For several years now, I’ve believed I’m one of Guy Ritchie’s biggest fans. Obviously, Madonna comes first, but let’s say I’m in the first 10, OK?
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch are some of my all-time favorite crime comedies. Most critics find these formulaic, but hey, that’s what makes them such good comedies. This is Spinal Tap is formulaic too and this only adds humor.
I also like complicated plots. As long as the beat’s all right, I’ll watch all night. Both of Ritchie’s previous “crimes” are high energy pieces that are fun to watch.
Now, Ritchie’s lost it.
I have no other explanation. Revolver shares many common elements with Ritchie’s previous movies, yet, all the shots are blanks.
The movie starts with an aphorism on war. Then another. And a third. I didn’t know what to make of them so I welcome the sight of Jake Green (Jason Statham) as he’s released from prison. It appears, he spent the last 7 years in solitary confinement (wrongfully accused too). His only company were his two neighbors (solitarily confined as well): one a chess master, one a top con artist.
Jake is under the impression that being in between these two great minds, he got the formula for the con of all cons. He could be right as in no time he manages to get himself a ton of cash from casino owner, Macha (Ray Liotta).
It’ll be naïve to think that Ritchie will stop here in terms of the plot: Jake (good) vs. Macha (evil). Macha predictably orders a hit on Jake. Jake survives because of two mysterious guys, Zack(Vincent Pastore) and Avi (Andre Benjamin).
This is where the movie starts its downward spiral. The dialog leading up to this point wasn’t spectacular either but now the whole movie bogs down. There are a few notable scenes but they’re rare and far in between: Jake’s brother being nailed to the table; a hitman who turns “good” and proceeds to kill all the bad guys… Well, that’s it.
With Revolver, Ritchie’s playing double or quits. I do admire him for his courage to go the same route for a third time BUT make it a mystery/con/transcendal movie. He didn’t want to repeat Snatch verbatim, so he took a more different approach. Well, it doesn’t work so maybe he’ll do something different next time.
Speaking of next time, I suggest he teams up with his mate Matthew Vaughn. They did an incredible job in Lock, Stock and Snatch. Since they parted ways, Matthew Vaughn did the equally bad Layer Cake. If I have to really compare the two, however, Revolver is much, much worse.
Ritchie’s third time unlucky – the movie still doesn’t have a US Distributor! Or maybe, that’s luck – pure and simple. This movie is best kept as far away from the first two movies as possible; preferably swept under a rug.
Update: Some of the comments below seem a bit extreme. Before you post another, please check my recent post on my comments on the Revolver review. I do believe that that any Revolver explanation will fall short, whatever Cabalah you’ve been reading. For some quality entertainment, check out Steve Ballmer’s Developers video.
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well unlike most of you i half understood it on my first runthrough simply by guessing the small but significant twists but guy ritchies downfall is why make a film people dont understand so will disagree with, just plain think its shit in the film pay attention to the little things like when there in prison you see the blurred shots of the people in the opposite cells you can see a chess board and a cigar add these up.
It’s the worst film I’ve ever seen. All you people who criticised this review and called the guy “dumb” why don’t you instead use your impressive grasp of the language and superior intellect to explain this piece of codshit to us inferior souls?
I wanted to share my simple perspective.
I watched this movie about two years ago and have watched several times since then.
This movie is all about egos and the things (mistakes we make) we do to keep them.
It shows all the different gluttonies we allow ourselves to become distracted by.
Pride/ego leading the way, Money, food, alcohol, sex and drugs (I’m sure I missed one or two)
They are all distractions that keep us from reaching a higher state of mind.
Peace OUT!
JF
I can’t believe none of you really got the movie. It’s not a comedy, it’s not a action film. You should not try to judge it as a movie either. The movie is just an excuse (the choice between the red or blue pill in The Matrix, comes to mind) to make you think about this amazing concept: most of us waste too much energy trying to look smart, be accepted by our peers, etc. It’s all about accepting that most of the problems we get into are because we refuse to admit that we made a bad choice, because admitting that would make us look like fools. It’s all about the ego. It’s the ego speaking into one’s ears who makes us do silly things, many times, horrible, stupid things, just because we don’t take our time to take a breath, think things over and admit we have been foolish and it’s time to take the few chips left and go home. Of course, this has profound implications in every days life, and the mind refuses to accept this simple truth. I had to watch this movie many times to let the concept sink in.
The first part of the movie is just about indulging us in the mentality that the ego likes most. That’s why all those smart-ass phrases about winning are there. But Ritchie gives us hints about the only reason he had to make this movie up front, when he states right in the opening titles “The greatest enemy will hide in the last place you would ever look”. “Inside yourself” would be the corollary. Also, near the end, “The only real enemy to have ever existed, is an eternal one”. Our own mind, of course. And “Your friends are close, but your enemy is closer”. Within you, your enemy is yourself (or better yet, a part of you, your ego). Let’s say the movie itself is a con. You decided to watch a movie, but got a fundamental truth about the mind instead. And maybe that’s why most people reject the movie: their minds refuse to accept they have been fooled. And precisely because the movie is only about this fundamental concept that a script is not really needed, once you got into the movie and most concepts have been introduced, Ritchie decides to drop the mask, forget about following any scripts and show what the movie is really about.
Brilliant. Mind blowing.
All men will find God, dead or alive, Ritchie a morden day prophet,a nother brother and son of GOD!
I agree with JT. Without knowing much about the Buddhist faith, it is very apparent that the movie is laced with symbolism and sub text. Brilliant Mr Ritchie!!!