Ryan McNeil
I truly wish Guy Ritchie had stayed for a Q&A after this morning’s screening of ROCKNROLLA, simply because I would have liked to have said one thing to him: “Welcome Back”.
After seven years off the grid making spousal vehicles and straight-to-dvd misfires, Ritchie went back to what he does best and gave fans of SNATCH and LOCK, STOCK, AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS another movie that is drippingly cool. ROCKNROLLA is a movie of low-level thuggery and high-powered villainry that is equally loaded with odd co-incidence and double crossings.
Without getting too convoluted (and believe me, this caper is convoluted), ROCKNROLLA is about three bands of various criminals, who keep unknowingly robbing each other in a circle of thievery.
There are enough great lines to have movie geeks spouting quotes for months, enough laughs to make your cheeks hurt, and a soundtrack that you will immediately want to put on your iPod and hit “repeat”. Best of all there is a cast that is amazingly cool including Gerard Butler, Thandie Newton, Tom Wilkinson, Jeremy Piven, and Ludacris.
While it may seem to some that Ritchie is making the safe play by going back to where he started, I couldn’t be happier. His execution of ROCKNROLLA is much like a lover saying something just so, that reminds you why you fell in love with them in the first place.
ROCKNROLLA has one more screening at the festival, and will be in theatres everywhere in October.
I'm glad you provided some confirmation that Ritchie is back to his former glory… Yet, I still have my doubts since now he's using more well known stars – and not the usual suspects of Statham, Jones and Flemyng. It was those "lesser knowns" performances that I think really sold Snatch & Lock, Stock for me.
Fear not, my old friend. There are still plenty of ‘lesser knowns’ in this movie – he’s just brought in a new crop of them. Go see it!
Glad to read this one, Rye! Honestly, I have to agree with cblaze that I almost went straight to your next blog entry after reading Guy Ritchie’s name… but I read on.. This one sounds interesting enough to go see on premise alone…
Speaking of this kind of premise.. have you watched “Two Hands” with Heath Ledger like I suggested a while ago?? Now I know you’re still overwhelmed with TIFF stuff floating around in that noggin of yours.. but you should really see it at your earliest opportunity. 🙂