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> SNATCH (2000)
Guy Ritchie's hip follow-up to Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels offers more of the same, in a well-polished form.

By John C. Lyons
Film Critic

Starring: Benicio Del Toro, Vinnie Jones, Dennis Farina, Brad Pitt, and Alan Ford

Directed by: Guy Ritchie

Written by: Guy Ritchie

Genre: Comedy/Crime/Thriller

Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

If you are not really sure whether to check out this film, I would first suggest renting Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. If you enjoy that flick, then I can guarantee you will love Snatch. Both films contain many of the same elements: dark humor, action, smart dialogue, and plenty of bumbling crooks. In the case of Snatch (it's a verb), Guy Ritchie recruits the best of Lock, Stock's cast and adds some major Hollywood talents in Brad Pitt, Benicio Del Toro, and Dennis Farina.

Ritchie is establishing some cool trademark sequences in his films and, from the very beginning of Snatch, they are right in your face. The characters are introduced in almost a comic book fashion: character enters, freeze frame to a solid color fade, then show character's name, or in many cases nickname, in bold letters off-center. These freezes usually occur after a great line of dialogue or a good ass-whuppin'. The movie is paced very well from the start, helped by these introductory scenes, and they immediately pull you into the film and give you a bit of an idea what caliber of men (were there ANY women in this film?) you are going to be seeing. I will also make mention the soundtrack (which I rarely do in a film review). The music for this movie matches the film's style beautifully, something oftentimes not easily pulled off. The music and the style all help to make Snatch that much more exciting and enjoyable.

The film is all about a big, juicy diamond that everyone either gets their hands onto (at some point), or dies trying. These situations lead to some great mini-stories, most of which are never dull. The cast is well rounded, and Ritchie has again written some great characters. Brad Pitt (Mickey O'Neil) turns in some indecipherable speech, which will get a chuckle out of you in the least, as the one punch boxer who refuses to cooperate. Benicio Del Toro (Franky Four Fingers) is a major gambling addict, for which he lost one of his digits. Ex-soccer star Vinnie Jones (Bullet Tooth Tony) turns in another great performance in a Guy Ritchie flick, this time around with a bit more dialogue, as the hard-ass who will cripple anyone in his way. Add into the mix a scary old man who feeds his enemies to starving pigs (played very well by Alan Ford), and then the dog that delivers the longest running gag in the film. Call me sick, but I laughed over and over at this dog throughout the film, you will understand more after you see it.

Snatch is a very entertaining, gritty film. If you are looking for a heist flick with some witty dialogue and great, dry comic relief, you'll find a winner here. Oh, and a little FYI, rumor has it that Brad Pitt missed a Golden Globe nomination for his role in this movie by only one vote! Now that would have been interesting.

I saw this film at the Tinseltown theaters on upper Peach Street in Erie.

PROs: The humor. The music. The Ritchie-style.

CONs: Some may get lost in some of the yammering dialogue (and Brad Pitt may down right turn off some saps). A couple scenes could have been trimmed a bit.

(01-0130)

related links:

Snatch - official site