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RocknRolla (2008)

Director: Guy Ritchie

Time Out rating

Average user rating

29 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Wrong-footed by the new credit-crunch zeitgeist, but with recovered fluency after the hiccups of ‘Revolver’ and ‘Swept Away’, director Guy Ritchie’s latest returns to the caper comedy antics of unreconstructed London criminals familiar from his earlier ‘Lock, Stock…’ and ‘Snatch’.

The old smoke is changing: Tom Wilkinson’s ‘headmaster of the old-school’ villain seems a little tired, no match for the chutzpah of Gerard Butler’s drole ‘One Two’, one of the pair of the smaller-timers he employs to obtain a painting belonging to Karl Roden’s bent football-loving Russian billionaire, with whom the old gangster is co-operating on a real-estate scam. Matters are further complicated – that’s an understatement – by a plethora of criss-crossing strands involving lethally glamorous lawyer Thandie Newton, ghostly coke-head Toby Kebbell and trans-Atlantic music co-producers Ludacris and Jeremy Piven.

Despite its putatively ‘strong’ women characters, ‘RocknRolla’ is still basically ‘geezer cinema’, concocted to Ritchie’s habitual formula: gangster-land parody packed out with well-mounted action sequences, slick visuals (here courtesy of David Higgs), flashcard editing, eclectic scoring and some funny, sometimes Pinter-esque, hardman patter. Forgetting its ‘Long Good Friday’ pretensions and allowing for its air of laddish self-congratulation and its sad whiff of homophobia – admittedly, quite a big ask – Ritchie’s film is arguably his most entertaining to date. With its cheeky wit, non-PC provocations, cock-eyed class-consciousness and cheerful irreverence it could be the closest thing to Ealing comedy we’re offered these days.

Author: Wally Hammond 2008-09-02 11:11:54

Time Out London Issue 1985, 4-10 Sept

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User reviews of this film

STARDOG said...

Posted on Feb 26 2009 15:05 The trouble is, when people who are gullible watch films like these, they think it's okay to behave in a smilar fashion. Hey, it's make-believe. In the real world we have to act as responsible adults otherwise we come across as retards. By that I mean be aware, be conscious, think rationally, be kind to others, be tolerant,try to understand what the big picture is in this life. This world has had enough of war and hatred and destruction. Be a voice for change. It starts with us as individuals. If we can't be at peace with each other there will never be peace on this earth. But there can and will be because of those who want it to be. Don't make the mistake of thinking politicians or religions are going to save us; all they've managed so far is the opposite. They're worse than useless. So there's only us left, the silent majority, more powerful than you can ever imagine if we just make the right choices. Right on!

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PERFECT DAY said...

Posted on Feb 26 2009 09:26 Jonny McDuff - yeah Max. Calm the heck down. Go and watch one of Guy's films again. Swearing at people when they don't agree with you. You teeny little person.
Most people know that RockNRolla was a load of old tosh - except you, apparently. I suspect you are a 12 year old.

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Jesus said...

Posted on Feb 25 2009 19:54 Max, someone's rattled your cage mate, but calm down or you'll have a miscarriage. It's all a matter of opinions, that's all it is, and as such isn't worth a fart in a hurricane. You're welcome to like old Ritchie's films, if that's what gets you going and no-one has a problem with that. Peace and goodwill to all brothers and sisters. There's more to life than meets the eye.

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Max said...

Posted on Feb 25 2009 09:25 Given that you tried to sound like a cockney over the internet, I'll take it you've got the IQ of a marmaset on crystal meth and forget to tell you - which is funny given that I'm going to anyway - that film is all about personal opinion. I simply railed because there's a difference between not liking a film, and deliberately trying to belittle it. I'd tell you to put that up your pot and smoke it, but I'm sure the ganja's fucked you up enough as it is.
"mayyyyyyyyyyyyyyt."

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JONNY MCDUFF said...

Posted on Feb 23 2009 15:50 Max - you must be avin a bubble, mate!
This is the biggest pile of codswallop ever screened. You're taste is right up your conchana mate. In other words you know nuffin about films. Nish. David Nish. Bish Bash Bosh! That's what I just done to you. Mug.

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Max Cartwright said...

Posted on Feb 23 2009 12:59 How can you say that kind of shit about Guy Ritchie's films? Were you fucked in the anus at birth? Like, genuinely, how can you not have enjoyed the film or at the very least found it amusing in the way it was filmed? Powerful cinematography with - yes, perhaps slightly boring - a good storyline that leads to a powerful sounding sequel and filled with believable characters that you can find interesting AND hate at the same time. To be honest, you can't compare it to Lock Stock and Snatch: why would you be so fucking stupid, as to compare it to those legends? It's on a new level - whether you think it's higher or lower is irrespective, it's still a good film and for you to expect it to be like a film with an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT STORYLINE is like me letting your mum escape without a facial. Leave.

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fergus said...

Posted on Sep 30 2008 22:31 Once upon a time Guy Ritchie went to the cinema with Mrs Madge and they saw Tarantino's useless Reservoir Dogs. He was impressed, being a moron, and has been desperately trying to make an English version ever since. He succeeds only in embarrassing himself. His films are painful to watch. Why can't he, and his awful old missus, both quit trying to be cool and go away somewhere and try living like human beings instead of the archprats that they are.

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Gary said...

Posted on Sep 29 2008 21:45 Neither classic nor funny like Lock Stock and Snatch. They were classics, then Guy Richie made this pile of s**t. I only spent 3 quid for a tciket and i now wish i could have bought a good lunch with that...yes, the films was awful!! Anyone who thinks this good or thinks this is Guy Richie at his best...you r r****ds. Cause of crap like this, i gave up on British films ages ago, they r not good anymore. Overall, the concept, the plot, the humor and the title(!!) of the film were all bad. The only part i actually liked in the film was the Russians who would not just die!! That was the only part in the film that i thought was good, the rest, just shite!! oh and the ending/cliffhanger is bad too, and they cannot make a sequel from a shitty film...shitty film = shitty sequel

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MUA said...

Posted on Sep 21 2008 15:37 Brilliant, i've enjoyed every minute. I could watch it over and over again. And Gerard Butler is one of my favourite actors.Really worth watching!!!

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muffin man said...

Posted on Sep 21 2008 11:23 very good movie will watch again,ding to the dong

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larky/man said...

Posted on Sep 20 2008 20:54 critics are for the toilet?am a gona watch his film tonite, as the mans /mans got it..hes even got the burd ,madge the best a luck to him......

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blah said...

Posted on Sep 20 2008 14:42 the best film ever

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Madison said...

Posted on Sep 20 2008 12:24 Violence for the sake of violence, feeble humour, largely incomprehensible plot. Redeemed only by stand out performance by Tony Keeble and enjoyable soundtrack. Any film that has 22-20s on the soundtrack is worthy of at least 1 star.

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Alina said...

Posted on Sep 19 2008 16:06 Good one, going to see it second time!!! recommend everyone!

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ben said...

Posted on Sep 19 2008 08:49 This film was awful - please save your money and watch something else. We walked out half way through it was that bad.

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