After seeing Guy Ritchie's disappointing Revolver I had to wonder if He had lost his touch...if he was going to be entering into a stage of mediocrity. I am glad that he has not. I was wrong to doubt him. Sure he has one bad film, but that's behind him now.
I know many people love Snatch, and to them it may be blasphemy to say this, but I think that RocknRolla is Guy Ritchie's best film to date.
I really liked and enjoyed both Lock, Stock and Two Smokin' Barrells as well as Snatch. I truly did. They were great works in and of themselves...but Ritchie's latest takes it to a new level. It not only goes into London's seedy underbelly, but also goes into the world of the rich. I'm not talking about gangsters on the same level as a Hatchet Harry, but gangsters on a level completely above even him.
The whole of it is beautifully acted, directed, written, and shot. It is pure poetry in its words and in its movements. It is this way from the beginning to the last.
I can't necessarily say that the story is wholly original...Ritchie steals/borrows a plot twist from his protégé Matthew Vaughn's (and former producer) film Layer Cake, as well as a story somewhat similar to what was in Lock Stock. But through all this Ritchie creates a world through the dialogue and through the actor's movements that is far above anything he has done before.
Speaking of Layer Cake, I think that Ritchie was impressed with the how Vaughn was able to borrow from Ritchie's own films and add to it with more serious action and a more subtle humor. Not to say that Vaughn's debut was better than Ritchie, but they were different yet similar. Ritchie seems to have taken what Layer Cake did well and merge it with the best of Lock Stock and Snatch.
I'm going to give this film a 8/10, A-. Yes, I think it's just that good. Mark this up as a triumphant return for Guy Ritchie after a poor showing with Revolver. BTW, unless you are a huge Jason Statham or Ray Liotta fan, go ahead and skip Revolver.
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