Good, not so clean, smoking fun

Rating: 8/10 (17 April 1999)

It is impossible these days to make a funny and exciting crime movie without Pulp Fiction and Quentin Tarantino comparisons. So with the obvious similarities aside, it is safe to say that Guy Ritchie's movie has brought new life and new twists to the genre, and succeeded where so many other clones have failed. Some of the reviews I read before seeing this movie complained of a plotline too complicated and dialogue too accent thick as hindrances to understanding the movie. Three things, first of all, don't underestimate the audience, I had no trouble following the plotline. Anyone who watches Seinfeld, with its separate plotlines coming together at the end, will get it. The accents I got used to quickly, Amercian audiences loved Trainspotting which had even thicker accents, so that's not a problem. Lastly, complete understanding of the plotline is secondary in a movie like this. This movie is about comedy, high-energy fun and Ritchie's innovative style that, instead of coming off as showy and unnecessary, puts the right frame around things and keeps the eyes glued to the screen and the butts in the seats.