RockNRolla

Plot

The world of real estate underworld is front a centre as a Russian billionaire Uri wants to build a mega building, and is assisted by a British mob boss Lenny.

Two low level thugs owe 200k to said Mob Boss after he double crossed them. When the thugs learn that a money drop from the billionaire to the mob boss is occurring, they plan on robbing them to pay their debts.

Meanwhile, Uri has loaned Lenny his ‘lucky’ painting, which has been stolen by Lenny’s drug addicted step son – a rock star.

Direction

Ritchie writes and directs – and it has all of his usual ‘bri-ish’ humour and charm… but…

I didn’t really feel anything for any of these characters. Considering the cast behind them.

Some of Ritchie’s trademarks are front and centre, including filming techniques and screenplay.

Cast/Characters

With such great cast like Gerard Butler, Idris Elba, Tom Wilkinson, Thandiwe Newton, Tom Hardy, Mark Strong – and more, it feels like each of them were fairly underused.

Sometimes less is more.

Screenplay/Setting/Themes

Told from the point of view of Mark Strong’s Archibald/Archie – the #2 of Tom Wilkinson’s Lenny. Considering he is billed fourth, tis is a little strange.

The main problem is there is too much happening, with no real ‘hero’ character. While Butler is billed first, he is at times almost a small fish in a big bowl of ‘ensemble’ cast. If he is the primary character, his narrative arc is handled poorly as the ‘main problem’ is mentioned in the first few minutes (owing money to Lenny), and fixed by midway through the film.

The rest of the film is really the conflict between Uri and Lenny, and Uri wanting his painting back. This whole arc is just bizarre, and none of the characters involved are at all likeable – and ends abruptly with no real resolution.

There is also a third act twist in regards that has been done before in way better films (looking at you Departed).

Overall

This is a completely forgettable, badly written film. I had such high hopes considering what Ritchie has done previously and later on (however he’s had some clunkers since too). I’d give this one a miss.

2/5