list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around RocknRolla on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/RocknRolla/330773/default.aspx Title: RocknRolla
Year: 2008
Director: Guy Ritchie
Plot: Guy Ritchie returns to his roots with RocknRolla, a crime comedy in the spirit of his early films Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 46
Number of Lists: 16
Number of blog posts: 7
Number of discussion threads: 7
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Mon, 17 Aug 2009 02:43:48 GMTRocknRolla2008Guy Ritchie<a href="http://www.spout.com/players/P___242801/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Guy Ritchie</a> returns to his roots with RocknRolla, a crime comedy in the spirit of his early films Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and <a href="http://www.spout.com/films/171967/detail.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Snatch</a>. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide46Tag Target (>10)16773http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s330773.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/RocknRolla/330773/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/groups/Coming_Soon/Re_1_30_TAKEN_shaken_and_stirred_by_new_movie/216/39928/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: spout
Post To: Coming Soon
Post Date: 1/26/2009 6:53:00 PM
Body: NEW DVD's 1/27 1. RocknRolla -- Watch the trailer. RocknRolla made people say "Guy Ritchie is back," but when I recently watched Snatch I was surprised at how dated it felt. By contrast, RocknRolla seemed surprising, even as I recognized some of the trademark Richie-isms in the soundtrack choices and cinematography. I recommend this one, and I'm looking forward to the sequel. 2. Vicky Cristina Barcelona -- Watch the trailer. Most of the buzz around this Woody Allen film stemmed from the make-out scene between Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz. But hey, it's Woody Allen, who once in a while he still puts together a really good movie (i.e. Match Point). Is VCB good? I haven't seen it. 3. Pride & Glory -- Watch the trailer. You've heard that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link? Well, this film has Ed Norton, Colin Farrell, and Jon Voight, and it's only as good as Jon Voight. 4. College -- Do not watch the trailer. Do not watch the movie. 5. Fireproof -- Watch the trailer. Something of a rarity, since it was produced by a Christian church and still received a wide release. Stars Kirk Cameron, as a fireman for whom it's easier to risk his life saving people than it is to work at his failing marriage. 6. Lakeview Terrace -- Watch the trailer. Samuel L. Jackson plays a psycho cop who's got an irrational beef with his neighbors, Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington. 7. The Lucky Ones -- Tim Robbins, Rachel McAdams and Michael Pena are Iraq veterans on a US road trip. 8. Zodiac -- Watch the trailer. The one David Fincher made before The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The one about the 1970s Zodiac killer. The one that was far too long and only so-so. Re-releases 1. Groundhog Day (1993) -- Watch the trailer. I watch this once a year around February 2. This is the "Anniversary Edition," commemorating the...16th anniversary? Hey, how many years of Feb. 2 do you think Phil lived through? Sixteen years? Less? More? 2. The Bourne Trilogy -- A couple weeks ago, I was asking a friend if he thought Underworld 3 would be the best of the series, and he said, "When was the last time any part three was the best?" I suggest to you: The Bourne Ultimatum. 3. Pink Panther Film Collection -- Includes A Shot in the Dark (1964), Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976), Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978), Trail of the Pink Panther (1982), Curse of the Pink Panther (1983), and Son of the Pink Panther (1993). I hadn't seen A Shot in the Dark until the first Steve Martin Pink Panther came out, and I was surprised at how little Peter Sellers is onscreen! I haven't seen any of the later films; anyone have favorites to recommend? 4. The Stewardesses, Deluxe Edition -- Watch the trailer. FilmCouch discusses how this crappy little porno became the most successful 3D movie in history.
]]>Mon, 26 Jan 2009 23:53:00 GMTspoutComing Soon1/26/2009 6:53:00 PMNEW DVD's 1/27 1. RocknRolla -- Watch the trailer. RocknRolla made people say "Guy Ritchie is back," but when I recently watched Snatch I was surprised at how dated it felt. By contrast, RocknRolla seemed surprising, even as I recognized some of the trademark Richie-isms in the soundtrack choices and cinematography. I recommend this one, and I'm looking forward to the sequel. 2. Vicky Cristina Barcelona -- Watch the trailer. Most of the buzz around this Woody Allen film stemmed from the make-out scene between Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz. But hey, it's Woody Allen, who once in a while he still puts together a really good movie (i.e. Match Point). Is VCB good? I haven't seen it. 3. Pride &amp; Glory -- Watch the trailer. You've heard that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link? Well, this film has Ed Norton, Colin Farrell, and Jon Voight, and it's only as good as Jon Voight. 4. College -- Do not watch the trailer. Do not watch the movie. 5. Fireproof -- Watch the trailer. Something of a rarity, since it was produced by a Christian church and still received a wide release. Stars Kirk Cameron, as a fireman for whom it's easier to risk his life saving people than it is to work at his failing marriage. 6. Lakeview Terrace -- Watch the trailer. Samuel L. Jackson plays a psycho cop who's got an irrational beef with his neighbors, Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington. 7. The Lucky Ones -- Tim Robbins, Rachel McAdams and Michael Pena are Iraq veterans on a US road trip. 8. Zodiac -- Watch the trailer. The one David Fincher made before The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The one about the 1970s Zodiac killer. The one that was far too long and only so-so. Re-releases 1. Groundhog Day (1993) -- Watch the trailer. I watch this once a year around February 2. This is the "Anniversary Edition," commemorating the...16th anniversary? Hey, how many years of Feb. 2 do you think Phil lived through? Sixteen years? Less? More? 2. The Bourne Trilogy -- A couple weeks ago, I was asking a friend if he thought Underworld 3 would be the best of the series, and he said, "When was the last time any part three was the best?" I suggest to you: The Bourne Ultimatum. 3. Pink Panther Film Collection -- Includes A Shot in the Dark (1964), Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976), Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978), Trail of the Pink Panther (1982), Curse of the Pink Panther (1983), and Son of the Pink Panther (1993). I hadn't seen A Shot in the Dark until the first Steve Martin Pink Panther came out, and I was surprised at how little Peter Sellers is onscreen! I haven't seen any of the later films; anyone have favorites to recommend? 4. The Stewardesses, Deluxe Edition -- Watch the trailer. FilmCouch discusses how this crappy little porno became the most successful 3D movie in history. http://www.spout.com/groups/Coming_Soon/New_Movies_10_31_Semi_pro_horror_amateur_porn/216/36693/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: SkyPilot
Post To: Coming Soon
Post Date: 10/27/2008 1:19:04 PM
Body: 1. Zack & Miri (Make a Porno) -- I really like Seth Rogen (especially in Pineapple Express and 40-Year Old Virgin), so I might see this. I've gotta confess I've never been a Kevin Smith fan, so I'll wait to hear what some of you say about this movie. Speaking of funny movies about down-and-out entrepreneurs making pornography, I found The Amateurs (2005) with Jeff Bridges to be really funny and interesting because it looks at the romantic relationships of the characters involved, and how those relationships are affected by making the porno. For an even more realistic look at amateurs making porn, check out Dear Pillow. The FilmCouch guys and I argued about it pretty vehemently in FilmCouch 47 2. RocknRolla comes out Halloween night. Any fans of Snatch and Lock, Stock excited for this? Or does even thinking of seeing a Guy Ritchie movie make you feel too nostalgic? Like when you imagine having dinner in your old high school cafe? Some new horror movies are coming out 3. Splinter If the parasitic splinters get under your skin, you become a hedgehog-like monster. Or so the trailer suggests. 4. Eden Lake A young couple camping in the woods are terrorized by juvenile delinquents with a dark side. 5. The Haunting of Molly Hartley A 17-year old girl is trying to get a fresh start after being attacked by her mentally ill mother. When things get weird, is it caused psychosis of her own? Or something even more sinister? And a documentary about a bullfighter: 6. The Matador Follows David Fandila's quest to become the world's finest bull-fighter. Here's the trailer. 7. Despite what some sites are saying, Quantum of Solace is definitely not coming out this week! (Looks like Nov. 14 is the real release date.) Bummer, because I'm really excited for it. Sean Connery was good for those old spy movies, but I think Daniel Craig is by far the better James Bond. What do you guys think? Casino Royale is hands down my favorite Bond movie. People have noted Craig's Bond is the truest to the Bond books, but purism aside, Casino Royale gave me some raw thrills none of the previous Bond movies gave me. Remember when Craig is chasing the terrorist through the rafters and plunges through the drywall like a berserk gorilla?Or the gritty, brutal fight in the bathroom where he essentially beats someone to death? Yikes. Craig's Bond has interesting layers, though. In my opinion, for the first time Bond seems like a real human being. He's affected (and sometimes significantly not affected) by violence. Remember when he sees the mangled remains of a woman he's just had sex with? M says, "I'd tell you not to become to attached...but that's not your problem, is it James?
