Thread by @MartiniShark

'Roight then -
Tonight we keep #ButlerFest moving along, our annual monthly tribute to master thespian @GerardButler.
This go 'round he places himself in the hands of Guy Ritchie, so Gerry is immersed in the mean streets of London for the ensemble crime romp ''Rocknrolla''.

Guy Ritchie exploded on the scene following his stylish neo-noir crime movies “Lock, Stock, & Two Smoking Barrels”, and the very excellent “Snatch”. His career was to be stratospheric

Then he met Madonna.

Then he made “Swept Away”. No more need be said.
#ButlerFest
#Rocknrolla

After years of middling success after martyring Madge Guy attempted to get back to his roots here with a gritty but flashy London crime caper.
Expect caffeinated editing, Dutch angles, a slew of arcane characters and accents thicker than blood pudding.
#ButlerFest
#Rocknrolla

Okay, let’s tear into this.
We open with Toby Kebbel, playing a cocky cockney street tough.
Kebbel has a glorious career for bad movie lovers.
Dr. Doom in the horrid “Fantastic 4”, and “Hurricane Heist”.
This year it was “Bloodshot”.
The man is a legend!
#ButlerFest
#Rocknrolla

Gerard Butler and Idris Elba -everyone is in this- are partners with criminal records. They get in hock with the hood who operates London, but a property deal goes sideways. They owe Lenny big by the end of the month.
Criminal intrigue sure to follow.
#ButlerFest
#Rocknrolla

Sorry, but drop these blokes in any film, and it is watchable.
#ButlerFest
#Rocknrolla

Thandie Newton is an accountant who works with illegal Russians, whom Lenny is brokering a deal. She wants to play on the side at a crime house for betting, where Tom Hardy plies his trade.
Told ya, everyone shows up in this thing.
#ButlerFest
#Rocknrolla

Thandie knows of the Russian getting cash together for Lenny. She tips off Gerard on the move, who takes the job out of desperation to get out of Lenny's debt - and now everyone is properly intertwined.
#ButlerFest
#Rocknrolla

The robbery was as tough as walking up and taking the car of the two wonks who carried the bags.
That went a little bit too easy.
But Thandie got her cut, and some sparks were seen.
#ButlerFest
#Rocknrolla

Lenny’s right hand goes to the crime club to collect the payment from Gerard and between all the characters the brogue and British intonations are so thick you need subtitles even as they speak English.
#ButlerFest
#Rocknrolla

Driving together to a strip club Tom Hardy says to Gerard that instead of the ladies he'd actually prefer Gerard. Brakes lock, Gerry gets out and rages at him. Soon he calms down and apologizes.
''You know, there's nothing wrong with being a poof.''
#ButlerFest
#Rocknrolla

Now we get another thread as Toby Kebbel is a rock star step-son of Lenny's, with Ludacris and Jeremy Piven working as managers. Kebbel stole a painting the Russian lent to Lenny. This seems like trivial stuff, so it is probably important.
#ButlerFest
#Rocknrolla

The Russians make a second deposit so Gerard and Idris make a second hit. This time it goes violently and comically awry.
#ButlerFest
#Rocknrolla

Thandie drops by on Gerard at his flat and we get -- The Guy Ritchie Love Scene ™

9 flash edits inside of 2 seconds, including an O-face.
#ButlerFest
#Rocknrolla

Things are darkening on everyone. The Russian turns on Lenny, an informant lets Lenny know Gerard and Idris stole nthe cash, and the Russians also find Gerard. Meanwhile Thandie gets the McGuffin painting in this, and Ludacris and Piven are finding Kebbel.
#ButlerFest
#Rocknrolla

So the story wraps with a legal twist. As it appears the crew is about to be torn asunder by Lenny his right hand man gets the document from the crew showing Lenny is a snitch to all. His assistant had done a stretch, so Lenny is dropped in the the Thames.
#ButlerFest
#Rocknrolla

It's a tidy bow on an enjoyable romp, if not the best of Richie's crime comedies.
In the end Gerard survives; that is all that matters.
There is a promised sequel, but that never materialized. Gerard became occupied by bigger things, like saving the world.
#ButlerFest
#Rocknrolla