RocknRolla

What’s the Story?

In present-day London, a group of low-level criminals known as "The Wild Bunch" is in debt to Lenny (Tom Wilkinson), the king of London's underground -- who's also trying to serve as the go-between as a Russian crime lord tries to get government approval for a new building project. At the same time, the Russian's beautiful accountant is setting him up to be robbed by The Wild Bunch, and Lenny's degenerate, drug-addicted rock star stepson has faked his own death to both get away from it all and boost his record sales.

Is It Any Good?

ROCKNROLLA marks a return to form for writer-director Guy Ritchie, who burst onto the scene with the stylish, Tarantino-influenced crime films Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. But recent years have seen Ritchie mentioned more for his marriage to Madonna than his films, so RocknRolla's mix of crime and comedy is a welcome reminder of what he can do when he does what he does best. Shot on digital video, RocknRolla has a loose, fun feel to it -- thanks in no small part to Gerard Butler's charming work as lead gangster "One-Two" and Mark Strong's work as classy crook Archie.

Other standouts in the cast include Toby Kebell, who plays burnt-out rock musician/junkie Johnny Quid; Kebell conveys the desperation, elation, squalor, and sleaze of serious crack addiction in a way that makes his bit part the soul of the film. Ritchie has a real flair for cartoon violence -- a robbery-fight-chase scene plays out as blood-soaked hilarity -- which means that RocknRolla is a higher grade of high-gloss caper-crime-comedy film. Ritchie has suggested that there'll be a series of films with these characters, and while it's hard to imagine anyone crying out for that as a matter of necessity after seeing RocknRolla, at least this film is a fun ride while you're watching it.