]]>Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:19:04 GMTSkyPilotComing Soon10/27/2008 1:19:04 PM1. Zack &amp; Miri (Make a Porno) -- I really like Seth Rogen (especially in Pineapple Express and 40-Year Old Virgin), so I might see this. I've gotta confess I've never been a Kevin Smith fan, so I'll wait to hear what some of you say about this movie. Speaking of funny movies about down-and-out entrepreneurs making pornography, I found The Amateurs (2005) with Jeff Bridges to be really funny and interesting because it looks at the romantic relationships of the characters involved, and how those relationships are affected by making the porno. For an even more realistic look at amateurs making porn, check out Dear Pillow. The FilmCouch guys and I argued about it pretty vehemently in FilmCouch 47 2. RocknRolla comes out Halloween night. Any fans of Snatch and Lock, Stock excited for this? Or does even thinking of seeing a Guy Ritchie movie make you feel too nostalgic? Like when you imagine having dinner in your old high school cafe? Some new horror movies are coming out 3. Splinter If the parasitic splinters get under your skin, you become a hedgehog-like monster. Or so the trailer suggests. 4. Eden Lake A young couple camping in the woods are terrorized by juvenile delinquents with a dark side. 5. The Haunting of Molly Hartley A 17-year old girl is trying to get a fresh start after being attacked by her mentally ill mother. When things get weird, is it caused psychosis of her own? Or something even more sinister? And a documentary about a bullfighter: 6. The Matador Follows David Fandila's quest to become the world's finest bull-fighter. Here's the trailer. 7. Despite what some sites are saying, Quantum of Solace is definitely not coming out this week! (Looks like Nov. 14 is the real release date.) Bummer, because I'm really excited for it. Sean Connery was good for those old spy movies, but I think Daniel Craig is by far the better James Bond. What do you guys think? Casino Royale is hands down my favorite Bond movie. People have noted Craig's Bond is the truest to the Bond books, but purism aside, Casino Royale gave me some raw thrills none of the previous Bond movies gave me. Remember when Craig is chasing the terrorist through the rafters and plunges through the drywall like a berserk gorilla?Or the gritty, brutal fight in the bathroom where he essentially beats someone to death? Yikes. Craig's Bond has interesting layers, though. In my opinion, for the first time Bond seems like a real human being. He's affected (and sometimes significantly not affected) by violence. Remember when he sees the mangled remains of a woman he's just had sex with? M says, "I'd tell you not to become to attached...but that's not your problem, is it James? http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Movie_Prep/Re_Weekly_Prep_for_10_24_Releases/651/36624/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: seely
Post To: Weekly Movie Prep
Post Date: 10/23/2008 2:38:02 PM
Body: I'm a bit behind on my current releases, so this week my goals are to see Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, and Guy Ritchie's Rocknrolla'. I thought good prep for Nick and Norah may be a rewatching of Valley Girl, as it seems to share a similar 'one crazy night' theme with an unlikely cast of characters and events. Along those lines, since it is somewhat of a music-centric film I thought High Fidelity could be of merit too, with the Top 5/playlist themes maybe going hand-in-hand. That, and I'll use any excuse I can to justify watching either film again. Rocknrolla is easy... I'd have to dust off my two favorite Ritchie films, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and Snatch. Two of my favorite films... great action, a lot of great lines and enough humour thrown in here and there to keep you chuckling while the plot gets heavy. I'm hoping Ritchie's impending divorce hasn't gotten him too down to put in a few good laughs and some more colourful characters!
]]>Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:38:02 GMTseelyWeekly Movie Prep10/23/2008 2:38:02 PMI'm a bit behind on my current releases, so this week my goals are to see Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, and Guy Ritchie's Rocknrolla'. I thought good prep for Nick and Norah may be a rewatching of Valley Girl, as it seems to share a similar 'one crazy night' theme with an unlikely cast of characters and events. Along those lines, since it is somewhat of a music-centric film I thought High Fidelity could be of merit too, with the Top 5/playlist themes maybe going hand-in-hand. That, and I'll use any excuse I can to justify watching either film again. Rocknrolla is easy... I'd have to dust off my two favorite Ritchie films, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and Snatch. Two of my favorite films... great action, a lot of great lines and enough humour thrown in here and there to keep you chuckling while the plot gets heavy. I'm hoping Ritchie's impending divorce hasn't gotten him too down to put in a few good laughs and some more colourful characters! http://www.spout.com/blogs/usesoap/archive/2008/10/12/36236.aspx Post By: usesoap
Post To: usesoap Blog
Post Date: 10/12/2008 8:57:34 PM
Body: With “RocknRolla” we are officially out of new threatening aquatic creatures for cinematic bad guys to dip their foes into. Sharks. Piranhas. Electric eels. Ill-tempered mutated sea bass. All of these little fishies have occupied a tank or two, used for a criminal dunking booth as a form of persuasion in films. Lenny Cole, the chief villain of Guy Ritchie's new crime caper is also a proprietor of such a nefarious aquarium. So what does he choose to stock in his pond of persuasion? Crawfish. Yes, that Louisiana delicacy that is little more than an overgrown Sea Monkey is what Lenny uses to taunt his victims. It's (hopefully) meant as a lark in Ritchie's assured return to form after misfiring with the disastrous “Swept Away” (starring wife Madonna) and the befuddling “Revolver.” “RocknRolla” creeps back into the underworld where he is most comfortable, populating it with yet another round of entertaining, three-dimensional, two-bit, one-track-minded ruffians who inhabit it. Lenny (played by Tom Wilkinson) is trying to score a real estate deal with a younger, leaner Russian “businessman” (played by Karel Rodan), but is soon realizing his way of lawlessness is slowly giving way to a more harsh, bitter brand of criminality. Meanwhile, his middling thugs get mixed up in the fracas, testing allegiances as well as each other's patience. One Two (played by “300's” Gerard Butler), Mumbles (played by Idris Elba), Handsome Bob (played by Tom Hardy), Archie (played by Mark Strong), and Johnny Quid (played by Tony Kebble), are all crossing paths and cracking skulls -- sometimes their own – in an attempt to pad their pockets with payoff. A scheming accountant (played by Thandie Newton) and a pair of seamy music executives (played by Jeremy Piven and Ludicris), also figure into the scheme. Through the thick British accents, it might be difficult to catch each and every line lobbed onto the criminal battlefield, but the film is immediately more discernible than his thoroughly confusing trip to Kabbalah-land, “Revolver.” Some may see “RocknRolla” as the director falling back on a crutch, cinematically. But it is a crutch that has served him well, and the director seems to have done some maturation in the years since he rocketed onto the landscape with “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and its follow-up “Snatch.” This film doesn't feel as hopped-up and antsy, allowing more exposition with some rather engaging characters. One scene in particular takes a Hitchcockian foot-chase – one that would typically be wrought with hyperkinetic editing and a thundering soundtrack – and adds an amusing twist to its conclusion that is as realistic as it is comical. The cast is primed and ready to groove with Ritchie's signature vibe, happily contributing moments of appropriate over-the-top histrionics and awkward humility, especially Wilkinson, Butler and Strong. Ritchie breaks no new ground as a director, with his visual flair on full display. But he has grown substantially as a writer, which elevates its gallery of goons to more than Tarantino-esque tough guys. The cast of “RocknRolla” can stand confidently beside the motley crews he's previously assembled on the screen.
