Movie Review and Synopsis RocknRolla
Guy Ritchie Recaptures his Trademark Style with a Gritty New Film
Nov 14, 2008
After a long break from this genre Guy Ritchie is back in action, literally, with thrill packed RockNRolla. Not since Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch has he brought audiences down into the seedy world of English mobsters. Crawling back into the depths of the criminal mind Ritchie pits every kind of mobster, from menial street toughs to upper class underhanded bosses against each other.
Sex, Thugs and Rock n’ Roll
In a battle over real estate and millions in potential profits the tangled plot line tells the intersecting and very involved story following the trail of land, money and a lucky piece of art.
When thugs One Two (Gerard Butler) and Mumbles (Idris Elba) find a real estate deal that could turn a huge profit for them they buy in and are the first to be trapped into a scheme controlled by Mafioso Lenny Cole (Tom Wilkinson). With his hand in every accessible pocket, Lenny controls each step of the real estate process as he keeps the property floating while he waits for a wealthy bidder. Russian billionaire Uri Omovich (Karel Roden) brings £7,000,000 and his lucky painting to the table to seal the deal.
Following the art as Uri lends it to Lenny as a show of good will and the painting is stolen the story pulls in a wide variety of complicated and damaged characters. Accountant Stella (Thandie Newton), who likes a little danger when she isn’t at her day job, sets up a major theft with One Two. Handsome Bob (Tom Hardy) admits to a crush on his shocked friend. Lenny’s main guy Archy (Mark Strong) melds old school mob tactics with new school tricks. Johnny Quid (Toby Kebbell), a rock star and Lenny’s stepson, who is presumed dead but is alive and kicking, holds a very important secret.
Long Story Short
RockNRolla comes at a good time for Guy Ritchie with his loyal fans waiting for him to return to his movie making roots. RockNRolla brings back the crafty London criminals, the dirty dealings, the MacGuffin and the intricate story line that have become Ritchie’s signature (and most successful) style. While his latest movie recaptures the essence of past accomplishments it just doesn’t run as smoothly. The amazing group of actors were well cast and the script was written with flair but the film seemed to involve a parade of highly entertaining scenes strung together by a convoluted plot with an ever rambling storyline.
Opening to mixed reviews, RockNRolla is certainly a step back in the right direction for Guy Ritchie. Fans and critics alike will be waiting in anticipation to see if the hinted sequel, The Real RockNRolla, will find the fluid rhythm of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch.
