Line of Duty star Martin Compston delivers a praised performance as notorious Glasgow figure Paul Ferris in The Wee Man (2013), with IMDb reviewers calling it “damn near perfect” and a compelling biographical crime drama
Neela Debnath Screen Time Reporter
10:13, 30 Dec 2025Updated 10:44, 30 Dec 2025
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The gangster movie was based on a true story(Image: NC)
Fans of the hit BBC series Line of Duty and organised crime dramas shouldn’t overlook a compelling film about real-life Glasgow gangsters that premiered back in 2013.
The recommendation follows others discovering this mystery thriller adapted from a bestselling novel, calling The Wee Man, starring Martin Compston, a “brilliant” crime drama and a “gripping” psychological thriller, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The film has received praise on IMDb from viewers, with one awarding it 8/10 stars and headlining their critique: “Very Good Thriller and Gangster film”. They highlight how the film is “held together by a number of outstanding performances”, particularly praising the leading actor’s contribution.
Their assessment ends: “I judge a film on whether or not it holds my attention and this one did. This film has a good story, strong characters and is well worth watching.”
Meanwhile, another critic awarded a perfect 10/10 score, writing: “A brilliant movie, beautiful to watch in it’s way, a damn near perfect film in its true to life portrayal of the Glaswegian underworld.”
Denis Lawson starred in the gangster drama(Image: NC)
The reviewer draws comparisons with a “highly lauded” American gangster production while maintaining this thriller is far more genuine, saying: “This is set in the real world of a broken city. Not much to say other than worth your time.”
Someone else describes Compston’s portrayal as a notorious Glasgow hood as “compelling”.
One reviewer, who gave the film an 8/10 rating, describes it as a “great watch”, adding that knowing the story was based on real events makes it “more interesting”. They add: “This British gangster film is well worth a watch. The ending of the film left it open for a sequel. Will go and read the books now.”
Another viewer lauded the film as a “rough, tough crime tale”, stating: “What a terrific crime movie this one and not in the line of so many other films that we see since nearly twenty years now, such as the Guy Ritchie’s features: SNATCH and so many GOODFELLAS look like movies, with plenty of humour.”
They also hail the character study as “flawless”.
Line of Duty’s Martin Compston was hailed for his performance in the movie(Image: NC)
A different reviewer, also scoring it 8/10, labelled it an “Absorbing gangster drama – if you don’t get hung up on authenticity”. They continued: “Martin Compton’s lead performance is really great, and all the usual Scottish suspects, and a few unusual ones, put in a good turn.”
A glowing 9/10 review extolled the central performance as “utterly compelling”, with the reviewer appreciating the nuanced storytelling, which they describe as “magnificently told”. They elaborated: “There haven’t been many films of this genre emanating from Scotland over the years, certainly not since the passable “Sense of Freedom” in the 70s. This film however, is leagues above anything that’s gone before from our shores. Highly recommended.”
The Wee Man, a biographical film about reformed Scottish gangster Paul Ferris, sees Martin Compston – of Line of Duty and The Rig fame – stepping into the shoes of the notorious gangland figure. The film traces Ferris’ journey from his humble beginnings in Blackhill, where he was bullied as a child, to his induction into the criminal underworld as a mob enforcer during the 1970s and 80s.
Joining Compston on screen are Hollywood actor John Hannah, known for The Mummy and Sliding Doors, Patrick Bergin of Patriot Games, Denis Lawson from New Tricks and Bleak House, Stephen McCole of Rushmore, and Rita Tushingham. The cast is rounded out by Laura McMonagle, Clare Grogan, Joy McAvoy, Andrew Marley, and Alastair Thomson Mills.
The Wee Man is available to watch on Amazon Prime.
Martin Compston took the lead in the gangster film(Image: NC)
Before his breakout role in Jed Mercurio’s police drama Line of Duty catapulted him to fame, Compston had already amassed an impressive portfolio of work, including The Rig, The Nest, Fear, The Revenge Club, Traces, Our House, In Plain Sight, Vigil and Mayflies, among others.