(rated R, 103 mins)
Pop violence provides the backdrop for this offbeat crime thriller featuring Benicio Del Toro as Frankie Four Fingers. He pulls off a massive diamond heist only to set in motion a chain of events that brings together small-time boxing promoter Turkish (Jason Statham), big time villain Bullet Tooth Tony (Vinnie Jones) and hard-as-nails gypsy Mickey O’Neill (Brad Pitt). While Mr. Madonna director, Guy Ritchie knows everything about timing publicity, (releasing his movie the week of his wedding) he knows less about an original premise. Been there done that in his 1998 flick “Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels” revisited, this time with some big American names. Of course the upside is since Quentin Tarantino isn’t making movies anymore, somebody has to do this violence genre. While there’s some stylish twists and turns in a blood bath of mayhem, it is without a doubt this year’s most violent film (and yes, it’s only January) standing heads and tails above “Pulp Fiction” and “Fight Club” with same nonsense violence (of course they had hidden messages. This doesn’t.) This film seems to work hard thanks to the stars who work well together, but there’s little character redemption and even less about really plain anything. I’d say Guy Ritchie’s wedding got more attention.
