the gentlemen
★★★★
DIRECTOR: guy ritchie (lock, stock and two smoking barrels, snatch)
STARRING: matthew mcconaughey, charlie hunnam, michelle dockerty, and henry golding
REVIEWER: lyall carter
A British drug lord tries to sell off his highly profitable empire to a dynasty of Oklahoma billionaires.
It’s been a while since Guy Ritchie has been out on a crime caper, with his films steadily becoming more studio friendly. But he’s back with The Gentlemen is all of his geezer glory.
Mickey Pearson, an American ex-pat, has built a highly profitable marijuana empire in London. When word gets out that he's looking to cash out of the business forever it triggers plots, schemes, bribery and blackmail in an attempt to steal his domain out from under him.
Everything you loved about Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch is all here in The Gentlemen. Led by gutter press journalist Fletcher’s narration we are thrust into this gangster tale which, like Ritchie’s Lock Stock and Snatch, begins simply but descends into a tangled web of miss direction, crossing, and double crossing. The dialogue crackles and sparkles with vigour, hilarity and wit
Coming off a couple of tough years since winning his Oscar McConaughey returns to form as Mickey becoming the linchpin around which The Gentlemen revolves. Michelle Dockery and Henry Golding more than shake off their ‘goodie two shoes’ persona with roles that are so removed from one’s that audiences would know them from. Charlie Hunnam proves once again that he’s the most underrated leading actors of his generation: he is hands down brilliant in this.
Hugh Grant steals every scene he's in as well as the wonderful Colin Farrell. They’re both uproaringly hilarious.
Guy Ritchie is back on form with a film that is filled with a cracking yarn, witty dialogue and memorable performances from this ensemble cast. Make sure you catch these geezers.