I like Guy Ritchie as a filmmaker. Some say that he has already lost his groove,
that he hasn’t made a worthwhile movie after Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. That’s arguable, of
course. Personally, aside from those two
aforementioned films, I also love his Sherlock
Holmes movies and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. And even though King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is
messy, it’s still fun; while Aladdin
is one of the better Disney live-action cash-grab remakes. However, even his detractors, if they’re
going to be objective, have to admit that his latest film, The Gentlemen, is a delightful gangster caper.
While it doesn’t necessarily have
mindblowing surprises, I believe that The
Gentlemen is best watched by knowing nothing about it prior to watching
it. Its storytelling and twists-and-turns
are best experienced when you simply let the details unfold to you in real
time. Let’s put it this way: I saw it in
that manner, and by the end of it, I came to deem it as my favorite movie of
2020 so far (replacing Onward). Still, if you want a synopsis, read the next
paragraph.
The Gentlemen tells the story of an American expat named Mickey
Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) who rose from rags to riches by building a
marijuana empire in England. Looking to retire
with his beloved wife Rosalind (Michelle Dockery), he intends to sell his
lucrative enterprise to sleazy American billionaire Matthew Berger (Jeremy
Strong). The deal is threatened when Dry
Eye (Henry Golding) – the young, ambitious underboss of a Chinese kingpin (Tom
Wu) – attempts to buy Mickey’s business for himself, while “The Toddlers” – a
gang of young hooligans trained by a combat expert named Coach (Colin Farrell) –
raid one of Mickey’s underground farms. On top of that, a smug private investigator named
Fletcher (Hugh Grant), who has been hired to gather dirt on Mickey by tabloid
editor Big Dave (Eddie Marsan), blackmails Mickey’s loyal second-in-command,
Raymond Smith (Charlie Hunnam).
I found this movie thoroughly
entertaining. I enjoyed every second of
it. It’s totally well-directed,
well-acted, and well-written. It pleases with the narrative devices it utilizes, the stylish visuals, the
rapid-fire sharp dialogue, the chic editing, and the overall execution of how it tightly builds
the whole from its parts. It’s also splendidly
peppered with the perfect amount of humor and action. Truly, it’s a first-rate film.
And just like my favorite gangster
stories (e.g. The Godfather, The Last Don, Katekyo Hitman Reborn!, Baccano!,
John Wick, etc.), The Gentlemen showcases a well-realized underworld
community occupied by an array of colorful, interesting characters. Indeed, its world and characters are the kind
you would want a supplementary TV series to explore more.
But the most outstanding among
all of the fun characters is the lead, Matthew McConaughey’s Mickey
Pearson. He’s definitely up there with
the most notable crime bosses in fiction. He’s smart,
charismatic, and is always in control of the room. While he’s usually the fair, cool-headed, and
sensible type, he gets Michael Corleone-level terrifying when you earn his
wrath. A couple of characters in this
movie make the mistake of thinking that they are tougher and smarter than him,
and they pay the price for it.
If it isn’t clear by now, I utterly
love The Gentlemen. As far my first viewing goes, it feels impeccable. It has satisfied me
completely. Of course, I can’t be sure
if that remains the case when I re-watch it.
And I will definitely re-watch it.
For it looks to be the kind of movie I will revel on watching again
and again through the years.
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