Toni Cocozza (Ian Hart) is a small-time lounge singer in Glasgow, who performs all Sinatra songs. He's obsessed with Ol' Blue Eyes and dreams of Vegas and stardom. One night, an elderly mob boss and his wife see the show and become Toni's biggest fans. He slowly enters their world and before he knows it, he's become one of the man's henchmen.This is a cute drama with an appealing leading man. Ian Hart is sweet and vulnerable playing a dreamer with limited talent. I was rooting for him all the way. He gets into some nail-biting situations with the gang, led by Brian Cox and Tommy Flannagan who are both quite menacing. Kelly Macdonald is adorable as a cigarette girl who falls for Toni.The movie is exciting and really held my interest. The Glasgow slang and accents may require the use of subtitles, but they are charming. Recommended.

There is something which, for me, is more compelling about films set in Europe which are made by filmmakers in their home areas. Even if Spielberg, Allen, Mamet or the like, from America, with all their talent and resources, make films in Great Britain, France, Spain, etc. - they never seem to gain the true "feel" of the locale as well as native producers and directors. As an example, absolutely nobody can evoke the true character and feel of Madrid and the rest of Spain like the great Amodóvar.Although this small film is hardly in the category of one of Amodóvar's, it provides a true "feel" for Scotland and Glasgow, including its often gray, dreary atmosphere, in the most authentic manner, making the amusing, light story even better.The music is great, the acting and characters engaging, and somehow the characters seem both realistic and fanciful, sometimes simultaneously, a trick many larger films miss.As a bonus, we also can now see where Mike Myers likely obtained the accent he employed for the "Fat Bastard" character in his Austin Powers work.

As a lifetime Sinatra fanatic, I was drawn to this movie with interest and little knowledge of the plot. I thought the film was a fairly well told story of a "star struck" wannabe with a gentle heart, who decides he willing to do anything to realize his aspirations, and follow in Ol Blue Eyes footsteps. The musical score is excellent and lends to the period of work that Cocozza's idol gave to the world. Ian Hart does his best to detail what a 28 yr old "loser" feels like, and the depths he will sink to "make it".The one drawback was the often difficulty in understanding the Scottish dialect that too often impairs the ability to discern key dialogue exchanges. All in all, I'd recommend it..especially to the millions of Sinatra fans still around who continue to perceive his talent/persona in a "god-like" fashion.

The cast in this film is terrific. Ian Hart gives a knockout performance as poor Tony, Alun Armstrong is, of course, superb, and Kelly Macdonald is a hidden gem - since Trainspotting she's been consistently excellent. And yet.....this film is diverting. Its not boring, but its not gripping, and though it leaves you with a warm glow inside and purring 'ahhh', there's nothing life re-defining in it. However, as a mildly homesick Scot, just the sight of normal Glasgow was refreshing!! I'd say, rent it, enjoy it, but lower expectations first. As usual for a British film, this has the parts, but simply cannot manage a spectacular finish. Regrettably, we still have to look to the Americans for that. Damn!!