Lock, Stock, And Two Smoking Barrels (1998) Film Review: A British Masterpiece.

When a group of friends-in-crime find themselves in debt of half a million pounds to a crime lord named Harry, they plan to steal from a small gang next door. Unaware to them, Harry is in pursuit of two valuable double-barrelled shotguns. As multiple parties get in involved with the guns, drugs, and cash however, a full-on battle begins to heat up. Crime stories like these usually involve surprises and unexpected turns, so I won't spoil much of the film. What I will say is how the story is cleverly written to involve the multiple characters as they are all tied to Harry in some way, which results in tension, comedy or violent chaos. The story might be a bit confusing at times, but it's not to the point where you need to pay attention to every scene of dialogue in order to understand what's going on. The tone is that classic mix of comedy and seriousness. The comedy isn't hilarious, but it works since the jokes come from the personalities of the characters or instances of grounded oddities. It's quite similar to the tone Quentin Tarantino is known for.

The cast of characters is widely ranged with an ensemble cast leading the film. I will try to talk about the ones worthwhile. Eddie, played by Nick Moran, is the leader of the group who gets the four of them in debt. He is the smartest of the group and plans the heist, while hanging out in his father's pub, who is played by Sting. A young Jason Statham plays Bacon, the cockney member of the group who acts as the hotheaded, tough guy. Vinnie Jones plays Big Chris, Harry's debt collector that has his son tag along as he ensures people to not mess with Harry. Barry, played by the late Lenny McLean, is Harry's enforcer who always seems to run into trouble with Harry's orders. Lastly, Harry, played by P. H. Moriarty, is the antagonistic crime lord that has a bad reputation for his cunningness and power, all while operating at a sex shop. There are way more characters than what I've listed, but trying to cover them all would take way too long. The actors do a fantastic job in their roles and blend into them so well, considering few of the actors were associated with crime prior to the film. The comedic characters are enjoyable, as they don't get on your nerves despite their over-the-top performances. The ruthless characters also feel realistic and showcases a fictional, but realistic depiction of the criminal world of England. One could say that the overwhelming cast of characters could probably lose the viewer at times and could make the story hard to follow, but you can't deny on how well-acted and memorable the cast is.

Guy Ritchie's directorial debut is one that makes me feel annoyed in retrospective. Ritchie for the past few years hasn't made anything good with "Aladdin" and "King Arthur" stinking up his resume. It's a shame, since this film is not only his best, but one that proves that he has creative talent. The direction is a mix of amateur and professional. The grainy footage and small sets give you the indication of an indie production, but the direction of the action and comedy is so perfectly captured that it feels that Ritchie had multiple years of experience prior to making the film, to which he barely did in reality. The cinematography also matches this blend really well, pulling a gritty, but fresh look towards the feature. Ritchie is known for his use of slow-motion in his films, which in films such as "Aladdin",  comes off as irritating, pointless, and makes Zack Snyder more justifiable in his usage of the flashy technique. Although the slow-motion is used in this film, it is barely used and while it is pointless, it's not irritating and it actually proves effective whenever it's used as it's not used for the action sequences of gunplay. The soundtrack is also as well done as it can be, with the most notable songs being used in the iconic ending. Not much to say, other than that Ritchie somehow pulls off a Quentin Tarantino approach to his film that feels distinctly his style and British charm.

What else can I say about "Lock, Stock, And Two Smoking Barrels"? With clever writing, charming cast, fantastic directing, nice soundtrack, witty humour, and a cockney approach to the crime genre, what can be added to this phenomenal piece of cinema? I don't care if the story is a bit convoluted, since many crime stories are convoluted in general. In fact, I purposely refused to talk much about the story and standout scenes, since it is such a special treat for those who haven't seen this film. Go check it out as soon as you can!

Verdict: 10/10. The best film from Great Britain and one that outshines one filmmaker's legacy. It must be seen to be believed!