Guy Ritchie is growing as a writer

Rating: Null/10 (27 July 2001)

After seeing "Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" I really enjoyed the twisted (and sometimes confusing and in need of multiple viewing) story line and the mixture of comedy and violence. So when I saw that Guy Ritchie was at it again I was enthusiastic about seeing "Snatch".
"Snatch" is a lot like "Lock Stock" in many ways. The formulas are exactly the same, and we have quirky characters, and scene-stealing Vinnie Jones always ready to slam a guys head in a car door. And of course a lot of underdogs getting to the top by some freak accident. It's differences are the presence of American actors (Benicio Del Toro, Brad Pitt, Dennis Farina) and in some ways it is more American. It's a lot more violent than "Lock Stock" and has more of a darkness to it.>
I'm teeter tottering whether I like the more violence and darkness in this Guy Ritchie project. I don't know whether I'm a big fan of the violence in this one, or maybe I just don't like hand to hand combat. The darkness is attributed with characters who have more depth than the characters in "Lock Stock". Though Brad Pitt's character is very funny, there is a moment, when his caravan is burning down, of a sad intensity in his eyes, there was nothing like this in "Lock Stock".
I think Guy Ritchie's character development shows that he has grown more from his first project. Though he is following the same formulas as his previous work, there is more elements added to "Snatch". I highly suggest if you haven't seen "Snatch" or "Lock Stock", I suggest seeing "Lock stock" first. Because they are highly comparable (as if you couldn't tell) and "Lock stock" will help you bone up on the way Guy Ritchie writes and directs. I also suggest if you're new to Guy Ritchie to get a pad and paper and play connect the dots between all the characters. It's kind of hard doing it in your head like I did when I watched "Snatch."