DVDpendence .
videophile

ROCK N ROLLA

With Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Strong, Thandie Newton, Toby Kebbell, Karel Roden, Idris Elba, Ludacris, Jimi Mistry, Matt King, Jeremy Piven

Written & Directed by Guy Ritchie

There is a section of the population that cannot stand the movies of Guy Ritchie, some of them because he was married to Madonna, others because he's hardly the same caliber of London tough guy he brings to life in his movies. Some despise him because of the horrendous Swept Away, but, not everyone can be on form 100% of the time. Then there are those like me who really enjoy his movies without really knowing why (except for Swept Away, of course). His visual style set in motion with Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, and unforgettable characters further enhanced with Snatch, and then of course there is the colourful dialogue all throughout. Sure, I don't really care much for movies going the hip criminal route and money at the root of the premise, but when Ritchie combines all of these elements and a sense of humour there is some good entertainment value.
Where Lock Stock had the antique shotguns as the item around which everything revolves, and Snatch had the precious stone, Rock N Rolla has a painting at the focal point with the various intersecting character threads milled about it, set to come to an explosive head. The various pockets of personalities include a bunch of likeable crims calling themselves the Wild Bunch - they get into serious debt with the man who holds all the strings when it comes to getting untouchable buildings approved for development. He is making a huge deal with a wealthy Russian to build a stadium and has a crack head rock star step-son. The Russian is infatuated with his (crafty) female accountant who has a taste for danger. When millions are stolen and the deals are endangered the hen house gets shaken and things start to collide with several more peripheral characters pulled into the fray.
With an exciting pace, violent moments and plenty of humour, Ritchie's latest offering cannot be accused of being boring.

Extra features include a commentary track by Ritchie, a deleted scene, and a look at the changing face of London and the areas featured in the movie, including the locations and the newly developed areas which has grown partly due to many underhanded deals over the last decade.

5 / B
- Paul Blom


0 1 2 3 4 5 6
- A - B
- C


6 - Volcanic
5 - Blistering
4 - Hot
3 - Smolder
2 - Room Temp.
1 - Fizzled
0 - Extinguished

A: Multiple Viewing Potential
B: Deserves Another Look
C: Once Should Suffice

© 2009 - Flamedrop Productions