'The Gentlemen' Is a Delightful Gangster Caper

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.