The Gentlemen

There are films, when directed are not necessarily distinct in knowing who directed them. Then there are directors who have carried a unique style through the years: Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Rob Marshall, John Hughes and now we can add to that list Guy Ritchie with his newly directed "The Gentlemen". 

Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) is an American expatriate who became rich by building a marijuana empire in London. When word gets out that he's looking to cash out of business, it soon triggers an array of plots and schemes from those who want his fortune.
One character here is Fletcher (Hugh Grant) who is a dirty private detective who finds dirt on rich, powerful people then attempts to sell it to the highest bidder. Fletcher claims to have dirt on Mickey which he spews his opinion toward Mickey's associate, Raymond (Charlie Hunnam), and after a prospective buyer of the empire, Matthew (Jeremy Strong) starts conniving with Fletcher, it perks adversaries such as Dry Eye (Henry Golding) and Lord George (Tom Wu). So ensues the double crosses, attempted murders, assassins and a pound of flesh that needs to be claimed that is all wrapped up with gunfights, car chases and gangsters galore.

Others to round out the cast are Michelle Dockery as Rosiland Pearson, Mickey's wife, Colin Farrell as Coach, Eddie Marsan as Big Dave, Lyne Renee as Jackie, Chidi Ajufo as Bunny, Simon Barker as Frazier and Jason Wong as Phuc. 

This was distinctly and grittily directed by Guy Ritchie ("Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" '98, "Snatch" 2000, "Swept Away" '02, "Revolver" '05, "Suspect" (TV movie) '07, "RocknRolla" '08, "Sherlock Holmes" '09, "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" '11, "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." '15, "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword" '17, "Aladdin" '19) plus shorts and video shorts. As I had mentioned in the preface, this filmmaker has such a slick, polished distinct style when directing films, so much so, it makes it enjoyable to watch his films. This, like his others films was brilliantly and slickly directed. He truly knows how to balance drama and his quirky, dry comedy well. His characters come alive and it's difficult to know who to feel sorry for and who not. It was also well written by Ritchie (resume same as direction), based on a story by Ritchie, Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies. Even though I relish in Ritchie's direction, his writing has a tendency to frustrate me. What starts out as a story that doesn't seem to go very far, ends up, at about half way through, being an incredible screenplay. He starts about in the middle of the story, then goes through a series of flashbacks coming to the part you came in with, then goes from there. This isn't a new idea in writing screenplays, but he puts an all together new spin on it. And this story is narrated by Fletcher as though he's written a draft of a screenplay telling the story we're seeing--you've got the see the film to get this. I always anticipate Ritchie's films since I know it will be directed, written and shot with expertise. If you like his style, his "Cash Truck" is in post-production that he has written and directed. 

This is Ritchie at his best. His work is not for the mass audience appeal, and at times his dialects from the actors can be a bit thick--think "Snatch" 2000, but that's the quirkiness we've all come to love about this filmmaker. It's a fun flick for most--definitely a guy flick and if you want to see a mob type film that doesn't take itself so seriously, this is the film for you.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                         Rated: R                                            113mins.