It’s only “RocknRolla.” But I liked it.
Madonna’s soon-to-be ex-husband delivers another of his fun, throwaway British crime farces today. And if director-writer Guy Ritchie’s latest fast-motion, wildly-structured caper picture didn’t feature a different ensemble of kooky Limey lowlifes, it could almost be a sequel to either of his entertaining previous films, 1998’s “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and 2000’s “Snatch.”
Again goofing on macho swagger, hubris and greed, the filmmaker offers no message or food for thought with his eccentric menageries in the wry action subgenre he has invented. But the ride is full of strangely sympathetic — if massively flawed — anti-heroes, creatively exciting violence, and a distinctly acerbic Cockney flavor.
“RocknRolla’s” extensive cast of primary characters are interrelated to each other in unpredictable, convoluted ways that only come clear as the story unfolds. It hinges on two unknowns: the shifting locations of a valuable painting and the mystery identity of an informant in the midst of a ragtag collection of London hoodlums called the Wild Bunch.
“300’s” Gerard Butler plays a street bloke named “One Two” who leads the posse. It includes a closeted gay member (Tom Hardy) who harbors a secret — and very comical — crush on him.
The rich folks are the real shady ones here — from the sexy-posh accountant Stella (Thandie Newton) and her Russian billionaire client Uri (Karel Roden) to the junkie rock star Johnny (Toby Kebbell) and the crooked real estate mogul Lenny (Tom Wilkinson).
As the financier behind the Wild Bunch, as aided by his chief henchman Archy (“Body of Lies’” great Mark Strong), Lenny is the power broker between the underworld and the judges and zoning board honchos who can make or break big deals. He sells his influence to Uri for 7 million euros.
But Stella, who has a covert direct connection to the Wild Bunch, enlists the bad boys to help her steal the illegal payoff cash. Meanwhile, Uri’s “good luck” painting is pilfered from Lenny’s possession. This all leads to the arrival of Uri’s two gigantic, insanely sadistic, Russian enforcers who set much murder and mayhem in motion.
“Entourage’s” Jeremy Piven and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges also appear in the amusing proceedings. They play the managers of rocker Johnny, who shakes up the climax of “RocknRolla.” But it is filmmaker Ritchie’s vivid imagination and gangster cool that really do the job.
Quick Info
“RocknRolla”
3 out of 5 Stars
Stars: Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton, Mark Strong
Director: Guy Ritchie.
Rated R for pervasive language, violence, drug use and brief sexuality.
Running Time 114 minutes
