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Miss Vicky
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Eddie: They're armed.
Soap: What was that? Armed? What do you mean armed? Armed with what?
Eddie: Err, bad breath, colorful language, feather duster... what do you think they're gonna be armed with? Guns, you tit!
Following suit, I'll be reviewing my nomination.
I had seen this first film by Guy Ritchie when it had came out at a local theater that specializes in independent films and, very quickly, became of fanboy of Ritchie very soon after. With a stylized look at the underbelly of London's cobbles, quotable dialogue, bad choices leading to even worse actions with a great lil soundtrack, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is a seriously choice bumper car ride.
While the main focus is on four friends who take a chance on an illegal card game, it is the slew of secondary characters and how everyone seems to collide and collude with one another that really creates one highlight to the next.
Admittedly, a con or theft going wrong with dangerous and/or comical results is a redundant set up for a movie. But, like anything else, when done with creative precision, the payoff is very much worth it. And, yes, my friends this f@ckin is.
From loan sharks to cardsharps to con artists, thugs and pot growers, our four mates attempt to play the odds that are (of course) stacked against them.
All of it occurring without we, the viewers, getting lost, confused or bored. The pace is ideal, the dialogue: quick, funny and clever, the actors do stand up jobs at their given roles, and the antics and situations that spiral out of control never get too outrageous to cause you to roll your eyes at how the writer lost control of his story.
Enjoy!
PS if you're lucky enough to come across a Director's Cut with a few extra scenes added in, by all means, indulge yourself.