From the very first narration, you know it is a “typical” Guy Ritchie film, but though he has not prodded a new genre, his mastery over the British underworld is supreme. Like Sergio Leone, who took the Spaghetti Western to new heights, Ritchie has proven he can master a niche. This film’s anti-hero is played by Toby Kebbell as Johnny Quid and, though I’ve never heard of the kid before, he is sure to be a star. His take on a drug addicted, philosophizing, half-dead rock star is brilliant.
This film is chock full of great character acting, double entendres and radical Russians in one of the greatest chase scenes I have ever seen. A truly guy’s guy film, I will not recommend it to the ladies who are not in for a testosterone filled ride, but I would hope they would not recommend Mama Mia! to me either. Look for Gerard Butler, a great up and comer to the American mainstream, Tom Wilkinson, character actor extraordinaire, Thandie Newton, oddly a weaker part for her (she just can’t seem to pull off the ultra-sexy role), Ludacris and J. Piven as a couple of rock club managers, and super sexy Gemma Arterton, famous for her oil covered role in the new James Bond.
Rating: **** (out of five)
Filed under: Film | Tagged: Gemma Arterton, Gerard Butler, Guy Ritchie, Jeremy Piven, Ludacris, Thandie Newton, Toby Kebbell, Tom Wilkinson