]]>Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:57:34 GMTusesoapusesoap Blog10/12/2008 8:57:34 PMWith &ldquo;RocknRolla&rdquo; we are officially out of new threatening aquatic creatures for cinematic bad guys to dip their foes into. Sharks. Piranhas. Electric eels. Ill-tempered mutated sea bass. All of these little fishies have occupied a tank or two, used for a criminal dunking booth as a form of persuasion in films. Lenny Cole, the chief villain of Guy Ritchie's new crime caper is also a proprietor of such a nefarious aquarium. So what does he choose to stock in his pond of persuasion? Crawfish. Yes, that Louisiana delicacy that is little more than an overgrown Sea Monkey is what Lenny uses to taunt his victims. It's (hopefully) meant as a lark in Ritchie's assured return to form after misfiring with the disastrous &ldquo;Swept Away&rdquo; (starring wife Madonna) and the befuddling &ldquo;Revolver.&rdquo; &ldquo;RocknRolla&rdquo; creeps back into the underworld where he is most comfortable, populating it with yet another round of entertaining, three-dimensional, two-bit, one-track-minded ruffians who inhabit it. Lenny (played by Tom Wilkinson) is trying to score a real estate deal with a younger, leaner Russian &ldquo;businessman&rdquo; (played by Karel Rodan), but is soon realizing his way of lawlessness is slowly giving way to a more harsh, bitter brand of criminality. Meanwhile, his middling thugs get mixed up in the fracas, testing allegiances as well as each other's patience. One Two (played by &ldquo;300's&rdquo; Gerard Butler), Mumbles (played by Idris Elba), Handsome Bob (played by Tom Hardy), Archie (played by Mark Strong), and Johnny Quid (played by Tony Kebble), are all crossing paths and cracking skulls -- sometimes their own &ndash; in an attempt to pad their pockets with payoff. A scheming accountant (played by Thandie Newton) and a pair of seamy music executives (played by Jeremy Piven and Ludicris), also figure into the scheme. Through the thick British accents, it might be difficult to catch each and every line lobbed onto the criminal battlefield, but the film is immediately more discernible than his thoroughly confusing trip to Kabbalah-land, &ldquo;Revolver.&rdquo; Some may see &ldquo;RocknRolla&rdquo; as the director falling back on a crutch, cinematically. But it is a crutch that has served him well, and the director seems to have done some maturation in the years since he rocketed onto the landscape with &ldquo;Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels&rdquo; and its follow-up &ldquo;Snatch.&rdquo; This film doesn't feel as hopped-up and antsy, allowing more exposition with some rather engaging characters. One scene in particular takes a Hitchcockian foot-chase &ndash; one that would typically be wrought with hyperkinetic editing and a thundering soundtrack &ndash; and adds an amusing twist to its conclusion that is as realistic as it is comical. The cast is primed and ready to groove with Ritchie's signature vibe, happily contributing moments of appropriate over-the-top histrionics and awkward humility, especially Wilkinson, Butler and Strong. Ritchie breaks no new ground as a director, with his visual flair on full display. But he has grown substantially as a writer, which elevates its gallery of goons to more than Tarantino-esque tough guys. The cast of &ldquo;RocknRolla&rdquo; can stand confidently beside the motley crews he's previously assembled on the screen. http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/10/8/36037.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 10/8/2008 2:01:01 PM
Body: This review originally appeared during the Toronto Film Festival. Guy Ritchie’s RockNRolla opens in New York and LA today. Guy Ritchie has been getting a bad rap ever since the his impressive double header of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch turned into the double whammy of becoming Mr. Madonna in 2000 and directing Swept Away in 2002. Ritchie was quickly heading for the bargain bin after that romantic comedy became a universal joke, topped as a target of derision perhaps only by Gigli. He returned to gangster fare with Revolver in 2005, but even with star and Ritchie alumnus Jason Statham, the film wasn’t well-received. So here we are three years later with yet another gangster-studded film, RocknRolla, this time with posterboy Gerard Butler in a leading role. Well, the good news is that this marks a return to the London underbelly that was laid down by Lock and Snatch: RocknRolla could rightfully be called the third film in a Ritchie trilogy. The bad news is that it’s a whole lot of flash and not much substance. Not that people go to Ritchie’s films expecting a dissertation on the human condition, but his movies do at least require you to follow along closely due to their labyrinthine plots. RocknRolla is no different, and although Butler seems to be the face of the film, he’s simply part of a large ensemble cast, and not the strongest player. The basic plot of the film involves One-Two (Butler) and his partner Mumbles (Idris Elba) as two low-rent hoods who spot a good real estate investment. They partner with a mob boss (Tom Wilkinson) with deep pockets to get things rolling, but he turns around and double-crosses them, and they owe him some serious dough. Meanwhile, the same mob boss gets involved with a Russian billionaire in a similar real estate deal. The Russian’s accountant (Thandie Newton) steps in and double crosses the Russian, and so you’ve got your basic mafia triangle of X owes money to Y who owes money to Z. As it turns out, the Russian loans his mystical good luck painting to the mob boss as a show of good faith, and this painting soon becomes the focus of the film once it is stolen by the mob boss’ stepson, Johnny Quid. The rest of the film turns into a search for the painting, which moves from character A to B to C with fluid ease, and there’s a violent conclusion that ties everything up, for the most part. The main problem with the film is that you just don’t care for most of the main characters, which isn’t that surprising when you consider a cast this large. However, The Big Chill also has a large cast, and you certainly care for people in that movie. (Also, I’ve just realized that comparing a Guy Ritchie movie to The Big Chill is probably one of the signs of the impending apocalypse.) The real stars of the film are Toby Kebbell, who plays the heroin-thin rockstar Johnny Quid in a loving homage to Sid Vicious (or to Gary Oldman in Sid & Nancy); Tom Wilkinson as the chrome-domed, Ray-Ban wearing crime boss Lenny Cole; and Mark Strong as Archie, Lenny’s right-hand enforcer. Honestly, you could have replaced Butler’s character with a dozen different actors, and these three actors would have shone just as brightly, despite being in an ensemble piece. Not that Butler isn’t competent. His portrayal of the criminal who just can’t seem to get things right isn’t nearly as over the top as King Leonidas, and he’s at his best in this movie when not in an action heavy vignettes. There’s an amusing scene where Thandie Newton and Butler are dancing at a