Colin Farrell and Charlie Hunnam in ‘The Gentlemen’. Photo courtesy of Christopher Raphael.
Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Screenplay by: Guy Ritchie
Story by: Guy Ritchie, Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davis
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Henry Golding, Michelle Dockery, Jeremy Strong, Eddie Marsan, Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant
A “Guy Ritchie is back!” proclamation for his latest film, “The Gentlemen” would not be out of order.
In fact, it is an understatement.
The story, which focuses on the secretive cannabis concerns of one Mickey Pearson (McConaughey) is just the tip of the leaf, so to speak.
Ritchie’s story focuses on the tabloid sensationalism of one Big Dave (Marsan), the editor in chief of the Daily Print. He was slighted once by Pearson and is out to get him, courtesy of private investigator Fletcher (Hugh Grant).
Fletcher, who is a money-grubbing snoop, brings his findings, not to Big Dave, but to Raymond (Hunnam), Pearson’s consiglieri. Fletcher weaves an intricate tale of not only Pearson’s rise to power, but a potential sale of his network to Matthew Berger, a lovely performance by Matthew Strong and Berger attracts Pearson’s attention with his own philanthropic efforts.
Through the mix between Pearson and Berger are Henry Golding’s delicious turn as the villainous Dry Eye and the attention-seeking plaid-wearing warm up suit crew of Coach played by Colin Farrell, who needs more comedic roles after this one.
Ritchie paints a world full of vindictive people with a lot of wit, some bad timing and just a plain, good time at the movies as we see vengeance work its way through power.
None of the cast tramples over the other as we watch the pieces of a chess match move expertly across the board. The key to each of the characters, outside of Fletcher, who coincidentally reminded me of Irwin Fletcher from the “Fletch” film series, was that they were all calm; no one ever breaks a sweat as each tries to outdo the other in a very orderly way.
The best interactions come as Fletcher briefs Raymond in Raymond’s house. Hunnam, who continues to demonstrate grace under pressure as we’ve seen him in roles such as “Sons of Anarchy,” really rises to the occasion as Fletcher tries to weasel his way into a payday for the information he has. Ritchie gives us a sense that Fletcher thinks he’s in control, which leads to a lot of suggestive innuendo. Raymond will have none of that though.
Ritchie’s characters are the richest part of the film – the story wouldn’t work without them, making each of their respective journeys that much more hilarious.
It has been interesting to watch Matthew McConaughey’s growth as an actor, especially as he creates a persona of high-class society while moving away from the every-man roles he played earlier in his career, something that fits perfectly in to his take on Mickey Pearson. He is very much a gentlemen, but he is always on guard, waiting to pounce at just the right moment. His wife, Rosalind (Michelle Dockery) is just as reviled as the rest of these hilarious miscreants, but she is a perfect match for McConaughey’s Mickey Pearson.
There is a deadly elegance to “The Gentlemen” as the remainder of the story unfolds, supported by Alan Stewart’s muted cinematography, highlighting the grays of England’s overcast sky with the characters sporting colorful clothing. Music is as big a character as the characters themselves.
“The Gentlemen” is as excellent a Guy Ritchie film as we’ve seen from him in the past with richly layered and contextualized characters populating a massive game of chess, fueled not by cannabis, but by brinksmanship and control.
4 out of 4 stars
