But by returning to what he knows best, the director has created a quality film, that although lacks originality, is engaging and entertaining throughout.
It might not possess the gritty charm of Ritchie’s earlier films, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, but is slick and stylish revealing a director with more experience and confidence.
It’s also refreshing to see Ritchie hit the headlines as a filmmaker rather than being pestered by the tabloids for being Mr Madonna.
Rocknrolla centres on a property development and the tug-of-war between London and Russian gangsters for power, money and influence.
There is a fragile balance until £7million goes missing and troubled rockstar Johnny Quid (probably based loosely on Pete Doherty) steals a ‘lucky painting’.
As a comically exaggerated take on the London underworld, it is at its best when it is most absurd. One of the best and most hilarious bits is
a relentless fight and chase scene between two rival gangs after a less-than-perfect heist.
Some bits may also make you think of Tarantino. For example, the ‘lucky painting’ is constantly mentioned but never seen, just like the contents of the brief case in Pulp Fiction and one character is almost tortured to a hazy soundtrack just like in Reservoir Dogs.
Ritchie’s never going to set the world alight with his movies but what he does, he does extremely well. Definitely worth a watch.
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