The Gentlemen: Guy Ritchie’s Genius
Directed by Guy Ritchie
“If you wish to be The King of the jungle, it’s not enough to act like a king. You must be The King. And there can be no doubt. Because doubt causes chaos and one’s own demise.”
Mickey Pearson
The Gentlemen written, directed, and produced by Guy Ritchie is an action comedy that follows the life of an American drug lord in England. The premise of the film follows Mickey Pearson who made a successful come up in the marijuana business. As he motions to sell his company, a potential buyer attempts to devalue his empire through blackmail and snatch it from under him. With a run time of an hour and fifty-three minutes, the film progresses evenly with little time to waste. Slick and witty dialogue decorates the reels of this film and allows for a bit of absurdity in the plot with bouts of comedy sprinkled throughout for a bit of relief. The story fleshed out by Ritchie, Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies has a rhythmic sound to it, and it makes such an entertaining experience to hear upon the first few re-watches.
Characterization is off the charts with strong performances from primary and supporting actors like Matthew McConaughey, Michelle Dockery, Henry Golding, Charlie Hunnam, Jeremy Strong, Hugh Grant, and Colin Farrell. One of my favorite characters were portrayed by Colin Farrell whose role was minor yet memorable. With such a star-studded cast, you would think that it would detract from the plot of the film. Ritchie ensured that the cast had two necessities to succeed: a good script and the immersion of the cast in appropriate costuming. Both of which allowed for a chameleon effect. For example, the apparel of Mickey, his wife, Rosalind, and even his personal assistant Raymond, is gorgeous with warm colors, patterns and the maximalist snobbery that Ritchie deemed effective in the portrayal of the refined, posh crew. Evidently, his love for fashion is seen clearly throughout the film. Further, the cinematography and color grading of the shots are beautifully coupled with a memorable soundtrack. Unforgettably, the song “Cumberland Gap” by David Rawlings is accompanied by a stylized opening scene.
The Gentlemen is a strong film with all the right elements that constitute a well-produced film. The praise received is deserved and would always be a favorite.
The Island Cinephile 