wannabe rave thrown by Newton’s posh (but gay) husband. Their dancing is about on par with Marcia Brady’s “thumb dance” from The Brady Bunch. You can’t hear them over the din of the party, so you’re treated with cartoonish subtitles throughout the scene. Most of the humor in the movie comes from a pair of Russian hitmen who just won’t die, no matter what happens to them in one of the most amusing chase sequences I’ve ever seen, and from the awkward situation Butler’s character is put in after his best mate and fellow hood Handsome Bob confesses his love to him. Ritchie from the Lock, Stock days probably wouldn’t have approached a scene (and the ensuing scenes in which Butler may, or may not have helped his buddy out before a prison stint) seriously, but the 2008 version of the director decided it could be both amusing and touching. Ritchie told us that this film is meant to have at least one sequel, and you can read all about that in our upcoming interview. If Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels still stands as Ritchie’s strongest film, with Snatch in second place, RockNRolla feels like a strong third in this trinity, and returns Ritchie to form. At the very least, it’s a fun leadup to Sherlock Holmes. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:01:01 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com10/8/2008 2:01:01 PMThis review originally appeared during the Toronto Film Festival. Guy Ritchie’s RockNRolla opens in New York and LA today. Guy Ritchie has been getting a bad rap ever since the his impressive double header of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch turned into the double whammy of becoming Mr. Madonna in 2000 and directing Swept Away in 2002. Ritchie was quickly heading for the bargain bin after that romantic comedy became a universal joke, topped as a target of derision perhaps only by Gigli. He returned to gangster fare with Revolver in 2005, but even with star and Ritchie alumnus Jason Statham, the film wasn’t well-received. So here we are three years later with yet another gangster-studded film, RocknRolla, this time with posterboy Gerard Butler in a leading role. Well, the good news is that this marks a return to the London underbelly that was laid down by Lock and Snatch: RocknRolla could rightfully be called the third film in a Ritchie trilogy. The bad news is that it’s a whole lot of flash and not much substance. Not that people go to Ritchie’s films expecting a dissertation on the human condition, but his movies do at least require you to follow along closely due to their labyrinthine plots. RocknRolla is no different, and although Butler seems to be the face of the film, he’s simply part of a large ensemble cast, and not the strongest player. The basic plot of the film involves One-Two (Butler) and his partner Mumbles (Idris Elba) as two low-rent hoods who spot a good real estate investment. They partner with a mob boss (Tom Wilkinson) with deep pockets to get things rolling, but he turns around and double-crosses them, and they owe him some serious dough. Meanwhile, the same mob boss gets involved with a Russian billionaire in a similar real estate deal. The Russian’s accountant (Thandie Newton) steps in and double crosses the Russian, and so you’ve got your basic mafia triangle of X owes money to Y who owes money to Z. As it turns out, the Russian loans his mystical good luck painting to the mob boss as a show of good faith, and this painting soon becomes the focus of the film once it is stolen by the mob boss’ stepson, Johnny Quid. The rest of the film turns into a search for the painting, which moves from character A to B to C with fluid ease, and there’s a violent conclusion that ties everything up, for the most part. The main problem with the film is that you just don’t care for most of the main characters, which isn’t that surprising when you consider a cast this large. However, The Big Chill also has a large cast, and you certainly care for people in that movie. (Also, I’ve just realized that comparing a Guy Ritchie movie to The Big Chill is probably one of the signs of the impending apocalypse.) The real stars of the film are Toby Kebbell, who plays the heroin-thin rockstar Johnny Quid in a loving homage to Sid Vicious (or to Gary Oldman in Sid & Nancy); Tom Wilkinson as the chrome-domed, Ray-Ban wearing crime boss Lenny Cole; and Mark Strong as Archie, Lenny’s right-hand enforcer. Honestly, you could have replaced Butler’s character with a dozen different actors, and these three actors would have shone just as brightly, despite being in an ensemble piece. Not that Butler isn’t competent. His portrayal of the criminal who just can’t seem to get things right isn’t nearly as over the top as King Leonidas, and he’s at his best in this movie when not in an action heavy vignettes. There’s an amusing scene where Thandie Newton and Butler are dancing at a wannabe rave thrown by Newton’s posh (but gay) husband. Their dancing is about on par with Marcia Brady’s “thumb dance” from The Brady Bunch. You can’t hear them over the din of the party, so you’re treated with cartoonish subtitles throughout the scene. Most of the humor in the movie comes from a pair of Russian hitmen who just won’t die, no matter what happens to them in one of the most amusing chase sequences I’ve ever seen, and from the awkward situation Butler’s character is put in after his best mate and fellow hood Handsome Bob confesses his love to him. Ritchie from the Lock, Stock days probably wouldn’t have approached a scene (and the ensuing scenes in which Butler may, or may not have helped his buddy out before a prison stint) seriously, but the 2008 version of the director decided it could be both amusing and touching. Ritchie told us that this film is meant to have at least one sequel, and you can read all about that in our upcoming interview. If Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels still stands as Ritchie’s strongest film, with Snatch in second place, RockNRolla feels like a strong third in this trinity, and returns Ritchie to form. At the very least, it’s a fun leadup to Sherlock Holmes. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/blogs/tenenbaums/archive/2008/9/30/35724.aspx Post By: Tenenbaums
Post To: Tenenbaums Blog
Post Date: 9/30/2008 3:08:59 PM
Body: Wow. After a slow start, this movie really takes off. Though I love Snatch and Lock, Stock, it's reassuring to see that Guy Ritchie's talent can go in a different direction. That's not to say that he's completely abandoned his roots (which he might have done on the Swept Away remake....though I haven't seen it...) as there are trademark cinematography and editing touchs in addition to dialogue and content. Revolver reaffirms that Jason Statham is an actor with Ritchie and merely an action star without. He is at his dramatic best here and looks great next to the comedic masterwork in Snatch. Ritchie's new directions allow him to grow as a filmmaker and distance himself from the "he made the same movie twice" comments at the start of his career. I now trust him more as a writer/director and I'm really excited for Rocknrolla.
