Snatch (2000)
Wit as crude as a diamond.
Presentation:
Guy Ritchie establishes himself as the gangster caper king full of British wit and style. The film has more dutch angles than The Third Man and oozes with personality. I normally have trouble remembering people’s names let alone characters in a film, but they all have such vivid personality that despite the massive cast and short screen time, they all ended up being beloved in their special ways. It’s funny because I stopped after 5 minutes on my first watch because I couldn’t understand their accents, which is later revealed to be part of the charm. The story is fast paced and should appeal to short attention spans. It’s indulgent if not a guilty pleasure, basically the perfect stoner popcorn flick. It’s funny, but never serious. I would say there are moments of pointless ridiculousness and the cinematography is great but with so many cuts and transitions it ends up feeling like a TikTok edit at times. I think the best parts are when it focuses on the wit and screenplay, but when it hits 80% of the time you should be able to get over the flaws.
Conclusion:
Ritchie is criticized in modern times for his lack of political correctness and bombastic dialogue. Many will find it charming, some may find it offensive. Yes, the film uses slurs and if that will stop you from having a good time then don’t watch. But I don’t think this film is repulsive or particularly racist. It’s all lighthearted sailor talk and in good fun, but it should be very clear that the more uptight kind of person won’t be able to see past some of the crude humor. But for everyone else looking for a good time, Ritchie might snatch your heart away. A film that you love or find stupid, creators that love it might find this the holy grail of inspiration for their content. I still prefer The Gentleman.
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