"Pulp Fiction" (Sorta) U.K. Style

by Jason R. Hewlett

Crime films have fallen into a sort of a rut recently. It seems that anytime movie makers want to make a cool heist or underworld flick they try to copy the hip dialogue and cool characters of Quinten Tarantino's classic "Pulp Fiction." It's a natural thing to do in Moviedom but the problem is that the genre is so glutted with such attempts at success and the formula, even when it comes to a new Tarantino film a la "Jackie Brown," is getting pretty darn tired.

So we have to look to the overseas market for a fresh attempt and the latest offering is Guy Ritchie's directorial debut "Lock Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels." The film isn't a total success but it's a fair shake better than "Jackie Brown" or "Go."

One of the main reasons that I liked the film was because it was filmed in London, England and featured an entire United Kingdom feel and approach to the material. The warped, dry English humor added a freshness, and sense of cruelty, that we don't get in Hollywood productions. The British accents alone made the funny lines even more humorous. Also the mood and grit of the bad ends of London are the best natural film sets for a gritty crime comedy.

The plot, simplified, involves four friends who are forced to steal 500 pounds that they owed after a card game gone wrong. The money is owed to a porn dealer named Harry who's henchman, Barry the Baptist (so named for his knack at drowning his victims), is going to cut off a finger from each of them for every day the payment is late. They decide to steal the money, and a large supply of pot, that they need from another band of hoods who live next door. Of course nothing goes right and a group of drug dealers, gun thieves, and an enforcer named Big Chris (who's 10 year old son Little Chris acts as his assistant) are thrown in for good measure and extra added entertainment.

The film plays out at a pretty fast pace and Guy Ritchie is a great visual stylist...perhaps a bit too much so. The film is more style than substance, with most of the characters being more charicatures than anything else. The script, also by Ritchie, has too many endings and resolves itself in a far too convenient fashion.

Still, the film has high entertainment value. The performances are solid, especially Vinnie Jones as Big Chris, and the visuals are alot of fun too watch. Even the violence, which is hinted at more than shown, is amusing in how it's carried out. Oh yeah, there's even a small role played by rock star Sting!

Overall, a good night at the movies. It'll help if you like English films (not "Emma" or anything like that) or have been to the U.K. as well.

6.5 out of 10!