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RocknRolla review
:. Director: Guy Ritchie
:. Starring: Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson
:. Running Time: 1:54
:. Year: 2008
:. Country: USA
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For the last few years, Guy Ritchie was better known as — the now ex — Mr. Ciccone, following the success of Snatch with a couple of mediocre films that best be forgotten. So it's good to finally see him back with a highly enjoyable picture which once again plunges us into London's world of crime.
Supported by a strong cast including Gerard Butler (300), Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton), Thandie Newton (M:I-2) and Jeremy Piven (Entourage), RocknRolla intertwines the paths of three characters: a junkie rock star who pretends to be dead (Toby Kebbell), a petty criminal (Butler) and a crime boss (Wilkinson).
While Mr. Ritchie's movies usually only evolve in the underworld, here he ventures into the music business as well, not only showing us that these two worlds might be linked but also poking fun at a post-libertines music scene. While, if you ask me, the rock star here physically looks like a Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction) clone (minus the fur), he makes it clear, through another rock star character, that he's referring to Pete Doherty, who has become a symbol for crazy junkie rock stars. In case you're curious about Mr. Ritchie's music tastes, knowing he used to be Madonna's better half, he seems to be a fan of brutish and grungy rock as the presence of the band The Subways can attest.
But what certainly makes RocknRolla work is without a doubt the strong sense of irony that permeates throughout the film. Not only does the writer/director makes sure to use his actors against type, from Mr. 300 Butler not being that tough here to the usually loveable Wilkinson turning into a sadistic mob boss, but he also delivers a series of hilarious situations where he plays against clichés (two Russian killers dancing in their underwear, a highly-refined pimp, etc …),
Add to this a sultry Newton and sharp editing, which closely matches the rock and roll theme of the film and you recognize all the emblematic elements from Mr. Ritchie's cinema which had made Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch breakthroughs hits. Mr. Ritchie even winks at some pop culture TV shows, from Entourage to Flight of the Concords, which attests he's embracing the light-spirited fun of the entertainment he's providing. Stripped of any pretentious aspirations, the filmmaker seems to have fun again, returning to his roots and making us look forward to a RocknRolla sequel.
Fred Thom
 Movie Reviews: American Films
Reviews 2012 - present
Reviews 1998 - 2012
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