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Possibly one of the
coolest filmmakers of modern film, Guy Ritchie has been able to match
his streak time and time again with almost no failures. “Lock Stock and
Two Smoking Barrels” was pure edge incarnate, and he trumped that
achievement with one of my favorite films of all time: Snatch. Though
complicated in story, “RocknRolla” is that same ensemble piece and that
one Macguffin that takes assorted characters and mashes them up in a
fun, rocking piece crime and gangster warfare.
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Though
filled with convoluted sub plots and cons from the cast,
“RocknRolla” successfully spawns some great performances
from the likes of Tom Wilkinson as the English crime and
Gerard Butler who dons his nickname “One, Two” like a badge
of honor through most of the stories and twists. If you want
to see a show, take in Tom Wilkonson the sluggish business
man who looks to steal from everyone and handles his affairs
to assorted forms of torture. |
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And
there’s Idris Elba and Gerard Butler, both of whom not only ace
their characters, but come straight from the Ritchie mold with fast
talking shit slinging bad boys who always find themselves in a lot
of trouble. The climax that works as a lead in to the sequel is one
of the more absorbent segues that keep me guessing if we’ll ever see
another film like “RocknRolla.” I hope Ritchie can keep up this mad
mob and guide us in to another high stakes storytelling bonanza.
If you can make sense of
the story than odds are you’re lying, because for at least an hour in, I
sat wondering who was involved in this scheme, what real estate issue
was plaguing the character Lenny, and why the goddamn picture was a big
deal to everyone in the film. Match that with the fact that the pacing
is slow and steady and may not keep watching if you’re expecting another
fast paced gangster film. At nearly two hours, Ritchie’s film should
have been at least ten minutes less and eliminated all the fat that came
with the convoluted plot to take the painting and get it to bad guy Uri.
What was the punishment for losing it? Who cares, I spent more time
wondering what the hell the picture looked like that swept these
gangsters in an uproar. Like “Pulp Fiction” this Maguffin is one that’s
seen only by the characters and is only vaguely shown as being something
of great meaning to everyone but the viewer. “RocknRolla” sometimes
never feels like Ritchie, but instead seems like someone else imitating
the man and his specialty for kinetic erratic editing and almost never
pulling it off. The alleged first in a proposed trilogy Ritchie had
better thrill me if Part Two ever comes to the big screen.
Hey I love Guy Ritchie
as much as the next guy, but “RocknRolla” definitely isn’t on par with
incredible entertainment from man behind “Snatch.” It’s long, confusing
but is definitely saved with great performances and a tight episodic
script. I liked it, I just wish I would have loved it.
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