RocknRolla reeks of greatness and rates an eight
Guy Richie says welcome back to the seedy world of British gangster movies
By: R.J. Buendia
Issue date: 11/19/08 Section: Entertainment
Michael Jordan was at the peak of his game in the mid-90's; league scoring
leader, Finals MVP, fresh off his first championship three-peat. Then he retired from the game of basketball and had a brief stint at professional baseball. It was sad and sports enthusiast alike mourned the loss. Conversely, we celebrated his return to the NBA, which led to another series of championships and an incomparable legacy.
Granted this isn't basketball, and Guy Ritchie is not Michael Jordan. The moral of the story: some people should stick to the niche they have mastered and perfect it like no one else has or can. On that note, welcome back Guy Ritchie.
Mr. Ritchie had instant success with 1998's release "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels" and followed-up with "Snatch" in 2000. Justifiably recognized for producing entertaining gangster movies, Ritchie uses fast-paced dialogue, quick action, hard music, and aggressive editing as staples of success. Yet, since 2000 he has had a couple of seasons playing baseball, per se. Here we are in 2008, celebrating the relief of "RocknRolla," sighing in relief, "Welcome back, Guy Ritchie."
The latest release is nothing different than what he provided in his previously mentioned successes. There is a random artifact that every character seeks for one reason or another, wrapped in an web of intricate plot, witty dialogue, and outrageous characters, stapled in the medium of British humor, and anchored to underground crime.
"RocknRolla" on mere premise, is about a crooked land deal, involving Russian monsters and crooked politicians and is all connected to a renegade rock star that has been proclaimed dead.
So the hunt is on; for the rocker, the money, and a "lucky painting."
There are no spoilers in this review. In general I try not to ruin anything, but especially on this one.
What I can say is that the cast is great. There are key recognizable performances by Gerard Butler ("300") and Thandie Newton ("Crash") but the screen is not dominated by any sole character.
leader, Finals MVP, fresh off his first championship three-peat. Then he retired from the game of basketball and had a brief stint at professional baseball. It was sad and sports enthusiast alike mourned the loss. Conversely, we celebrated his return to the NBA, which led to another series of championships and an incomparable legacy.
Granted this isn't basketball, and Guy Ritchie is not Michael Jordan. The moral of the story: some people should stick to the niche they have mastered and perfect it like no one else has or can. On that note, welcome back Guy Ritchie.
Mr. Ritchie had instant success with 1998's release "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels" and followed-up with "Snatch" in 2000. Justifiably recognized for producing entertaining gangster movies, Ritchie uses fast-paced dialogue, quick action, hard music, and aggressive editing as staples of success. Yet, since 2000 he has had a couple of seasons playing baseball, per se. Here we are in 2008, celebrating the relief of "RocknRolla," sighing in relief, "Welcome back, Guy Ritchie."
The latest release is nothing different than what he provided in his previously mentioned successes. There is a random artifact that every character seeks for one reason or another, wrapped in an web of intricate plot, witty dialogue, and outrageous characters, stapled in the medium of British humor, and anchored to underground crime.
"RocknRolla" on mere premise, is about a crooked land deal, involving Russian monsters and crooked politicians and is all connected to a renegade rock star that has been proclaimed dead.
So the hunt is on; for the rocker, the money, and a "lucky painting."
There are no spoilers in this review. In general I try not to ruin anything, but especially on this one.
What I can say is that the cast is great. There are key recognizable performances by Gerard Butler ("300") and Thandie Newton ("Crash") but the screen is not dominated by any sole character.
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