Snatch'd straight out of your seat (Snatch (DVD))

Member Name: Saul_Walker

Product:	Snatch (DVD)
Date:	28/01/01 (18 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Alan Ford's Excellent performance, Humour and Violence used to great effect

Disadvantages: Vinnie Jones' smaller part

There’s been a few British gangster films on film lately such as Lock, Stock and two smoking barrels to Blood, Honour and Obey. Last night I went to see the latest ‘Snatch’ which came out last year to much acclaim. This film is directed and written by Guy Ritchie and many thought it would be a sort of sequel to his first film ‘Lock, stock..’ but this is not the case. This film is darker and more humorous although you can see similarities. ‘Snatch’ is in a different vein. However, but based on the same style as Ritchie’s original.

The film's opening credits hype an audience as the quick paced action-to-freeze-frame-cuts introduce each cast member in situations that identify their character sort. Some say that maybe the characters could be introduced as they enter the film- but I think this gives the Film a more gangster feel- knowing who is in on the story from the start. The story is based around a stolen 84crt Diamond and an illegal boxing match. Both are completely separate at the start but as the film progress the two intertwine as many want to get their hands on the diamond- while others just want to eliminate those who they want revenge on. The diamond is stolen by the gambling addicted Frankie ‘Four Fingers’, played by Benico Del Toro (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas 1998) and even though his character only has a few parts, he is truly masterful as a corpse with a item of kitchen paraphernalia on his head and gives laughs right to the end. The diamond was originally meant to be delivered to the American Cousin Avi, played by Denis Farina (Saving Private Ryan 1998) and his London connection the Jew imitating Doug the Head, by Mike Reid (Eastenders 1985) in a brilliant performance for his first film role. Others though want the diamond and when Boris 'the Blade', an ex-KGB arms smuggler, acted by Rade Serbedzja (Stigmata 1999) wants it he hires two bumbling Pawn Shop owners Robbie
Gee (The Firm 1998), playing Vinny, and Lennie James (Lost in Space 1998), playing Sol, to rob a bookies where Frankie can’t help but gamble. The illegal boxing gangster world becomes involved. Initially a local trainer Turkish, played amiably by Jason Stratham (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels 1998) and his unfortunate partner Tommy , in real life Stephen Graham (Downtime 1997) fixes a fight with Brick Top, the local gangster lord with a funny way of disposing corpses, this was excellently played by Alan Ford (Lock, Stock and two smoking barrels 1998) and is probably the best character in the film adding a real mean, sadistic villain to the fold. Anyway after Turkish sends Tommy and his boxer to a gypsy or ‘Pikey’ (as the Londoners call them) camp, the boxer is floored by Brad Pitt who plays the almost inaudible ‘One Punch’ Mickey, the local gypsy bare fist boxing champ. Anyway with Turkish about to face near perpetual torture from Brick Top he replaces the boxer with Mickey, which in hindsight he would probably regret as the situation turns from bad to worse. Where does Vinnie Jones fit in? Well when the diamond eludes both Dug and Cousin Avi they call in ‘Bullet tooth’ Tony to find it and you can imagine how this goes. I’ll leave the rest to when you see the film. But don’t miss out on the scene in the pub between Vinnie Jones and the bumbling Gunmen Sol and Vinny, one extremely funny moment.

Similarities abound between Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. From Vinnie Jones' character's tough as nails negotiating means, to in-jokes between both films characters ('Zee Germans' here compared to 'Tubby Tommy' in LS&2Slock, Stock). The use of violence as humour, however, is more embellished in Snatch as well (e.g.: the 'Bullet Tooth' Tony and Boris 'the Blade' showdown). I really thought this film was a cracking film from Guy Ritchie to follow on Fro
m Lock, Stock and the sadistic humour of some of the pieces is a perfect counterpart to the more gothic violence in the film. Two things that disappointed me were the cameo played by Goldie as Vinny and Sol’s mate Lincoln disappeared after a run in with Brick Top and, secondly, Vinnie Jones’ untimely death at the hands of Cousin Avi. The rest of the film makes up for it though. It’s really worth spending the money on this film and for all the fans of Lock, Stock you…well you’ve probably already seen it. Great Film- so go and see it.

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