Today’s quick review: The Gentlemen. Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey), a marijuana kingpin with a flourishing business, wants to retire. To get his chance at wealth and legitimacy, he arranges to sell his empire to Matthew Berger (Jeremy Strong) for a large sum. But as the deal begins to take shape, Fletcher (Hugh Grant), a seedy tabloid reporter, approaches Ray (Charlie Hunnam), Mickey’s right-hand man, and threatens to expose the whole thing.
The Gentlemen is a crime drama with comedic elements written and directed by Guy Ritchie. The Gentlemen tells the sprawling, stylized tale of a power struggle in Great Britain’s drug trade. True to Guy Ritchie’s past work, the movie features an intricate plot, punchy direction, and a mix of dramatic stakes and lighter moments. This time around, Ritchie takes a mellower approach, sacrificing raw chaos and overt humor for more consistent quality.
The Gentlemen shows restraint compared to Guy Ritchie’s other crime films. The story is still a complicated puzzle that includes a broad cast, half a dozen factions, nonlinear storytelling, and a couple of well-orchestrated plot twists. But the film paces itself nicely, taking care never to overwhelm the audience and using Fletcher’s keen narration to keep the story straight. Ritchie’s stylistic flourishes are likewise used sparingly.
The Gentlemen opts for less comedy than films like Snatch or RocknRolla. The story takes center stage; the maneuverings of Mickey and his rivals form the backbone of the film. Still, the tone remains light throughout, and there’s plenty of humor to be found in the dialogue and bizarre situations. The Gentlemen flirts with the high stakes and violence of the darker side of the crime drama, but ultimately it’s meant to entertain, not to shock.
The Gentlemen is a solid pick for fans of the crime genre and a new flavor for fans of Guy Ritchie. The Gentlemen is missing the outrageous highs and chaotic setups of Ritchie’s other work, but it makes up for them with robust storytelling from start to finish. The combination of a strong script, a talented cast, and a nice balance of comedy and drama is enough to make the movie a worthwhile watch for anyone who doesn’t mind a touch of violence.
For another intricate British crime drama about a man who wants out of the drug business, try Layer Cake. For a punchy tale of criminal misadventure from the same director, try Snatch, RocknRolla, or Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. For a purely dramatic take on a similar setup, try Miller’s Crossing.
8.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for high all-round quality.