Breaking the gangster mould

Journalist Donal Macintyre's documentary about Manchester kingpin Dominic Noonan employs a few familiar tricks (slow-motion, euphoric pop music) but is worth watching because Noonan himself breaks the mould. Macho but also openly gay, he horrifies one of his young, pretty crew-members by declaring that they've slept together.

Also unusual is the fact that he seems more interested in power than money. No mansion, no acres of estate for him; just lots of relatives living in hovels and eating baked beans on toast, relying on Pop Idol and boxing to make their dreams come true. Noonan hovers around them like a chilled man desperately seeking warmth.

Superficially similar to Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Macintyre's film proves to be its antithesis.

Shot over three years, this labour of love has already been shown on Channel Five but has since won a number of awards overseas. We Brits tend to see Macintyre as a self-aggrandising git (sorry Donal, it's true) but the French adore him, and seem in this case to have a point.

Was he seduced by Noonan? Was Noonan seduced by him? All one can say is that the chemistry between the two men - the intelligent intimacy - creates a life and death drama entirely worthy of the big screen.

A Very British Gangster
Cert: 15