian Murphy, Rebecca Ferguson, Barry Keoghan, Sophie Rundle, Tim Roth, Stephen Graham, and more

Where to watch: Netflix

Rating: 8.5/10

Synopsis:

The basic synopsis of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is:

"During World War II, Tommy Shelby returns to a bombed Birmingham and becomes involved in secret wartime missions, facing new threats as he reckons with his past."

The movie picks up several years after the ending of season six of the TV show, and it is set in 1940. At this point, Tommy, living as a recluse in a remote mansion, is a far cry from the Birmingham crime scene and the Peaky Blinders.

But when tragic news reaches Tommy, he returns to Birmingham, where he meets his son, Duke. Duke is now running the Peaky Blinders, but the gang isn't what it once was when Tommy was in charge. Whilst in the city, Tommy is embroiled in a WW2 mission and is haunted by ghosts of the past.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcvUGs3xaDM

My Thoughts

I love a period drama. History to me is fascinating, so watching movies or TV shows set in the past, particularly around the times of the world wars, intrigues me.

Going into this movie, I had high hopes. I really enjoyed the TV show, and especially Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby. The Irishman's acting skills are second to none, and I love his portrayal of Tommy; he can execute scenes perfectly, whether they're action-packed or silent, solemn moments.

From the get-go, I was hooked. The introduction of the Nazis and their new mission for Birmingham was incredibly cinematic, especially with the soundtrack. For me, that is a huge part of what made this film so enjoyable -- the music that accompanied different scenes and how perfectly timed the songs were.

I also really like Barry Keoghan as an actor, having seen him in Masters of the Air, so his first on-screen appearance as Duke in the movie -- the camera zooming in on the back of him as he stood, surrounded by his Peaky Blinders -- made me smile.

The premise of this movie indicates a strong WW2 influence. However, whilst the Nazis are involved, and there are elements of WW2, I found that aspect of the movie to be lacking slightly.

I expected more wartime action, but instead, what we received is a film that is more character-driven, exploring Tommy's past and regrets and how his fight against a particular Nazi helps him confront his trauma and guilt, whilst moving on.

But that is not to say that this element is not just as good.

Former Peaky Blinders characters return, like Hayden Stagg (Stephen Graham), Charlie (Ned Dennehy) and Curly (Ian Peck), as we get the old-school feel of the gypsy gang back. There are also quite a few humorous moments that are impactful if you've watched the series.

For instance, there's a particular scene in The Garrison, once Tommy has returned to Birmingham, where some young men don't know who Tommy Shelby is, but the older guys duck and cover, knowing Tommy's past.

The ending of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man was not what I expected. However, it ties the whole series and movie together, bringing a strong end to the Shelby family's story.

I am very tempted to rewatch this film, which just shows how enjoyable I found it. The acting was incredible, the action was fab, and the soundtrack was even better.

If you enjoy period dramas, gangster shows, and action-packed films, then give Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man a watch.

Until next time...