Logan Sork Film Reviews
The Gentlemen
While I have liked some of Guy Ritchie’s films before, his style never really sat well with me. Part of this was because I had only seen his foray into blockbusters and not his smaller films. From what I hear, his frenetic style fit those smaller films much more than his larger ones. This is why I was looking forward to The Gentlemen as I could finally see the Guy Ritchie that made everyone fall in love with him in the first place. Having seen it, I can finally figure out why so many loved him. While there are definitely some problems The Gentlemen is a smart, unique take on the crime genre that only Guy Ritchie could deliver.
The Gentlemen is written and directed by Guy Ritchie and stars Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Henry Golding, Michelle Dockery, Jeremy Strong, Eddie Marsan, Colin Farrell, and Hugh Grant. The story follows Mickey (McConaughey), an American crime lord operating out of London who is looking to sell his vast marijuana empire so that he can retire. Though things start off seemingly well, nothing is ever as it seems, resulting in various troubles along the way, all recounted by a slimy private eye (Grant) who has been following the story as it unfolded.
With this film, Guy Ritchie once again displays his great kinetic style of directing. While this may not work for some of the larger blockbusters he’s been involved with in the past few years, it more than works here. The energy on display in this film is blazing and incredibly fun. It also helps to add a different feel to the crime genre, allowing it to distinguish itself among the crowd. The editing also plays a key role in helping to maintain this fun energy, and also adds a bit of tension as Ritchie builds up to some climactic moments. While some fans of this style of directing won’t be won over by this turn, It certainly did the trick on me.
The directing and editing also serve as a way to make an otherwise simple story a little more interesting. While we have seen these types of films before, this one is a bit different regarding the way it’s told. The framing device for this film comes in the form of a screenplay written by the aforementioned private investigator. This makes the unreliable narrator trick even more unreliable, as certain events will have likely been dramatized to make the script more interesting. This causes you to question not only what’s true, but also if certain things were just blown out of proportion to make the script more interesting.
The rambling way the story is told can lead to some jumbled portions, whether it be character introductions or set-ups for things to come. The film also detours from the main story so than you would think, leading to some scenes that, while entertaining, ultimately serve no purpose to the story. However, the unique, fun approach to an otherwise simple story makes these detours worth sitting through. Still, if you’re confused at all while watching though, it’s totally understandable.
Another element of the film that was extremely good was the sharp dialogue. While the detour scenes may seem a bit unnecessary, I couldn’t deny the fun I was having while watching them. This is due to the incredible dialogue, which is extremely smart, funny, and at times offensive (in a fun way though). There are a lot of great scenes in which our characters will talk about seemingly random things, but the way in which it is written is so entertaining, you can’t help but feel engaged. The dialogue also serves as a way to tell a little more about the characters and their mannerisms as opposed to outright showing us how they act. So, while the story gets muddled at some points, you’ll still find yourself entertained by the incredible dialogue and verbal sparring between our characters.
As for the characters, they really aren’t anything to get excited about. They are fairly one-note and often don’t have much dimension to them, typical gangster archetypes. What elevates them other than the dialogue, however, is the incredible cast that Ritchie has assembled. Matthew McConaughey is clearly having a ball and turns in one of his most fun performances as Mickey. Hugh Grant is also a lot of fun and simply oozes chaotic charisma while onscreen. Charlie Hunnam and Henry Golding, two usually wooden actors, are surprisingly good here. Michelle Dockery also holds her own, bringing the same tough energy, while adding a much needed woman’s charm to it. The real standout though is Colin Farrell, whose comedic timing and weird mannerisms are an absolute riot to watch.
In the end, The Gentlemen is a surprisingly fun take on the crime genre that is so much better than it had any right to be. Though the film’s story and characters are nothing new, the way in which they are handled helps to elevate an average set-up to a great one. The direction is extremely fun, the take on the story fresh, the dialogue sharp and the performances are top tier. All of these elements and others are what make The Gentlemen such an extreme delight to watch.
8.5/10