Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels - The best (modern ) British gangster movie

Yes, we all know that Guy Richie married Madonna and, ever since then, many considered that the quality of his work somehow suffered.  However, long before the ‘Material Girl’ entered his life (and his films even had – unsubtle – hints towards her music) he made films like ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.’ And they were good.

Okay, so you’ll probably have to be okay with gangster films in general, not to mention plenty of foul language, unlikeable characters, excessive violence and probably some more bad language.  If you can overlook all of those then you’ll probably enjoy Lock Stock.

They say that the simple ideas are the best and normally they’re right.  However, Lock Stock is anything but simple.  Yes, the story is primarily about four lads who get in deep debt with a particularly unsavoury character, but that’s only a small portion of it.  There are numerous characters, each with their individual storylines.  It just so happens that all of these storylines are somehow relevant to the central story and they all come together perfectly (and possibly violently).  Along with the violence, language and nasties, you have to be prepared to concentrate.  If you don’t, you’re likely to miss something vital to the plot and lose track of what’s happening.

But, if you do, you’ll be rewarded by one of the most darkly comic, twisting tales of backstabbing and double-crossing.  And, like I said, it’s damn good.

I won’t go into the plot too much, simply because it’s pretty complicated, but mainly because I wouldn’t want to spoil it for anyone.   There’s so much to be enjoyed about this film, you really have to experience it for yourself. 

Not to mention it contains the first ever on-screen appearance of Jason ‘The Stath’ Statham.  What more could you want?  You want more?  What about the first ever appearance of ex-footballer Vinnie Jones in a role that was simply made for him?  It has that, too.  You really can’t ask for more (unless you want to see someone executed with a s*x toy, but then it has that, too).

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