Rent Snatch (2000)

Guy Ritchie's Underrated Crime Comedy - Snatch review by GI

Guy Ritchie's follow up film after the success of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) was, at the time, unfavourably compared to his debut because it was stylistically and in many ways narratively similar. But over the years Snatch has garnered its own fanbase because it's a highly entertaining caper film and has some really memorable and cult status performances. Brad Pitt as the Irish traveller, Mickey, is the one that most will instantly recall and it's anuncannily accurate the portrayal. Beginning with a jewellery robbery in Antwerp where a huge and much coveted diamond is stolen, the action moves to London where the diamond ends up and various criminals try to get ahold of it. Jason Statham moving up to the main lead after his break out role in Lock, Stock...,plays 'Turkish', a London petty criminal and illegal boxing promotor. He finds himself in the debt of the very nasty gangster, Brick Top (Alan Ford), and he becomes embroiled with Pitt's Mickey who happens to be a very accomplished bare knuckle fighter. The diamond acts as the film's 'MacGuffin' as everyone involved gets caught up with trying to find it. Vinnie Jones basically recreates his role from Lock, Stock..., and added into the mix is an early big part for Stephen Graham along with Lennie James, Mike Reid, Dennis Farina, Benicio Del Toro and Rene Sherbedgia. The film is funny with touches of lunacy, brilliantly edited and cleverly plotted, full of cartoonish characters that are Ritchie's trademark and it's one you can return to time and time again and still enjoy. An adult, dark British crime comedy that is thoroughly entertaining and with a cleverly constructed plot.