]]>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:08:59 GMTTenenbaumsTenenbaums Blog9/30/2008 3:08:59 PMWow. After a slow start, this movie really takes off. Though I love Snatch and Lock, Stock, it's reassuring to see that Guy Ritchie's talent can go in a different direction. That's not to say that he's completely abandoned his roots (which he might have done on the Swept Away remake....though I haven't seen it...) as there are trademark cinematography and editing touchs in addition to dialogue and content. Revolver reaffirms that Jason Statham is an actor with Ritchie and merely an action star without. He is at his dramatic best here and looks great next to the comedic masterwork in Snatch. Ritchie's new directions allow him to grow as a filmmaker and distance himself from the "he made the same movie twice" comments at the start of his career. I now trust him more as a writer/director and I'm really excited for Rocknrolla. http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/9/29/35698.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 9/29/2008 6:01:10 PM
Body: It’s not definite yet, but it looks like Oscar-nominated actor/director Kenneth Branagh will be taking the helm of Marvel Studios’ comic book adaptation Thor. Most young moviegoers know Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart (from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), but he’s otherwise better known for primarily directing films of Shakespeare’s works. He also tends to cast mostly trained Shakespearean actors, although he has been known to include an Alicia Silverstone or a Matthew Lillard in his ensembles. Additionally, he’s been known for odd casting choices, such as Robert De Niro for the Monster in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Who will he cast this time in the Asgardian ensemble that will make up the film? It might not actually be totally up to him, but if it is, it might look a little like this: Kenneth Branagh as Thor/Donald Blake I know what you’re thinking. He’s old. But he’s only five years older than Iron Man’s Robert Downey Jr. and only 3 years older than Brad Pitt, who recently was rumored to be at the top of Marvel’s wish list. Anyway, he’s cast himself as Hamlet, Dr. Frankenstein and Henry V. So, it would be fitting if he cast himself in the lead here, too. The only issue, of course, is that the script now apparently features Thor’s alter ego, Donald Blake, and he’s reportedly written as a med student, not a full-on doctor. Oh, and for Thor, Branagh will have to beef up tremendously. Or not. If he actually got away with playing the character, he could probably also get away with not giving in to the whole height and muscle problem. Keanu Reeves as Loki Branagh previously cast Reeves in the Shakespeare adaptation Much Ado About Nothing, and after more than 15 years, it’s time for them to work together again. Plus, Reeves is fully capable of being a nasty trickster and he should certainly be taking on more villain roles. Ian Holm as Odin Now that Branagh is linked to the film, past rumors that Brian Blessed already was cast as Odin make more sense. And Blessed is actually who will likely get the part, especially if Marvel is paying attention to the movie blogs and message boards today. But maybe he could cast Holm, who also acted in Branagh’s Frankenstein and Henry V. Sure, he’s way too short, and he doesn’t have that monstrous voice that Blessed has. But doesn’t he just have a more fatherly look to him? Brian Blessed as Volstagg With Holm as Odin, Blessed will then have to take on the part of this member of the Warriors Three. He may not be fat enough, but he’s loud enough. Another great choice would be Branagh’s co-star from Harry Potter, Robbie Coltrane. Why? Because he also played Falstaff in Branagh’s Henry V, and according to Wikipedia, Stan Lee likely based Volstagg on that Shakespeare character. Jude Law as Fandral This other member of the Warriors Three should be played by someone along the lines of Errol Flynn, who clearly was Stan Kirby’s model for the character. And Law, who recently starred in Branagh’s Sleuth, portrayed Flynn in Scorsese’s The Aviator. He may be too big a movie star for the supporting part, but Law should probably be demoted a bit, anyway. Kevin Kline as Hogun Rounding out the Warriors Three is this long-mustached fellow, and Kline, who appears in Branagh’s As You Like It, is always great with mustached characters (think The Pirates of Penzance and A Fish Called Wanda). Kline needs to be in a superhero movie, anyway, badly. 20 years ago, he would have been a perfect choice for a character like Tony Stark, but now he is due for at least a supporting role. Gemma Arterton as Sif She’s about to break out big time with the latest 007 film, Quantum of Solace, and Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla, which will put her in a perfect position to show off her Shakespearean talents and her other assets as Thor’s Asgardian lover. Emily Mortimer as Jane Foster If indeed the Earthly side of Thor is shown in Branagh’s film, his nurse and temporary girlfriend should also make an appearance. The best pick is Mortimer, who previously worked with the director on Love’s Labour’s Lost. Unfortunately, she’s more likely to be played by a younger actress, some flavor of the month a la Arterton. Robert De Niro as Absorbing Man The reported villains in Thor are Loki, Karnilla, Malekith and Thrym, but I’ll keep wishing for an appearance from former boxer Carl “Crusher” Creel. Not only is he a cool villain with cool powers, but he’d make for some cool special effects. Give him a cameo at least? And in the part cast De Niro, who could make up for his role as the Monster in Branagh’s Frankenstein. Surely I’m not the only person who’d like to see Bobby D shave his head and swing a wrecking ball around. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:01:10 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com9/29/2008 6:01:10 PMIt’s not definite yet, but it looks like Oscar-nominated actor/director Kenneth Branagh will be taking the helm of Marvel Studios’ comic book adaptation Thor. Most young moviegoers know Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart (from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), but he’s otherwise better known for primarily directing films of Shakespeare’s works. He also tends to cast mostly trained Shakespearean actors, although he has been known to include an Alicia Silverstone or a Matthew Lillard in his ensembles. Additionally, he’s been known for odd casting choices, such as Robert De Niro for the Monster in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Who will he cast this time in the Asgardian ensemble that will make up the film? It might not actually be totally up to him, but if it is, it might look a little like this: Kenneth Branagh as Thor/Donald Blake I know what you’re thinking. He’s old. But he’s only five years older than Iron Man’s Robert Downey Jr. and only 3 years older than Brad Pitt, who recently was rumored to be at the top of Marvel’s wish list. Anyway, he’s cast himself as Hamlet, Dr. Frankenstein and Henry V. So, it would be fitting if he cast himself in the lead here, too. The only issue, of course, is that the script now apparently features Thor’s alter ego, Donald Blake, and he’s reportedly written as a med student, not a full-on doctor. Oh, and for Thor, Branagh will have to beef up tremendously. Or not. If he actually got away with playing the character, he could