Director: Guy Ritchie
Writers: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Jason Statham, Brad Pitt, Stephen Graham, Alan Ford

This review is part of the feature:

The 33 Gangster Films You Can’t Refuse

Guy Ritchie’s follow-up to Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is another near-perfect crime comedy, delivering the same brand of sharp wit, chaotic energy, and stylish mayhem that defined his debut.

The plot mirrors Lock, Stock in the best way: Turkish (Jason Statham, in his first lead role), a well-meaning boxing promoter, finds himself in debt to the ruthless gangster Brick Top (a horrible Alan Ford, who provided the voice-over in Lock, Stock), who is in the habit of feeding his enemies to the pigs.

Toss in a rogue’s gallery of hustlers and schemers – Boris the Blade, Bullet-Tooth Tony (with Vinnie Jones returning for more chaos), and a stolen diamond the size of a fist (replacing the antique rifles from Lock, Stock) – and you’ve got all the ingredients for a hilarious, bare-knuckle brawl of a movie. Ritchie’s trademark camera tricks and rapid-fire editing tie it all together with his usual flair.

With the success of Lock, Stock, Ritchie had a bigger budget this time, allowing him to add A-lister Brad Pitt to the cast. Pitt’s Pikey boxer, Mickey, is one of his most memorable roles, right up there with Tyler Durden and Aldo ‘The Apache’ Raine. His performance is a standout, blending physical comedy with unexpected charm.

Ritchie takes his music video-style direction to the next level here. The final boxing match is a masterclass in editing, mixing sped-up and slow-motion sequences to electrifying effect.

His screenplay is relentlessly witty – packed with jokes, clever setups, and payoffs that land at a breakneck pace. This is, without a doubt, the funniest film in his gangster gallery, shot with undeniable energy and swagger. Its sequences are either hilarious, endlessly cool, or – more often than not – both.