Guy Ritchie's "RocknRolla" (2008) is Worth Revisiting

I originally reviewed RocknRolla in early 2009 as a DVD recommendation. 

Writer/Director Guy Ritchie's RocknRolla focuses on London's criminal underworld where a real estate scam promises to generate millions of pounds for many unseemly individuals. RocknRolla is the first film in a proposed trilogy and the second installment has been written, but as of now, the project is on hold. Frankly, I think Guy Ritchie needs to make the second and third films a priority, since the first one was so terrific. 

The cast is led by Tom Wilkinson, who is one of the finest and most underrated actors in the movie industry. Wilkinson portrays Lenny Cole, a gangster who makes a deal with a Russian mobster, Uri (Karel Roden), to secure all necessary building permits for a new arena complex to be built in London. When Uri fails to come up with the money to initially secure the deal, problems between the two men develop and since they already mistrust each other, the deal may never be sealed. Uri is being double-crossed by his accountant, Stella (Thandie Newton), who is hired by a group of men known as the Wild Bunch to ensure that each time the money is en route to Lenny, it is intercepted. The ensuing chain of events leads to many dramatic and dark comedic moments throughout the film. 

The Wild Bunch are One Two (Gerard Butler), Handsome Bob (Tom Hardy) and Mumbles (Idris Elba). The three characters are fun, clever and entertaining and Butler is hysterical as the manly One Two, who has to deal with the fact that Handsome Bob is in love with him. Their scenes together are one of the highlights of this film, especially the one where they are dancing together.

Meanwhile, Lenny has more problems to deal with when he realizes that a prized painting, belonging to Uri, has been stolen from his home and he is desperate to get it back. Wilkinson is amazing as the sleazy, swaggering and sometimes viscous Lenny and he steals every scene in which he appears. Lenny must also deal with his drug addled stepson, Johnny Quid (Toby Kebbell), who is violent, unpredictable and keenly intelligent. Kebbell is perfectly cast and delivers a sometimes manic and often hilarious performance as a fearless smart-ass/loose canon.

Rounding out the supporting cast is Mark Strong, who portrays Archy, Lenny's loyal assistant. The numerous characters and the various story lines are expertly tied together in this well written and swiftly directed film featuring an incredibly talented ensemble cast who all create memorable characters that you will want to see again and again. As soon as possible.