Thread: Review: RocknRolla

RocknRolla: 2008 British Film (Warner Bros)
Written & Directed by Guy Ritchie (Earlier films - Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch) Guy Ritchie was also married to Madonna once.

Cast:
Gerard Butler (Scottish Actor, Earlier films - P.S. I love you (with
Hillary Swank), Butterfly on a wheel (with Piersce Brosnan)

Thandie Newton (English Actress, Earlier films - Mission Impossible 2, Pursuit of Happyness (w/Will Smith),Norbit (w/Eddie Murphy) This actress is one good looking chick owing to her mixed stock.

Tom Wilkinson (Academy Nominee), Earlier Films- Batman Begins, The Patriot (w/Mel Gibson)

Story:
Lenny Cole (Tom Wilkinson) is a biggie in the London underworld. Knows all the right people and the strings to pull. A Russian billionaire (billions earned probably by dealing in arms in the ex-Soviet era) interested in developing property in London enlists Lenny's help to smooth up the process. Lenny agrees to do so for 7 mil euros. The Russian directs his sexy accountant (Thandie) to transfer the cash to Lenny. But two small time crooks Mumbles and One Two (Gerard Butler) grab the money enroute.Also a painting which was loaned to Lenny by the Russian as a token of good faith is stolen from Lenny's office. This sends Lenny into a frenzy to locate it before the trigger happy Russian came to know about it. And when the Russian's money is hijacked yet again (by the same two) he sents out his borscht eating gorillas (ex war criminals as described by Butler) to find out who were hitting his money train. Many violent scenes take place in quick succession (Golf clubs, Machetes, Guns, even feeding people to Crawfish)before the movie ends with a surprise twist.

Opinion:
I liked the movie because it is refreshingly different from American crime flicks. The clipped English accent is nice but sometimes a bit difficult to follow especially if you have been brought up on a diet of American movies. Subtitles are however available at Subscene for the Diamond Rip. Gerald Butler is great in this movie. This guy is handsome (he was voted #5 Ultimate Male Hottie of All Time by Entertaintment Weekly in 2007). There is a scene in this movie where his best friend turns out to be gay and makes a pass at him. Gerard's reaction to this is hilarious, you should see it to believe it.

Tom Wilkinson as crime boss Lenny Cole is nothing short of fantastic. I felt that this movie was entirely his movie. It is his acting that makes this movie a comic action movie rather than any other common action flick. Those who have seen "The Patriot" will remember him as General Cornwallis whom Mel Gibson fools into releasing his mates who were to be hanged the next day.

Thandie Newton is born of an English father and a Zimbabwean mother. Her mixed parentage has given her the exotic look and she is a fine actor as well. She is brilliant in her role as the fashionable metropolitan accountant smoking cool thin black cigarettes. She is married to a lawyer who is as gay as any gay can be and thus fulfils her needs on the sly with Butler.

I read in a magazine that the DVD version was scheduled to be released no earlier than 27th Jan 2009.

I would recommend the movie for those who like British Films and action comedies. As for the rest I suggest you see it just because Gerard Butler and Thandie Newton are in it. But if you are a special effects loony or someone who fancies one man army movies, then you may give this movie the miss. On a rating of 10 I give it a 8.5.
(+) Strong story line, Great Acting, Good Comedy, Presence of the cool factor!
(-) Lengthy dialogues, Brit Accent.

Screenshot:


:14::rockon:

Good review.