probably also get away with not giving in to the whole height and muscle problem. Keanu Reeves as Loki Branagh previously cast Reeves in the Shakespeare adaptation Much Ado About Nothing, and after more than 15 years, it’s time for them to work together again. Plus, Reeves is fully capable of being a nasty trickster and he should certainly be taking on more villain roles. Ian Holm as Odin Now that Branagh is linked to the film, past rumors that Brian Blessed already was cast as Odin make more sense. And Blessed is actually who will likely get the part, especially if Marvel is paying attention to the movie blogs and message boards today. But maybe he could cast Holm, who also acted in Branagh’s Frankenstein and Henry V. Sure, he’s way too short, and he doesn’t have that monstrous voice that Blessed has. But doesn’t he just have a more fatherly look to him? Brian Blessed as Volstagg With Holm as Odin, Blessed will then have to take on the part of this member of the Warriors Three. He may not be fat enough, but he’s loud enough. Another great choice would be Branagh’s co-star from Harry Potter, Robbie Coltrane. Why? Because he also played Falstaff in Branagh’s Henry V, and according to Wikipedia, Stan Lee likely based Volstagg on that Shakespeare character. Jude Law as Fandral This other member of the Warriors Three should be played by someone along the lines of Errol Flynn, who clearly was Stan Kirby’s model for the character. And Law, who recently starred in Branagh’s Sleuth, portrayed Flynn in Scorsese’s The Aviator. He may be too big a movie star for the supporting part, but Law should probably be demoted a bit, anyway. Kevin Kline as Hogun Rounding out the Warriors Three is this long-mustached fellow, and Kline, who appears in Branagh’s As You Like It, is always great with mustached characters (think The Pirates of Penzance and A Fish Called Wanda). Kline needs to be in a superhero movie, anyway, badly. 20 years ago, he would have been a perfect choice for a character like Tony Stark, but now he is due for at least a supporting role. Gemma Arterton as Sif She’s about to break out big time with the latest 007 film, Quantum of Solace, and Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla, which will put her in a perfect position to show off her Shakespearean talents and her other assets as Thor’s Asgardian lover. Emily Mortimer as Jane Foster If indeed the Earthly side of Thor is shown in Branagh’s film, his nurse and temporary girlfriend should also make an appearance. The best pick is Mortimer, who previously worked with the director on Love’s Labour’s Lost. Unfortunately, she’s more likely to be played by a younger actress, some flavor of the month a la Arterton. Robert De Niro as Absorbing Man The reported villains in Thor are Loki, Karnilla, Malekith and Thrym, but I’ll keep wishing for an appearance from former boxer Carl “Crusher” Creel. Not only is he a cool villain with cool powers, but he’d make for some cool special effects. Give him a cameo at least? And in the part cast De Niro, who could make up for his role as the Monster in Branagh’s Frankenstein. Surely I’m not the only person who’d like to see Bobby D shave his head and swing a wrecking ball around. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/groups/Coming_Soon/New_Movies_10_3/216/35686/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: SkyPilot
Post To: Coming Soon
Post Date: 9/29/2008 1:26:48 PM
Body: The playing cards are shorthand for how good I think these films will be. No sure-thing aces this week, but we've got some face cards... How to Lose Friends and Alienate People has a lot going for it. Director Robert B. Weide's work on Curb Your Enthusiasm has shown he's got the chops for comedy. Plus, the main actor is Simon Pegg, that talented star and co-writer of Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead. It'll be interesting to watch Pegg's chemistry with the likes of Kirsten Dunst, Megan Fox, and Jeff Bridges. Let's be honest, though -- this is just another film about fatuous asses at a fashion magazine. Looks like The Devil Wears Prada: Part Two. Which is fine as far as it goes, but I feel like seeing something a little more substantial this weekend. Appaloosa -- Reviewers are saying it's "just" a good old traditional western. I don't know about you, but a western can be "just" good and still get under my skin. Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen are tough-as-leather lawmen who protect a town from gangster Jeremy Irons. Also, Harris and Mortensen are two sides of a romantic triangle with Renee Zellweger. Why do Westerns keep getting made? I don't know, and I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts. I know part of why I keep watching them: Westerns create an atmosphere where it takes courage to do what's right. To me, that atmosphere seems like a symbol of what life is always like. I need courage to stand up for someone; I need perseverance to get up and go to class. If you're interested in a meditation on what's worth risking your life, I recommend 3:10 to Yuma. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist -- In this Michael Cera vehicle two lonely teens connect over music. Looks kind of sweet, like the younger sibling of Garden State.Flash of Genius -- Drama based on the life of Robert Kearns, who invented something very boring but very useful: the intermittent windshield wiper. Kearns' invention was embraced by automobile manufacturers, but Kearns himself was discarded. Kearns started a long legal battle that no one expected him to win. It appears Kearns wasn't merely self-serving, but was spurred on by the principle that people should be acknowledged for the work they accomplish. Allah Made Me Funny: Live in Concert is a stand-up comedy show featuring Muslim comedians like Azhar Usman, Preacher Moss, and Mo Amer. Beverly Hills Chihuahua -- Have you seen the clever edit of the scene from Sixth Sense? Religulous -- Bill Maher and director Larry Charles (Borat) team up to humiliate organized religions. SpoutBlog's Karina Longworth takes a look at their dubious interviewing method. This film might be funny in a preaching to the choir kind of way. Who doesn't agree that religious fundamentalism can be dangerous and absurd? Any favorite flicks that satirize religion in way that actually gets people to open their eyes? I thought Talladega Nights was a pretty artful critique of health-and-wealth Christianity. (No, I'm not kidding.)An American Carol -- Airplane! director David Zucker and a Michael Moore lookalike team up in this parody of leftist politics. The trailer for An American Carol makes the film look about as fun as an afternoon at the DMV. LIMITED RELEASE RocknRolla -- Guy Ritchie's third flick is being called a return to form, an equal of Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. We know it'll be all style and no substance, so it'll comes down to whether you're a Ritchie fan or not. Rachel Getting Married -- Anne Hathaway gives a great performance in this story about a prodigal daughter's return. Ballast -- A man's suicide makes three people realize they need community. Karina was impressed when she caught it at Sundance.The Pope's Toilet -- (limited release) It's 1988 on the Uruguay/Brazil border. The town of Melo is eagerly anticipating the visit of Pope John Paul II and 50,000 others in his wake. Melo locals such as Bob, a smuggler, are getting entrepreneurial: Bob builds a port-o-potty on his property and charges for its use. Chaos ensues.
