Snatch (2000) - Movie Review

From Guy Ritchie, the man who brought you Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, comes Snatch, a much more entertaining comedic thriller. From Ritchie's flash and bang style to his crazy characters, Snatch serves up a feast of good takes.

The movie is about a diamond. And boxing. Just like in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, there are several different groups at play, all searching for the diamond but usually crossing paths only in coincidence. At the same time, a couple of boxing managers have gotten themselves in over their heads with a bad deal, and they're trying to work their way out. The plot goes on from there, with everything tying together.

The plot, at times, is hard to follow. There are so many characters and the movie basically jumps from one scene to another without any real transitions; however, by the end, everything works together, so if you can handle a little confusion in the beginning then you'll definitely enjoy yourself.

Guy Ritchie, with a bigger budget than last time, gets to do a little more with his camerawork. It's fast, it's crazy, and it's original. The first ten minutes or so is really spectacular, but the film never really lets up.

The script is key here. While some critics have complained that the characters are too simple and nitwitted, I found all the characters to serve the purpose of the script, to be funny. Even though all of the characters are involved with crime, there are a lot of likeable figures. Even the bad guys, in a way, are likeable, maybe not for their character traits, but for the way the act and talk. There are a lot of great lines and a lot of funny plot points, and by the end Ritchie has gathered together a good number of subplots that play off of each other, which makes them all the better. There were several moments when I was cracking up.

Snatch, in a way, should be considered a dark comedy, even though it really isn't that dark. On the other hand, it does have some dark moments that don't necessarily have anything to do with the plot. I think my mother would like this film, except for she would be appalled by the way that dogs are portrayed in a couple of the scenes; the main bad guy beats some dogs with a stick, and at one point Ritchie shows a dog that has been killed by another in a match. There's also a few bloody moments that aren't very necessary, but considering the amount of language in this film, I guess that really doesn't matter.

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels was reasonably good, but a little drab. Maybe I just didn't know what to expect. Whatever the case, Snatch entertained me extensively, and I laughed my head off. Guy Ritchie is making a name for himself.

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