Today’s quick review: RocknRolla. When rockstar Johnny Quid (Toby Kebbell) steals a painting entrusted to Lenny Cole (Tom Wilkinson), a crooked real estate tycoon, by his Russian partner Uri (Karel Roden), it falls to Lenny’s right-hand man Archy (Mark Strong) to get it back. Meanwhile, Stella (Thandie Newton), Uri’s accountant, hires the Wild Bunch (Gerard Butler, Idris Elba, and Tom Hardy), a trio of small-time crooks, to steal millions of Euros from her boss.
RocknRolla is a crime comedy written and directed by Guy Ritchie. RocknRolla follows in the footsteps of Ritchie’s classics Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels: a punchy crime flick set in the London underworld, with a touch of black comedy, a large cast of characters, and a complex, weaving plot. Ritchie brings his signature style to the film, producing a film that is energetic, entertaining, and clever.
Gerard Butler heads an ensemble cast as One Two, a local criminal and part of the Wild Bunch. His two million pounds of debt to Lenny prompts him to take up Stella’s offer of work, starting a series of events with far-reaching consequences. Gerard Butler plays the role with the right mix of affability and fallibility. His chemistry with Thandie Newton gives the movie a bit of romantic spark, while his banter with the Wild Bunch feels natural.
The rest of the cast is just as strong. The other members of the Wild Bunch are Mumbles and Handsome Bob, played by Idris Elba and Tom Hardy, respectively. Much like One Two, the characters are underdogs with a likable, casual air about them. Tom Wilkinson plays a suitably detestable Lenny, an influential player in the London real estate scene engaged in all kinds of shady dealings. His inflated ego coupled with real power makes him an interesting character.
The cast is rounded out by Toby Kebbell as Johnny Quid and Mark Strong as Archy. Johnny Quid is Lenny’s hated stepson, a rockstar and junkie who recently faked his own death. Johnny occupies an oddly central role in the plot, with a warped but keen intelligence that keeps him in the middle of things. For his part, Mark Strong delivers an excellent performance as Archy, Lenny’s lieutenant, the film’s narrator, and a uniquely competent and level-headed criminal.
Fans of Guy Ritchie’s work will appreciate RocknRolla for its great cast and slick presentation. Its only real failing compared to Snatch or Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels is its weaker plot. The world feels smaller than usual, with a few more unnecessary coincidences than Guy Ritchie’s other films, and the climax rolls around with little sense of build-up. First-time viewers may also have a hard time keeping up with the tangle of plot threads and characters.
Still, RocknRolla is a better than average crime movie in terms of cast, writing, humor, and presentation. Watch it when you are in the mood for a complicated, entertaining, and rewarding peak into London’s criminal underworld. Skip if you are looking for straight action. For a more dramatic take on similar plot elements, check out Layer Cake.
7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for interesting characters, a fun plot, and punchy direction that lacks the impact of its predecessors.