Best Pommy Gangsters EVER!

Rating: 10/10 (10 February 2002)

***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** In my opinion,Snatch is a masterpiece.Guy Ritchie's direction is all about working outside traditions,and he does it great.For just his second film I can see he's got his work cut out for him,this is WAY better than Lock,Stock! I'll only mention a little of the story: A Jewish gangster from America,Franky Four Fingers(Benicio del Toro)steals an 84 karat diamond from Antwerp,but he runs into trouble with his Russian partner's brother,Boris the Blade(Rade Sherbedgia).Boris asks him to make a bet for him at a bookies that is to be robbed by the three stupidest prats ever to wear balaclavas:Sol,Vinny,and Tyrone(Lennie James,Robbie Gee,and Ade)Soon Franky's boss,Cousin Avi(Dennis Farina),comes to London searching for him with the help of diamond expert Doug the Head(Mike Reid)and invincible hitman Bullet-Tooth Tony(Vinnie Jones). While this is going on two boxing promoters,Turkish and Tommy,(Jason Statham and Stephen Graham)are trying to hire a gypsie bare-knuckle boxing champion Mickey O'Neill(Brad Pitt)who knocked out their previous champ in one hit after an argument involving a dodgy caravan.Their boss,Bricktop(Alan Ford),is very unhappy,not only at Turkish and Tommy,but also at the three silly prats who robbed his bookies. I know it seems like I've told you the whole story,but trust me,this is just the tip of the iceberg! Anyway the acting is brilliant.Jason Statham and Stephen Graham are a very dynamic duo and play it all convincingly,Vinnie Jones is an incredibly admirable bad arse,Rade Sherbedgia's role,though short,is well played and very memorable,and Alan Ford is one of the best bad guys I've seen in a long time.However,Brad Pitt steals the scene,even though his Irish-Gypsie accent is so strong it takes several viewings to understand everything he says.('Fock mi,'es a bik block,bakser?Ya lak loike a bakser.) Some people say it's exactly the same film as Lock,Stock and,I know,they have their similarities,but Snatch's story,humour,and acting sets it head and shoulders over Lock,Stock in my opinion.