RocknRolla (2008)

London's burgeoning real estate market is turning millions and drawing a cross-section of the city's criminal underworld to scam the hell out of it. When a Russian mobster's scam sours, London's criminal element is all too eager to help pick-up the million dollar pieces. What unfolds is a caper of epic proportions as each element, the scrappy Wild Bunch led by One Two (Gerard Butler), Mumbles, and Handsome Bob tries to outwit London Godfather Lenny Cole (Tom Wilkinson) and his bunch who's trying to outwit the Russian, Uri (Karl Roden). Throw in a coked-out punk rocker, Johnny Quid, his producers (played by Ludacris and Jeremy Piven) and a sexy siren accountant (Thandie Newton) and you've got a head-turning, double-crossing who done what.

There is no easy way to describe this hodge-podge criminal escapade from director Guy Ritchie. This film marks my introduction to Ritchie and if it weren't for his upcoming release, Sherlock Holmes, it might be my last. The thing is, I kinda like RocknRolla despite the cockneyed nonsense.

Fast and furious editing doesn't keep the film from getting bogged down in numerous and noncommittal story lines. But turn on the subtitles and hang out. RocknRolla gets interesting thanks to cheeky, perverse dialogue and a cast that genuinely seems to be enjoying their romp.

The highly stylized, modern aesthetic keeps things interesting, but I'll be honest, I watched with remote in hand and utilized the FF quite often. If it weren't for the likes of Johnny Quid (Toby Kebbell), One Two (Butler), utterly random pop culture references, and the running subplot/jokes about One Two's sexual orientation and the lucky painting, I wouldn't have bothered.

Kudos to RocknRolla for maintaining a distinct swagger throughout. And according to the disc jacket, this is the first of a planned trilogy. I'm invested; but as I see it, RocknRolla is a take it-or-leave it.