Top notch movie that is still ahead of the TV series

Rating: 9/10 (2 July 2000)

Tarrantino comes to London in the guise of Guy Richie.
Lock Stock is a gem of a movie about 4 young rogues, but generally nice guys, who decide to play their hands at the poker table with £100,000 of their savings.
Only problem is that even though they are quite streetwise they're clearly out of their depth when playing against Hatchet Harry, the local heavy. As a consequence they end up owing him half a million by next week otherwise its goodbye fingers & toes!
The movie is superbly directed & choreographed by Madonna's latest boyfriend, Guy Richie. Clearly influenced by Tarrantino, Richie turns on the style with interesting camera angles, lighting, a cool soundtrack and a very witty script.
The characterisation is full & rounded, although does sometimes vear towards the stereotypical, especially with the portrayal of the real bad guys - Hatchet & Co.
But the other four guys you really do warm too; they're young, attractive, naive but they work off each other and make the film more believable & interesting.
Of course, to British audiences they will have seen this kind of comedy/drama before: the TV series, Minder is a good case in point. And they'll also be in for a treat when they see former soccer player, Vinnie "Hardman" Jones, play a very good role as Big Chris, a muscleman with brains. I hope he appears in more movies, especially comedies, which would suit his character completely.
But Richie also presents a darker, menacing side to the move. The violence is very much "in ya face" without actually seeing what's going on - a bit like the infamous "ear" scene in Reservoir Dogs.
I suppose American viewers will find it difficult at first to understand the accent - well don't feel too left out, most of Britain isn't too well up on some of the Cockney Rhyming slang either. Although some would say it makes a nice change since the Brits have had to put up with understanding the language of the Streetwise Americans for years.
That aside, the movie is excellent, and offers a very welcoming feel good factor. There are rumours of a Hollywood remake, but I doubt if it will have the same kind of kudos as the original.
Oh, and for foreign fans who can't get enough, UK TV company, Channel 4 has just released a TV series of Lock Stock...but with completely different characters, although Richie is still there.
The TV episodes are very good, especially if you haven't seen the movie. But for those who have...well....it's not quite the same.
****/*****