Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Several groups of dimwits chase each other for two hours in an attempt to steal money, drugs and guns in a Tarantino-like gangster film with (attempts at) typically English humour. The full-blown finale is satisfying, but the rest not so much. The forefather of most cheesy indie underground gangster films – so I can understand the high ratings out of sentiment and pioneering, but the bottom line is that it's a total (un)funny mess. That’s it. (23/11/2021)

Maybe Ritchie took over the genre of witty gangster films from Tarantino, but both here and especially in Snatch, he proved that Quentin, with his first films, can skate. I'll probably never understand how a screenplay with such characters (the black guy from the bar speaks for everyone), plot (half a million, junkies, machine gun, cop, and a lot more), and directorial gimmicks, with which Guy completely brims, can be invented. Chill soundtrack, the beginning of a new era, and the creation of a cult parody. (18/02/2006)

A rampage of four groups of crafty gangsters with an innovative screenplay and direction that started a new sub-genre. I feel a little guilty to give only four stars to a film that indisputably has a place among the best gangster movies. If I had seen it in 1998, before Snatch, which is even more polished, I wouldn’t hesitate to award it five. (14/09/2011)

Guy Ritchie is sometimes inaccurately referred to as the British Tarantino. In any case, his distorted dark comedy about eccentric characters of the British underworld, full of slang, unbelievable vulgarisms, and one-liners, as well as characters, motives, and misunderstandings, has achieved extraordinary resonance, and Ritchie successfully imitated the same style several times. The film is significantly influenced by music videos and commercials, and for the sake of authenticity, the director even used non-professional actors - the small-time criminals, whom he cast as members of the British gallery. It was entertaining, fast-paced, and filled with great filmmaking energy. The term Ritchie Style was born... Overall impression: 90%. (15/02/2013)

A wonderful story from the underworld. I haven't had this much fun with a film in a long time, not since I watched, to the sound of music from Zorba the Greek, a criminal gang preparing to shoot another gang, but which was also preparing, and yet neither side knows exactly who is up against them and what their objectives are. Guy Ritchie already brought out everything I love about his films in his debut. Plus Sting. (15/03/2021)