When Guy Ritchie is “on,” there is no one like him in the movie medium. When he first arrived on the scene with Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and then Snatch, his filmmaking style was hard to miss. It was frenetic, and featured tension that was crackling with suspense. Also, there is a dialogue rhythm to a Ritchie script that is also incredibly unique. Over the years, the filmmaker has had some misses (Swept Away—which we will chalk up to a marriage thing he did cause he was married to Madonna) and even took a character many thought was dated (Sherlock Holmes) and made it his own and a fantastic franchise was born.
One of those misses, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., had many of his fans wondering if the magic was wearing thin. Then, he scored with his director for hire live action remake of Aladdin and then out of nowhere, a trailer for The Gentlemen arrived and it gave myself, and millions like me who adore the British filmmaker, head-to-toe chills. Ritchie was back in the English-set crime underworld with character conversations that pop off the screen and action that is pure Ritchie-ian. The flick is out now on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital download formats and it is a don’t miss. Heck, it’s a must-own for a multitude of reasons.
The Gentlemen is a stylish crime caper that focuses on a weed drug kingpin, Michael Pearson (Matthew McConaughey), whose world starts to close in on him. Friends, and foes alike, start to wonder weather the ex-pat is looking to parachute out of the business that made him millions. Pearson and his wife, Rosalind Pearson (Downton Abbey’s Michelle Dockery), are quite the team and her fierceness in defense of her husband on a myriad of fronts, is downright fierce. By his side is his second-in-command, Ray (Charlie Hunnam, currently starring in True History of the Kelly Gang) … whose role in this tale is integral. His loyalty is only matched by his ability to diffuse a tense situation by any means necessary.
Meanwhile, there are those who seek to dethrone the king of the jungle. Leading the way is Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding, who wins the award for best Ritchie moniker this time out with his Dry Eye. The always affable actor plays against type and utterly nails it as the most antagonizing antagonist in Ritchie’s latest. Also, charming and killing it in the filmmaker’s delightful drug biz farce is Colin Farrell as Coach, frequent Ritchie collaborators Jeremy Strong is Matthew and Eddie Marsan scores as Big Dave. Then, there’s an actor whose performance in The Gentlemen has us hoping the Academy will recall this flick come voting time for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. Hugh Grant ‘s take on Fletcher is instantly iconic. It is a performance for the ages and one that will be studied for years as it is just so crazy-intense. The veteran actor delivers Ritchie’s popping prose with panache and power that is simply exquisite.
McConaughey could not have been more impeccably cast. He brings his American sensibilities to this British crime drama and commands your attention in every single scene he is in. Matching his intensity is Dockery. She is not simply a trophy wife, or even a supportive partner who will go to the ends of the earth for their spouse. Dockery portrays Rosalind as every much the kingpin as her husband. If, for whatever reason, Michael could not continue ruling over his jungle, Rosalind taking over would be seamless. That makes the pair tough to beat and within the scope of this story. Rosalind and Michael are on a collision course with their foes and to call it explosive … well, that would do disservice to the seismic power shift of what occurs when all is said and done in The Gentlemen.
The least one knows about this flick the better heading into that first view. So, plot points here will stop with the above and go no further. But this much can be stated … if Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels set the bar for Ritchie crime complexities, then The Gentlemen raises that bar exponentially. This is a complicated script with countless layers and double-crosses that is mesmerizing. Clearly, the screenwriter aspect of the filmmaker’s journey has grown immensely. There are countless moments throughout his latest film that is just so impressive for a multitude of reasons.
For more on the film itself, read our theatrical The Gentlemen review.
The bonus features on any Ritchie flick, for this fan, are always a must-view. Diving into those extras is usually a fully joyous experience, much like removing the curtain and revealing the Wizard in Oz. Ritchie’s films that are “on” are usually a fun ride and his making-of featurettes capitalize on that sentiment. Behind the Scenes of The Gentlemen gives viewers a front row seat to how Ritchie and his team of troubadours brought this stunning script to life in the most visceral of ways. The cast wax poetic about their fearless creator and leader and one can see why there are a slew of frequent visitors to the world of Ritchie. Actors and actresses love working with him and that’s one reason why they keep coming back. There are many other reasons as well, and those are gleaned all over this fun featurette.
There are some bloody brilliant one-liners sprinkled throughout Ritchie’s latest and kudos to whoever thought to create a home video extra centered around those quips deserves a standing ovation. Best Gentlemanly Quips is exactly as it seems it would be, and it is a delight that will be played repeatedly. Some of the finest lines in the film are spotlighted and one reason they are so fine is the source—Ritchie’s script. This featurette firmly illustrates the filmmaker’s gift of gab and then turns the focus on the thespians who have the joy of delivering these cinematic pieces of gold.
Speaking of “words” and how they are used, Glossary of Cannabis provides viewers with a Mary Jane 101 as to the coinage utilized when describing the product at the center of McConaughey’s onscreen empire. Think you know all the verbiage to describe the seed-bearing plant? Test yourself with this featurette and you may be surprised.
Film Grade: A-
Bonus Features: B+