Review of RocknRolla (2008) by Mike S — 03 Aug 2010

This film bears so many of the toff guy's signature flourishes that it's more like a homage or pastiche of his earlier works by another director. There's the screen wipe transitions, quick-quick-slow shots and endless how's-yer-farver dialogue but somehow it makes for some very entertaining cinema.

An all-star cast deliver their cockney muppetry with elan; Mark Strong proves once again that he's one of our finest villains; Tom Wilkinson's realistic portrayal as Lenny sends a few shivers while Gerard Butler and his crew fill out the interlocking plot lines with some richly endearing performances.

It's pace is brisk and tightly-wound, like one long set-piece (the flash-back robbery sequence standing out as one of Ritchie's finest moments on celluloid). Witty, nasty and colourful, RocknRolla is not your usual barrel of cockney monkeys but a cartoon gangster film packed to the gunnels with flash and panache.

Despite my earlier take on his career, this film (along with his wonderful Sherlock Holmes) proves that Guy can still pull them out of his hat. Sweet as a nut.