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Lock, Stock and Two Smoking BarrelsRating:
Release Date: 03 June, 2003 Retail Price: $14.98 OUR Price: $11.24 You SAVE: $3.74! Cast: Complete Cast (11 total) |
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels Reviews
No promises.
Here is another "this isn't for everyone" movie. "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" is a stylish, contemporary production set in London's East End, a place known for its "difficulties." It was successful in the UK, and Americans ought to find the British twist on "Reservoir Dogs" inspired movies somewhat appealing. The film boasts imaginative camerawork, unpredictable turns (I rather liked the ending), and a great soundtrack. Most of the actors are unknowns with little feature-film experience, but they mostly do a good job; the rock star Sting plays a minor but acceptably performed role in the picture, as the father of one of the "heroes." (According to the "featurette" the movie employs "real villains," a revelation that doesn't seem very surprising.)
While this film isn't of the most original caliber, the young, up and coming artists managed to impart a distinguishable flavor that makes their effort worth viewing. The movie is comical, although one might say that it's more humorous than funny. It also contains some graphic violence -- a fact that caught me off-guard, as I expected the bloodshed to be implied. "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels would've been a better picture without the shocking effect of unnecessarily HEAVY on-screen bleeding. (I'm not averse to strong violence in movies, but it seemed so incongruous to the spirit of THIS work that it nearly put me off.) Nevertheless, if you like films such as "Trainspotting" or "Reservoir Dogs," you should enjoy this one...but that's not a promise.
The DVD picture quality is mediocre, but the sound is slightly better in comparison. The special features include a "featurette" that amounts to some brief interviews with the actors describing their characters in the production; an inclusion that's practically useless once you've seen the movie. There's an uncommon feature, "Cockney Rhyming Slang," that I found amusing and useful, it's a glossary of street lingo used in London. In all, I would say that this disc offers reasonable value for the money.
Good Script + Vinnie Jones = Fun Movie
Anyone who after seeing this film and doesn't admit they enjoyed it, is a lier. While definately not a great film by any standard, the dialog, colourful characters, and clever story make this film very entertaining:
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels successfully achieves a bizarre cross between traditional heist/gangstar movie( ala Resevoir Dogs) and traditional British non-romatic comedy ( ala 'Nuns on the Run').
As a comedy containing plenty of enjoyable action, it can in no way be interpreted as a serious or intelligent film. The flaws in this film are clearly evident; Firstly, the location of this film is dubious, although supposedly set in East London, it was obviously not actually filmed there as the location in the film looks more like Portsmouth. Secondly, apparently the film takes place in the side of town where there are no women- -the film has no female characters. Thirdly, Guy richie's direction can at certain times be nausia inducing: as a former pop video director he retains an annoying tendancy for 'flash' camera angles and over cutting.
However a combination of an excellent storyline; full of twists and meaningfull coinsidences, very very colourful characters and the novelty of seeing Football's least talented but most violent thug in his acting debut, not only keep the film afloat but make all the films aformetioned flaws forgiven.
To conclude, this is a deeply flawed but still very very enjoyable film. Worth watching just to see Vinnie Jones in his first role since leaving Wimbledon where he along with John Fashnu and Dennis Wise once terrorised football. He is wholly convincing and scary mainly because he is playing himself! And that is not a testament to his acting ability but to his character.
I'm sure Gary Lineker can't dare to watch any of the scenes starring Vinnie, With Vinnies infamous death threat's to him after Lineker dived, and got him sent off when they played each other in 1995/96 season.
More Customer Reviews (14 total)
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