RocknRolla

guy ritchie is hailed as the emperor of british gangster films...this film tells you exactly why such statements are made. 'rocknrolla' is the term used for a rock and roller at the east end of london. the film also cements that he shud stick to the genre of dark gangster comedies...his forte, a genre he is exceptionally good at. sure, he is not reinventing anything and theres nothing majorly new...but i guess when ur good at something, you should stick to it...its worked in the cae of hugh grant and it has here with mr. guy ritchie.

just like 'lock, stock...' and 'snatch', the plot is a complicated one...it has too many subplots and i'll get lost explaining them. there is one constant though: everybody is trying to con everybody (which is ritchie's speciality). the problem with movies that have too many subplots is that the audience gets lost and doesnt remember where it started. this is where the skill of ritchie as a director comes to play...he doesnt let the audience lose its attention and one understands everything that is going on...this itself is an achievement as a director and ritchie does it with ease.

as far as the style quotient is concerned, the film is oozing with it...every gangster film has to be stylish to work...'rocknrolla' is very high on this ingredient and everyone is distinct and dangerous in the film. comedy is the pillar of the film and again done with such ease and naturality that you cant help but laugh at implausible situations which seem very real and very funny.

tom wilkinson is the star of the film...he plays an old, arrogant, foul-mouthed gangster who is hilarious in parts and menacing as well. gerard butler is the head of the wild bunch (a bunch of crooks who get conned by wilkinson) and his acting is superb. his comic timing is precise and  there are some situations in the film where he makes you roll with laughter. toby kebbell is fantastic as the rocknrolla and one wonders where ritchie finds such talent. thandie newton plays the femme fatale and does an average job as she is the only character who is uni-dimensional.

the soundtrack of the film is very catchy and grows over you as the movie progresses. in all, 'RocknRolla' is nothing new from ritchie but a sound entertainer. he's developing into an institution in himself and i wouldnt eat my words when i say he is the tarantino of british cinema.

a must watch for his fans.

rating - 3.5/5