RocknRolla (2008)

One of the few films that. I have ever given up on. My wife and I got 40 minutes in, and decided it wasn't interesting, funny, clever or charming. The only skill we could discern, was that of making so many talented actors act so incredibly poorly. The script sounded like it was written by a clever teenager; naive and heavy handed without any of the subtlety that experience would bring.

I'll give Guy Ritchie some credit and I'm prepared to accept that this is certainly a handsome and stylish looking film, and, to an extent is also fairly well put together. However, that's probably about the best I can say for it to be honest...The set-up for the story opens with promise and as expected we're bearing witness to a twisting, turning narrative complete with one or two surprises to follow later in the film. Despite the promising set-up though it's actually surprising how uninvolving this film is as a whole. Essentially it's a rather humourless tale complete with rather shallow characters who share little rapport or chemistry. I think a combination of flat characterisation and a pedestrian script are perhaps the biggest contributors to this film being a bit of a snore-fest. Whilst Ritchie weaves all the strands of the story together well he does occasionally get side-tracked with pointless and dumb plot elements (such as the two junkies flogging items and Tom Hardy's character being gay). The slapping scene is another example of a moderately amusing gag being stretched rather thin and again seemed to add unnecessary running time to the picture. I couldn't help but feel that this is another 90 minute film that's been painfully stretched to nearly 120 minutes which perhaps explains why I found large parts of the film to be rather boring.Looking at RockNRolla in 2016 it's interesting to see the likes of Tom Hardy and Idris Elba before they hit the big time and whilst Tom Hardy was actually very good here sadly Idris Elba didn't make the same impact - although I'd put more of the blame on Guy Ritchie for underusing Elba and giving him nothing to do. Tom Wilkinson is good fun as mob boss Lenny Cole but he gives a rather hammy performance which wears thin and stops becoming fun by the time we reach the second half of the picture. Mark Strong is solid as Cole's loyal right-hand man and Toby Kebbell is also amusing here but isn't really given enough screen time to make the necessary impact.Having enjoyed both Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch I did have high hopes for RockNRolla and expected more of the same, and whilst Guy Ritchie admirably weaves all the strands of the story together well he does it all in a rather humourless and dull manner making this film something of a yawner.

Where is the sequel Mr. Ritchie? I'm about to give up however you promised a sequel! I know the RocknRolla gross wasn't overwhelming but I don't think you lost money and you've die hard fans that sorely want that cast reassembled for another go around (except of course the rat). If you wait much longer it probably won't be possible. For all you guys out there that like Ritchie gangster movies over Scorsese gangster movies (don't get me wrong Goodfellas was great but the characters were sociopaths/psychopaths and the violence was over the top). Guy brings palatable violence to the table in a thoroughly enjoyable vehicle! I've watched Goodfellas once and was impressed but never felt inclined to revisit but I've seen RocknRolla at least 10 times and now I've it memorized and I need fresh material Mr. Ritchie! Oh by the way I wouldn't mind seeing Thandie again, but that's probably not possible! Didn't give it 10 stars as the material just didn't seem to warrant it despite my enjoyment!

RocknRolla (2008): Dir: Guy Ritchie / Cast: Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Strong, Thandie Newton, Tom Hardy: Violent gangster type flick about emotional adrenaline. It regards a huge real estate player in London who addresses high profile citizens as pawns. He can make success or disaster arrive to anyone depending where they stand on his level of trust. Directed by Guy Ritchie with the same style he brought to Love, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. This film delivers a playful use of violence as seen in those other films that toys with its entertainment placement. Gerard Butler plays a gangster who gets caught up in a web of crime, deceit and forbidden love until his violent lifestyle becomes the answer. Tom Wilkinson plays the wealthy honcho buying off situations and people until a sudden plot twist has him on the other end of disaster. Mark Strong plays Wilkinson's right hand man who figures out that certain people are not who they seem and he attempts to set the records straight. Thandie Newton plays a contact of sly seduction who double crosses her contact, seduces Butler, and ultimately discovers that her nature can only ploy so long before it catches up to her. Tom Hardy plays a gangster and closet homosexual who may have eyes for the Butler character. Well crafted film that presents gangster type lifestyles as anything but pleasant. Score: 8 / 10