Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

The incredibly well-thought-out script, which beautifully leads to a typically "Ritchie-esque" ending from the very first scenes, hand in hand with refined execution, forms a unique whole, which is a joy to watch with pure cinematic pleasure. By strict standards, the carefully dosed blend of violence, pitch-black humor, and all sorts of absurdity are filmed at a rapid pace, where detailed camera movements persist, just like the quick editing or low-angle shots of the slowly walking characters. But beware, this is no Michael Bay film! Ritchie has a very distinctive storytelling style in which he somehow omits the main characters and only outlines the diverse panorama of London's underworld. It must be acknowledged that due to the effort to be witty and cool at all costs, sometimes Ritchie slips into gratuitousness, and the plot becomes overly contrived. But who cares if you're rolling on the floor laughing? I certainly don’t. (17/11/2005)

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)

Guy Ritchie was surprisingly in top form already at the start of his career. His style of storytelling is very unconventional and different from the "ordinary", but, as you can see from the reviews here, he usually succeeds. The script gives space to a large range of characters who are introduced in detail at the beginning and go on to play a crazy game full of mobsters, double-crosses and money, one that cannot end except in a big screw-up. Everything is perfectly thought out, the scenes flow seamlessly into each other and the climax is a treat; Ritchie is a master at it and there is no one like him. A bit weaker than Snatch, but nobody can take away this film's position among the best crime comedies. (28/05/2012)

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)