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)

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)

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)

Guy Ritchie may have taken over the genre of witty gangster films from Quentin Tarantino, but both here and especially in Snatch, he has proven that Quentin and his first films can take a seat. I'll probably never understand how a screenplay could have ever been created with these kinds of 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, and Guy is completely brimming with them. An awesome soundtrack, the beginning of a new era, and the creation of a cult sensation. (18/02/2006)