Tropic Sprockets / The Gentleman

By Ian Brockway

From the iconic Guy Ritchie, “The Gentleman” is his latest foul-mouthed double-crossing caper. Though not as zany as his earlier work, this film still has enough quirk and twists to keep you intrigued as well as scratching your head.

Hugh Grant (in a unique role) is Fletcher, a smarmy investigator who cannot give up pestering Raymond, a drug dealer’s right hand man (Charlie Hunnam).

Matthew McConaughey is Mickey the kingpin dealer, a man made of Teflon. The main plot hinge occurs when Mickey offends Big Dave (Eddie Marsan) a famous tabloid editor. This sets off a whole sequence of events, bringing about revenge and blackmail. There are whole groups of people against Mickey, but he side-steps them like the dancer Gene Kelly.

The main thorn in Mickey’s side is Matthew (Jeremy Strong) a sarcastic, ostentatious dealer.

The fun is in watching just how Mickey flirts with his demise, combined with the parade of nefarious characters that drift in and out of our view.

Colin Farrell is a matter-of-fact boxing coach with gangster inclinations and Michelle Dockery is Mickey’s hard as nails wife, an Elvira version of a gangster’s moll.

If you don’t mind cockney gangsters who say “the c word” about twenty times along with sudden comeuppances that will have your eyes rolling, “The Gentleman” is the most accessible Guy Ritchie film to date. While it doesn’t cover any new territory, the director’s madcap sensibility is alive and well and these manic characters keep the audience well entertained.

Write Ian at [email protected]

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