The movie is not simply a catalog of stabbings, garrotings and bloodletting. It goes deeper than into the twisted pathology of twins whose faces would light up with joy when their mom told them they looked just like proper gentlemen.

...walks a fine line between commentary and exploitation...

Though cinematically accomplished and containing strong performances by British theatrical heroine Whiielaw and most of the female cast, The Krays remains, for all its pop psychoanalysis, resolutely superficial.

Medak stuffs [The Krays] with all of the brawling, bloodshed and wise guy grandiosity that a fan could want in a gangster flick.