The last really good “gangster” film from Guy Ritchie was ROCKnROLLA (2008). Guy’s output in the London gangsters arena has been slow and a tad arthritic. Ritchie’s next effort was The Gentlemen in 2019, which was an 11 year break between tales of London wide boys. The latter offering was a tepid rehash of what made RnR so much fun. Now, five years later, we have Netflix offering up diluted Guy Ritchie in this “follow up” with the small screen version of The Gentlemen.
Stephen King tells a story about his son Joe Hill. The now grown, and successful author, was approximately five years old at the time of the story. The tale has to do with the plethora of left-over turkey after the familial feast. The crux of the turkey story was the youngsters rejoinder to an announcement that, yet again, left-over fowl was on the menu. Joe looked at the offering on hand and cried (sic) “Not this sh*t again!”
Our reaction upon seeing The Gentlemen being revisited on Netflix was, at least, in spirit with young Joe Hill. After watching the short series, the kinship was real. As five year old Joe wisely pointed out, warmed over excrement is still excrement.
This is not to say that the Netflix version of The Gentlemen smells like last week’s fish, but in terms of fecundity, the bloom has gone off that rose, so to speak.
Rocknrolla gold
Guy Ritchie reached fever pitch with the 2008 film ROCKnROLLA. A heady mix of those London criminals and the new Russian Oligarch. Back in the days of the “Cossacks” buying up dizzying amounts of London real estate. The pacing was crisp, the dialogue clever and the editing was spot on.
All the main and secondary characters interacted with something approaching serendipity. From the slang slinging street hoodlums to their leader, played to perfection by the late Tom Wilkerson and on to the clinically correct Russian mob leader Uri (Karel Roden) there is a certain underlying poetry to each scene.
*Side note: Has the phrase “Victor please come to join us,” ever evoked such a sense of comedic dread?*
The entire film is actually spelled out by Johnny Quid (Played to perfection by Toby Kebbell.) as he explains how a pack of Virginian killing sticks contains everything we need to know about life and where we fit in it.
As Johnny rhythmically recites his cigarette litany of life, his stepfather, Lenny; “the headmaster,” is being schooled in the art of pain by Uri and Victor. This sequence, more than any other, illustrates the very tautness of Guy Ritchie. This is Ritchie on fire. This is gangsta gold.
The Gentlemen bronze
The Gentlemen (2019) offers a look at the gangsters from a different point of view, an American one. While this Matthew McConaughey vehicle is good. It is not great. Despite having an excellent cast list, it fails. The very fact that the entire film is stolen by Colin Farrell in the chip shop scene, says is all.
This scene does not delve into the philosophical pastiche of Kebbell’s pack of cigarettes as life. Instead, it relies on lowkey violence. Slight of hand techniques by an expert. A lesson, nonetheless, but one aimed at the young, vapid and gobby.
The plot is clever, to an extent, but lacks the sheer brilliance of the “Wild Bunch” film. It does, however, leave the backdoor open for the next vehicle.
The gentlemen Netflix Brass
The first film in this little trilogy, sings. There are moments where character’s shine, regardless of the setting. Take Gemma Arterton‘s June, where she “spontaneously” spurts “Thanks” when Lenny describes her flatteringly. Or Ludacris as Mickey, the manager who has a long diatribe about the lack of dry ice. Or even Johnny’s “cowering” cry to Arch, “Don’t hurt me Arch! I’m only little,” all work both independently of each other while at the same time resonating beautifully as a whole.
Netflix attempts this trick with this third offering of gangsta’s in England. This iteration has the entire kitchen sink of nefarious crooks and drug dealers. It even visits the NATs (New Age Travellers). There is the introduction of mad as a hatter religious sects, steeped in violence along with the usual players.
Ray Winstone is the family head who wants to keep the landed gentry on a tight lead as long as possible. His daughter Susie runs the gauntlet between all the criminals one could desire as she plays the new Duke for a patsy.
Sadly, there is no music here. The darkly comic touch of ROCKnROLLA is missing. The melodic patter of the various crime lords is a vacuous mumble. Attempting clever threat and falling very short of the mark.
Everyone, it seems, criminal and aristocracy alike, love classical music, speak in moronic riddles and threats are delivered in a monotone.
Sadly, there was no Colin Farrell slapping a lot of lads about in this one. And while is it always wonderful to see Nigel Havers in anything, his cameo role was too short by half.
If you have Netflix, give this one a look, if you must. But be warned, this is the road less travelled and it is a lonely one. We would like to point out, there is no Russian bodyguard sequence in either of these two “Gentlemen” films. We hav, however, left you trailers of the other Ritchie vehicles in this little trilogy. Enjoy.
You must be logged in to post a comment.