Guy Ritchie burst onto the scene with his trademark frenetic, violent, cleverly interwoven stories of gangsters and crime-lords in Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. In the years since, Ritchie has moved further and further from his roots, handling bigger budgets and properties – such as the recent Aladdin remake – to somewhat mixed results. The Gentlemen is a triumphant return to form for the director, a rip-roaring, sharp-tongued journey through the inner-workings of rival marijuana criminal syndicates and gangsters set against the familiar backdrop of London. While the story can get a little too crazy at times, the all-star cast, led by Matthew McConaughey, hold it all together and make this one of Ritchie’s most enjoyable and best films in a long time, and a hell of a way to start off the 2020 year of movies.
Like those other earlier films, The Gentlemen is told through stories within stories, which ultimately all collide together in spectacular fashion. The large portion of the narrative is told by cocksure, flamboyant private investigator Fletcher (Hugh Grant) – who has been tasked with tailing marijuana empire kingpin Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) and gathering information for a newspaper exposé – as he attempts to blackmail Pearson through his right hand man Raymond (Charlie Hunnam) to the tune of 20 million pounds. This comes at a particularly tenuous time for Mickey, who is in the process of leaving the business he helped create; negotiating to sell the business to rival drug lord Matthew (Jeremy Strong), whilst newcomer on the scene Dry Eye (Henry Golding) makes his own desperate play for Michael’s crown. Add to this a host of supporting characters from outside the mobs such as Colin Farrell’s gym owner Coach and you have an explosive clash of forces vying for supremacy, which brings with it an abundance of backstabbing, scheming and violence.
What holds the films increasingly off-kilter story together and gives it its flair is the dialogue. It’s clearly evident that Ritchie understands this world and sub-culture of British life as if he’d lived it all himself – from the constant banter and local slang to the downright menacing threats made by these despicable characters – it works to give the film its own character and charm; you feel like you’ve stepped into this modern British underworld yourself (complete with fight scenes that also double as Grime music videos). As things continue to go in all directions, it’s the kooky cast of characters that Ritchie has assembled and the way in which they interact that holds you as an audience – which somewhat surprisingly gives everyone a chance to show off their comedy chops. Make no mistake, in addition to the violence audiences know Ritchie for, The Gentlemen is hilarious.
This is due to the simply stellar cast Ritchie has gathered, all of whom have their own individual quirks or affectations that make them endlessly watchable. Take McConaughey’s Mickey for example; we find out very early on that he is an extremely dangerous man and has got his position through less than reputable means. What McConaughey gives us after we learn this though, is a calmly measured, almost too relaxed leader – a ticking time bomb. It’s a masterful technique to get you invested in the characters and have you wanting to learn more about them. Despite it being McConaughey’s movie, the show is undeniably stolen by Hugh Grant. The iconic British actor goes about as far from his usual roles as possible as the conniving, wily journalist Fletcher, complete with a strong Cockney accent and a taste for Charlie Hunnam’s Raymond. The verbal sparring matches between Hunnam and Grant are some of the best scenes Ritchie has put to film; funny as well as intriguing, with both men on their toes trying to outwit the other: Fletcher attempting to throw Raymond off through sly advances and Raymond responding in kind with a calm, cocky confidence in his boss and their combined power. Hunnam more than holds his own against Grant in a more restrained, understated role than he usually plays, delivering some of his best work since Sons of Anarchy.
The Gentlemen is a burst of fresh air for the start of the new year. A magnificent, guns blazing, fists swinging return to form for Guy Ritchie who goes back to his roots to give audiences all the hallmarks of his greatest work and the world he understands so well. If you’re not a fan of Ritchie’s earlier work, then this isn’t going to bring you over anytime soon, but for those that are along for the ride, the combination of a stellar cast, non-stop violence and more banter and NSFW jokes than you could ever ask for should be more than enough to keep you satisfied and have you leaving with a smile. If you haven’t seen a Guy Ritchie film before, then this is a damn good place to start.
The Gentlemen stars Matthew McConaughey, Hugh Grant, Charlie Hunnam, Colin Farrell, Michelle Dockery, Jeremy Strong & Henry Golding – In cinemas now.