Last night I watched Guy Ritchie’s ‘Rock n Rolla‘ for the second time, having watched it the night before. It needed a second viewing because as with his others films, it is fast pased and tricky.  Did I like it as much the second time? I did indeed. Did I like it as much as Lockstock and Snatch. Again, I did indeed.

It had Ritchies’ usual pace, dynamism and humour nicely balanced with the inherent violence and  darkness of the genre, plus his trademark slick editing. I enjoyed and empathised with the characters I was supposed to, and disliked the characters I was supposed to (glad Stella got ‘hers’, and LOVED Handsome Bob). There were also some real ‘laugh out loud’ moments, e.g. the ‘dance scene’ between One Two and Handsome Bob.

Upon my usual internet search to see if there is indeed a sequel to this film, ergo ‘The Real Rock n Rolla’ as flagged at the end,  I discover that this film did not go down well with the critics.  Ritchie  was slated for producing anuuver East End gangsta film!!! Why? Does anyone slate Copolla for THREE Godfather films when one really was sufficient? I think that this film is an excellent addition to Lockstock and Snatch.

This is what Ritchie does best. The films are entertaining, well made, keenly observed and very watchable, and he provides a window to a world that fascinates us all. They are larger than life…yes, but having met some real East Eng gangsters in my youth, I would say pretty near the mark.  Ritchie’s East End gangster films are the best I have seen, the only other that I would say is as good by another Director is ‘Love, Honour and Obey’.  That really is all that is needed. So, should Mr Ritchie make the ‘Real Rock n Rolla 2′, I for one will be purchasing my cinema ticket to see it.

Main Characters:
One Two – Gerard Butler
Mumbles – Idris Elba
Handsome Bob – Tom Hardy
Johnny Quid – Toby Kebbell
Archie – Mark Strong
Lenny Cole – Tom Wilkinson
Stella – Thandie Newton
Roman – Jeremy Piven
Uri – Karel Roden
Victor – Dragan Micanovic
Mickey – Ludacris
The Councillor – Jimi Mistry
Cookie – Matt King

Memorable Quotes:
Johnny Quid:  ‘I’m dead Pete. Dead people don’t like company’.
Mumbles: ‘ If I could be half the human being Bob is at the cost of being a poof, I’d have to think about it. Not for very long, but I’d have to pause’.
Johnny Quid: ‘Go on, jog on, walk on, goodbye, bon voyage, fuck off’.
One Two: ‘We should’ve just gone and done the strippers like Handsome Bob would’ve done. You should just drown the cat instead of letting it out. No, no, not you. Not fag Bob’.
Johnny Quid:  ‘That, Roman and Mickey, is the famous ‘Archy slap’.
One Two: ‘You didn’t realize that they had guns? Big, long, dangerous machine guns…with war criminals attached to the trigger’.