British director Guy Ritchie, recently incarnated as Mr. Madonna Ciccone, has attempted to outdo 1998's "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" in his current British blockbuster, "Snatch."
Most critics say he has not succeeded in this endeavor, which stars our own Brad Pitt as Mickey, a crazy, Irish gypsy boxer, who is not without the Pitt charm. In fact, he is said to carry the whole movie with his "greasy performance, a genuine highlight."
The plot is complicated. Suffice it to say it involves a diamond heist gone wrong, a lot of inept and apparently entertaining crooks, a lot of "unnecessary bloodletting," and prize fighting. Mickey is supposed to throw a fight, but instead knocks the guy out and that's not the agenda.
There entails a series of double crosses and dire doings, lightened by Pitt's slurred brogue which is said to sound like he's trying to extricate a wad of gum from his molars, and a running joke of an unfortunate dog who has swallowed a squeaky toy.
It's Ritchie's direction that has gotten the attention of most reviewers. "The idea that a director should serve his story, instead of the other way around, is anathema" to directors like Ritchie, remarks one critic. Seeing Pitt, the squeaky dog, and his inept cohorts sounds like fun, anyhow.
The films also stars Dennis Farina, Jason Statham, Jason Flemyng and Benicio Del Toro. It is rated R for strong violence, language and nudity, (hopefully none of the above).
It is playing at Market Square East.