Ritchie succeeds in producing two off-beat, entertaining films

Guy Ritchie not only married a cultural icon (Madonna), but managed to spit out a couple of good films as well. One such film is the clever and witty 1998 Ritchie debut, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. For those not familiar with this film, here is a brief synopsis: A group of four British comrades get the bright idea to communally invest in an illegal high-roller card game with a notoriously dangerous man, affectionately known as "Hatchet" Harry. After a confusing turn of events, the lads find themselves in over their heads and deeply in debt to Harry. An unusual opportunity to save themselves arises when the chaps overhear the conversation of their neighbors, who are plotting to rob some naive, but well-off drug dealers in town. They, in turn, plan to rob the neighbors. Confusion erupts when a completely unrelated scam involving two antique double-barreled shotguns gets thrown in the mix. All these events collectively snowball into a horrible whirlwind mess, yet the boys somehow manage to stay in the clear. The film is set in London and is definitely in the family of the Reservoir Dogs/ Trainspotting genre. It is somewhat violent, but nothing too disgusting. With the splendid British accents and an intense story li ne, the film proves worth watching. This film's chaotic and fast-paced nature is complimented well by the incredible dialogue in the film. The insane number of characters with their fleeting roles is, at times, confusing; however, it just adds to the movie's unusual style. As the story unfolds, some rather unexpected situations come about. But to the very end, the movie manages to remain exciting without ever losing its sense of humor. Another film done by Ritchie with a comparable feel is the sharp, quick-witted Snatch, another tumultuous story that revolves around a confusing set of circumstances involving the theft of an expensive diamond. Anyone who likes films that have a lot of character, a complex plot and a slightly off-beat feel should thoroughly enjoy these two films.