]]>Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:26:48 GMTSkyPilotComing Soon9/29/2008 1:26:48 PMThe playing cards are shorthand for how good I think these films will be. No sure-thing aces this week, but we've got some face cards... How to Lose Friends and Alienate People has a lot going for it. Director Robert B. Weide's work on Curb Your Enthusiasm has shown he's got the chops for comedy. Plus, the main actor is Simon Pegg, that talented star and co-writer of Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead. It'll be interesting to watch Pegg's chemistry with the likes of Kirsten Dunst, Megan Fox, and Jeff Bridges. Let's be honest, though -- this is just another film about fatuous asses at a fashion magazine. Looks like The Devil Wears Prada: Part Two. Which is fine as far as it goes, but I feel like seeing something a little more substantial this weekend. Appaloosa -- Reviewers are saying it's "just" a good old traditional western. I don't know about you, but a western can be "just" good and still get under my skin. Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen are tough-as-leather lawmen who protect a town from gangster Jeremy Irons. Also, Harris and Mortensen are two sides of a romantic triangle with Renee Zellweger. Why do Westerns keep getting made? I don't know, and I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts. I know part of why I keep watching them: Westerns create an atmosphere where it takes courage to do what's right. To me, that atmosphere seems like a symbol of what life is always like. I need courage to stand up for someone; I need perseverance to get up and go to class. If you're interested in a meditation on what's worth risking your life, I recommend 3:10 to Yuma. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist -- In this Michael Cera vehicle two lonely teens connect over music. Looks kind of sweet, like the younger sibling of Garden State.Flash of Genius -- Drama based on the life of Robert Kearns, who invented something very boring but very useful: the intermittent windshield wiper. Kearns' invention was embraced by automobile manufacturers, but Kearns himself was discarded. Kearns started a long legal battle that no one expected him to win. It appears Kearns wasn't merely self-serving, but was spurred on by the principle that people should be acknowledged for the work they accomplish. Allah Made Me Funny: Live in Concert is a stand-up comedy show featuring Muslim comedians like Azhar Usman, Preacher Moss, and Mo Amer. Beverly Hills Chihuahua -- Have you seen the clever edit of the scene from Sixth Sense? Religulous -- Bill Maher and director Larry Charles (Borat) team up to humiliate organized religions. SpoutBlog's Karina Longworth takes a look at their dubious interviewing method. This film might be funny in a preaching to the choir kind of way. Who doesn't agree that religious fundamentalism can be dangerous and absurd? Any favorite flicks that satirize religion in way that actually gets people to open their eyes? I thought Talladega Nights was a pretty artful critique of health-and-wealth Christianity. (No, I'm not kidding.)An American Carol -- Airplane! director David Zucker and a Michael Moore lookalike team up in this parody of leftist politics. The trailer for An American Carol makes the film look about as fun as an afternoon at the DMV. LIMITED RELEASE RocknRolla -- Guy Ritchie's third flick is being called a return to form, an equal of Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. We know it'll be all style and no substance, so it'll comes down to whether you're a Ritchie fan or not. Rachel Getting Married -- Anne Hathaway gives a great performance in this story about a prodigal daughter's return. Ballast -- A man's suicide makes three people realize they need community. Karina was impressed when she caught it at Sundance.The Pope's Toilet -- (limited release) It's 1988 on the Uruguay/Brazil border. The town of Melo is eagerly anticipating the visit of Pope John Paul II and 50,000 others in his wake. Melo locals such as Bob, a smuggler, are getting entrepreneurial: Bob builds a port-o-potty on his property and charges for its use. Chaos ensues. http://www.spout.com/groups/Filmgaming/Recast_SNATCH_2000_and_LOCK_STOCK_AND_TWO_SMOK/563/35321/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: SkyPilot
Post To: Filmgaming
Post Date: 9/19/2008 4:57:13 PM
Body: Good news: Guy Ritchie's RocknRolla hits theaters on October 3, and Spout's Kevin Kelly says it's a worthy successor to that wicked one-two punch, Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.Can you make Snatch and Lock Stock hit even harder? Prizes for the best recasts. SnatchBenicio Del Toro ... Franky Four FingersAlan Ford ... Brick TopJason Statham ... TurkishStephen Graham ... TommyRade Serbedzija ... Boris the Blade Brad Pitt ... Mickey O'NeilSorcha Cusack ... Mum O'Neil (Brad Pitt's mum)Jason Flemyng ... Darren (Brad Pitt's mulleted friend)Dennis Farina ... Avi Mike Reid ... Doug "the Head"Vinnie Jones ... Bullet Tooth TonyEwen Bremner ... Mullet (the guy Tony hangs out his car window)Ade ... TyroneLennie James ... Sol Robbie Gee ... Vinny Goldie ... Bad Boy Lincoln (the friend who brings Sol a fake diamond)Adam Fogerty ... Gorgeous GeorgePeter Szakacs ... Sausage CharlieLock, Stock and Two Smoking BarrelsNick Moran ... EddieJason Flemyng ... TomDexter Fletcher ... SoapJason Statham ... BaconP.H. Moriarty ... 'Hatchet' Harry LonsdaleVinnie Jones ... Big ChrisLenny McLean ... Barry the Baptist Sting ... JDStephen Marcus ... Nick the GreekSteven Mackintosh ... Winston Did I leave anybody out? Entries posted by Thursday, Oct. 2 will be eligible to win. Winners will be announced Friday, Oct. 3.
]]>Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:57:13 GMTSkyPilotFilmgaming9/19/2008 4:57:13 PMGood news: Guy Ritchie's RocknRolla hits theaters on October 3, and Spout's Kevin Kelly says it's a worthy successor to that wicked one-two punch, Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.Can you make Snatch and Lock Stock hit even harder? Prizes for the best recasts. SnatchBenicio Del Toro ... Franky Four FingersAlan Ford ... Brick TopJason Statham ... TurkishStephen Graham ... TommyRade Serbedzija ... Boris the Blade Brad Pitt ... Mickey O'NeilSorcha Cusack ... Mum O'Neil (Brad Pitt's mum)Jason Flemyng ... Darren (Brad Pitt's mulleted friend)Dennis Farina ... Avi Mike Reid ... Doug "the Head"Vinnie Jones ... Bullet Tooth TonyEwen Bremner ... Mullet (the guy Tony hangs out his car window)Ade ... TyroneLennie James ... Sol Robbie Gee ... Vinny Goldie ... Bad Boy Lincoln (the friend who brings Sol a fake diamond)Adam Fogerty ... Gorgeous GeorgePeter Szakacs ... Sausage CharlieLock, Stock and Two Smoking BarrelsNick Moran ... EddieJason Flemyng ... TomDexter Fletcher ... SoapJason Statham ... BaconP.H. Moriarty ... 'Hatchet' Harry LonsdaleVinnie Jones ... Big ChrisLenny McLean ... Barry the Baptist Sting ... JDStephen Marcus ... Nick the GreekSteven Mackintosh ... Winston Did I leave anybody out? Entries posted by Thursday, Oct. 2 will be eligible to win. Winners will be announced Friday, Oct. 3. http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/9/7/34874.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 9/7/2008 8:00:54 PM
Body: Gerard Butler is serving as the posterboy for Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla, but the truth is that he’s just one piece in the pie. He just happens to be the piece who has the added fruit filling of having starred in 300. So, he’s now the de facto go to “face” for any film he’s going to co-star in. He turns in a very solid performance as the down on his luck criminal One-Two in the movie, and it’s besides playing a role where he’s a homosexual struggling to break free from the bounds of oppression in Middle America, it’s at the other end of the spectrum from his turn as King Leonidas. Check out the interview with him below and find out why he just can’t fake an orgasm. What made you want to work on a Guy Ritchie film? I just always thought “Guy Ritchie” had a nice zip to the the name. Ritchie, I dunno. Guy. Short, sweet. I thought, “I wanna work with a name like that.” Plus, I read the script… I’d been doing a couple of quite serious things. You come across something like this and think, “That makes me laugh. A lot.” I thought it would be crazy and frenetic and fun. Obviously it was a great cast as well, I think I was one of the last people cast on the movie. Actually, some of the more insane elements in the story turn out to be true stories. For instance, Handsome Bob’s admission to myself that he’s in love with me. You think, “Wow, what a genius idea is that,” then Guy will say “No, that actually happened to Turbo” who is one of his co-writers on the movie. To me, and that’s a perfect example, it’s just Guy Ritchie growing up. He has a broader perspective on life, he’s in touch with his feminine side and now he’s able to move into boardrooms and ballrooms, as well as the working man’s pub and the underworld. There’s an extremely short, sort of “sexless sex scene” in the film that lasts about five seconds. Was there more to that when you shot it, or was it always planned like that? It’s called getting sick. I wasn’t well, and it was very much something that was improvised in the moment. Look, I don’t care about the other people, I still would have done it. *laughs* Actually I think it was psychosomatic nerves. Actually, it’s like how do you do a sex scene and not push into some kind of a cliche? In hindsight, I think I got sick deliberately. I’ll do anything to make a good movie. When Guy asked us to writhe around in the bed, each separately and have an orgasm, I was literally running around the room jumping up and down saying “I can’t do this! I can’t do this!” I was so embarassed. It was literally like “Put your face