The Gentlemen (2020) Reivew

The Gentlemen (2019)

The Gentlemen follows Ray Smith, who, after a blackmailing journalist named Fletcher comes to him with info about his boss’ dealings, must scramble to keep the information from getting out and toppling their multimillion dollar weed business. 

Where Wrath of Man would end up being Guy Ritchie’s most restrained, it was The Gentlemen 2 years prior that felt like a real return to form, falling back on his roots in thrilling, British crime flicks. Narratively, this one can get a touch confusing, with Fletcher going over the events in a weird, screenplay retelling of everything that has happened thus far, dealing with two storylines at once, nearly breaking the fourth wall with a tongue-in-cheek commentary on today's Hollywood and how big movie studios are hungry for some original yet overly mainstream basic content, to obviously lure them back to theaters. 

As expected, the pacing moves at lightning speed, the dialogue is quick, clever, and deeper than you first realize, and the conflict is always multi-layered. Plus, there’s just an unceasing amount action that ranges from hilarious to thrilling, with Ray and Mickie proving why everyone around should be frightened by them, status aside. It’s also a fun little treat, since the story is told through Fletcher’s idea of events, where we get one scene of complete absurdity, just to backtrack and do it right; just a fun excuse to add some chaos to an already chaotic flick. 

We get a star studded cast, starring Tom Wu, Eddie Marsan, Chidi Ajufo, Michelle Dockery, Henry Golding, Jeremy Strong, Colin Farrell, Matthew McConaughey, Hugh Grant, and Charlie Hunnam. As seen in King Arthur, Hunnam is a perfect fit with Ritchie, with just the right amount of wit and timing to make it all work, shining alongside the likes of McConaughey and Farrell, who are equally as golden here. 

The Gentlemen, directed by Guy Ritchie, is a major return to Ritchie’s bloody, action packed, gangster roots, and though a bit messy in it’s presentation, really feels like his most original and chaotic since his early career hits like Snatch and Lock, Stock. 

8/10