Rock ‘n Rolla

Review By: Rebecca Ford
RebeccaFord@TheCinemaSource.com

I’ve always believed that deep down inside, everyone wants to be a badass. A rebel. A baller.

Or as it’s called in Guy Ritchie’s newest film—a Rocknrolla.

So what exactly is a Rocknrolla? He is the best of the worst. Drugs, sex and rock n’roll are not just a part of his life—they are his life. With Ritchie’s action-comedy set on the streets of London, we all get to visit this world, but thankfully, don’t have to stay in it forever. Because really, no one wants to deal with guns, bongs and torture on a regular basis (I think).

Ritchie, whose past hits Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch also explored the rougher edges of London, finds a rare balance between hard-hitting action and quirky dark humor. The cast of merry madmen, the interweaving of interesting storylines and a unique visual style all add up to a fun time in the underworld of London crime.

The story begins in a crime world that has moved away from the average forms of misconduct to where the real money lies—real estate. When two small-time criminals want to get in on the big money, they go to the head honcho: Lenny Cole (Tom Wilkinson). But the deal falls through, and they owe Lenny a lot of money. Lenny at the same time is making deals with a newcomer to London, Russian billionaire Uri Obomavich (Karel Roden). And by deal, I mean 7 million Euros deal. But of course, things go awry with a robbery or two, a missing painting, and millions of dollars up for grabs in the criminal world.

While there are plenty of storylines that mix and mingle with each other, often colliding head-on, the real gem of RocknRolla is the characters. From Lenny’s rockstar stepson who has faked his death multiple times, to the Russian mobsters who compare bullet wounds to the (only) female accountant who has a thing for danger, it’s just a smorgasbord of interesting people. The film spends time helping us to get to know them, so we can care about them when they’re shot in the stomach, tortured or slapped across the face.

But really, when you think about it, there aren’t any good guys in this film. There are just less bad guys. So when they beat each other up, screw each other over, or shoot each other, it’s ok. It’s just cool.

The baddest of the bad is Lenny. The ruthless head of the old-school crime regime, nothing seems to get passed him. He makes it clear that he’s no gangster—he’s a civilized criminal.

But with the infiltration of the crime scene by what Lenny calls “immigrants” and a new way of doing things, Lenny’s old way of life (and his control) is threatened. “There’s no school like the old school, and I’m the fucking headmaster,” says Lenny in defense of his old ways.

Two-time Oscar nominee Tom Wilkinson stars as Lenny, bringing the character into his best light: ...