I really enjoyed this film. I started watching it with all the predictable cynicism, having been pretty repelled by the Lock Stock series on telly. But I must have forgotten the good ole British humour in these kind of movies.
No one seems to remember the actor who played Turkish, a relatively unsuccessful unlicenced boxing geeeezer with his little sidekick Tommy. His part as narrator to his side of the story is usually ignored, but plays a key part in the humour of the film. Between them Turkish and Tommy conjure up all the sympathy and apathy for the characters, adding to the fast pace of the film and the jokes made at their own expense. These are the losers of the plot, along with pretty much everyone else in the film. Except, of course, Brad Pitt, brandishing a brand new Irish accent and a pair of unbeatable bare fists. As ’Pikey’ Mickey O’Neil he brings sentiment to the general bad behaviour of a bunch of men. His is the one emotional character versus all of the jollity of the diamond and boxing industry. We laugh at a wannabe-Jewish Mike Reid, a hugely fat getaway driver, a squeaking dog and a ’bullet-dodger’ Russian, but in its small way the character of Mikey reminds us that they all had mums once.
Even if it is in a laid-back manner.
The disjointed chronology and seemingly unrelated characters are great to watch, and build up to an interesting climax. At its most passionate moments scenes are backed with heavy, defined guitar tracks, which all add to the tension and excitement. And tension and excitement are the words.
A film well worth watching, especially if you haven’t seen Lock Stock (or Fight Club, although I am reassured that they are very much different).