in the camera and come.” I was thinking “This might be the first time in my life I’ll have to say I can’t do anything because I’m too embarassed.” Thandie was so bang on in that scene… maybe that’s not a good word to use when describing that, bang on. So you can’t come on camera, but slow-dancing with another man is no problem? There were a few things I had to do on this movie that weren’t easy. There were fun, and they were funny, but they were also very embarrassing. There were times when I was like, “Okay, get me out of here.” Like the scene where I’m dancing with Thandie. We spent the whole afternoon or close to a day doing that. Do you improvise much on a Guy Ritchie set? When you finish sentences in a scene, you normally add on a few words like, “You know what I mean?” or something like that. You realize that doesn’t work in Guy Ritchie movies. You talk, but there’s a certain clipped nature and a certain rhythm. When you get in there you might want to add stuff on, but then you start to realize it doesn’t work. What were those fight scenes like to choreograph? It’s funny, I was talking about this with Guy the other day. A lot of people’s favorite scenes are where there’s no dialogue on the screen, and it’s during that big long chase / fight scene. It’s funny because it’s got nothing to do with his writing, and nothing to do with my acting. We’re just running around like crazy people. I was like jumping over fences and running up and down that railway all day. You always get a couple of bangs here and there, but it was nothing major. He had this idea to do a chase scene where you can club these guys, you can knife these guys, you can shoot them with a machine gun, but they ain’t gonna die. They just keep coming and keep coming. That thought is actually a terrifying notion, but it’s also hilarious! Initially when it was written, my mates disappeared in that scene with the money, and the guys keep coming on after me, and I have a line that’s something like “Why me?!” But that got cut. There was also a scene where you see me running in a gym, and that sort of establishes me as a runner, but that got cut too. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:00:54 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com9/7/2008 8:00:54 PM Gerard Butler is serving as the posterboy for Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla, but the truth is that he’s just one piece in the pie. He just happens to be the piece who has the added fruit filling of having starred in 300. So, he’s now the de facto go to “face” for any film he’s going to co-star in. He turns in a very solid performance as the down on his luck criminal One-Two in the movie, and it’s besides playing a role where he’s a homosexual struggling to break free from the bounds of oppression in Middle America, it’s at the other end of the spectrum from his turn as King Leonidas. Check out the interview with him below and find out why he just can’t fake an orgasm. What made you want to work on a Guy Ritchie film? I just always thought “Guy Ritchie” had a nice zip to the the name. Ritchie, I dunno. Guy. Short, sweet. I thought, “I wanna work with a name like that.” Plus, I read the script… I’d been doing a couple of quite serious things. You come across something like this and think, “That makes me laugh. A lot.” I thought it would be crazy and frenetic and fun. Obviously it was a great cast as well, I think I was one of the last people cast on the movie. Actually, some of the more insane elements in the story turn out to be true stories. For instance, Handsome Bob’s admission to myself that he’s in love with me. You think, “Wow, what a genius idea is that,” then Guy will say “No, that actually happened to Turbo” who is one of his co-writers on the movie. To me, and that’s a perfect example, it’s just Guy Ritchie growing up. He has a broader perspective on life, he’s in touch with his feminine side and now he’s able to move into boardrooms and ballrooms, as well as the working man’s pub and the underworld. There’s an extremely short, sort of “sexless sex scene” in the film that lasts about five seconds. Was there more to that when you shot it, or was it always planned like that? It’s called getting sick. I wasn’t well, and it was very much something that was improvised in the moment. Look, I don’t care about the other people, I still would have done it. *laughs* Actually I think it was psychosomatic nerves. Actually, it’s like how do you do a sex scene and not push into some kind of a cliche? In hindsight, I think I got sick deliberately. I’ll do anything to make a good movie. When Guy asked us to writhe around in the bed, each separately and have an orgasm, I was literally running around the room jumping up and down saying “I can’t do this! I can’t do this!” I was so embarassed. It was literally like “Put your face in the camera and come.” I was thinking “This might be the first time in my life I’ll have to say I can’t do anything because I’m too embarassed.” Thandie was so bang on in that scene… maybe that’s not a good word to use when describing that, bang on. So you can’t come on camera, but slow-dancing with another man is no problem? There were a few things I had to do on this movie that weren’t easy. There were fun, and they were funny, but they were also very embarrassing. There were times when I was like, “Okay, get me out of here.” Like the scene where I’m dancing with Thandie. We spent the whole afternoon or close to a day doing that. Do you improvise much on a Guy Ritchie set? When you finish sentences in a scene, you normally add on a few words like, “You know what I mean?” or something like that. You realize that doesn’t work in Guy Ritchie movies. You talk, but there’s a certain clipped nature and a certain rhythm. When you get in there you might want to add stuff on, but then you start to realize it doesn’t work. What were those fight scenes like to choreograph? It’s funny, I was talking about this with Guy the other day. A lot of people’s favorite scenes are where there’s no dialogue on the screen, and it’s during that big long chase / fight scene. It’s funny because it’s got nothing to do with his writing, and nothing to do with my acting. We’re just running around like crazy people. I was like jumping over fences and running up and down that railway all day. You always get a couple of bangs here and there, but it was nothing major. He had this idea to do a chase scene where you can club these guys, you can knife these guys, you can shoot them with a machine gun, but they ain’t gonna die. They just keep coming and keep coming. That thought is actually a terrifying notion, but it’s also hilarious! Initially when it was written, my mates disappeared in that scene with the money, and the guys keep coming on after me, and I have a line that’s something like “Why me?!” But that got cut. There was also a scene where you see me running in a gym, and that sort of establishes me as a runner, but that got cut too. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/murder/MemberTagFilms.aspxmurder
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Number of people who tagged: 157

Number of times used: 830

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]]>Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:39:11 GMT347167267Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/betrayal/MemberTagFilms.aspxbetrayal
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]]>Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:28:04 GMT103562154Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/gay/MemberTagFilms.aspxgay
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]]>Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:49:41 GMT16662191Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/addiction/MemberTagFilms.aspxaddiction
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]]>Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:57:35 GMT55359117Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/dancing/MemberTagFilms.aspxdancing
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]]>Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:25:46 GMT9449131Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/corruption/MemberTagFilms.aspxcorruption
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]]>Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:02:59 GMT123647108Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Dance/MemberTagFilms.aspxDance
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]]>Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:25:46 GMT8047101Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/chase/MemberTagFilms.aspxchase
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]]>Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:13:34 GMT88044109Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/torture/MemberTagFilms.aspxtorture
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]]>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:51:19 GMT57143104Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/guns/MemberTagFilms.aspxguns
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]]>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:32:56 GMT10342125Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/robbery/MemberTagFilms.aspxrobbery
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]]>Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:33:51 GMT379842103Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/england/MemberTagFilms.aspxengland
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]]>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:13:04 GMT644183Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/son/MemberTagFilms.aspxson
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]]>Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:48:06 GMT232140111Tag