There is one word that comes to mind when I think about RocknRolla: cool. The movie is directed by Guy Ritchie, who has directed movies such as Snatch and Lock, Stock, and 2 Smoking Barrels. This movie is a lot like those. The story has many sub-plots that all connect to each other by the end. The movie is full of unique characters that have their own unique quirks.
This excellent ensemble cast includes Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, and Thandie Newton. The actors have a lot of freedom to play up their characters, and make them seem terrible but with a sense of humor. Ritchie is able to do that in all of his movies. He can set the character up to be this horrible person, but always can find humor in them and in their situations. No character is perfect in a Ritchie movie and they all are greedy in one way or another. They want it all.
The movie centers around a mob boss (Wilkinson) who owns the town and a Russian who wants to give him a lot of money to build an arena in his town. In the mix, there is a group called the Wild Bunch (Butler, Idris Elba and Tom Hardy) who want money and an accountant (Newton) who hires them. Let’s not forget the rock star junkie (Toby Kebbell) who is missing and must be found. However, the problems start with a missing painting. A very important and lucky painting. The plot unfolds from there.
As soon as the movie starts with its opening credits, you know this movie is going to be a rollercoaster ride. I mean that in a good way. The way Ritchie tells this story is entertaining and cool. The way the movie opens is cool and the way the movie ends is cool. And of course, the music in it is cool. This movie isn’t so far from his others that I mentioned earlier, but it does deliver like the others.
RocknRolla is a movie that sets itself a part from others. It allows itself to have freedom in its storytelling and have fun with it as well. Ritchie has his own way of doing things, but he still tells a good story with great characters while letting the humor and entertainment roll with the punches.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
Check out the SoBros Shop. Become a Patron. Give us money for no reason. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Watch on YouTube.
