#48. Snatch (2000) - The Films of Guy Ritchie

DVD Synopsis: When jewel thief, Franky Four Fingers (Benicio Del Toro), takes a slight detour to London on route to delivering a huge stolen diamond to his boss in New York, he unwittingly sets off an avalanche of sinister and comic events that wind their way through the rough and tumble worlds of bare-knuckle boxing, Irish gypsies, pawn shops, pig farming and... a stray dog. Snatch, Guy Ritchie's brilliant follow up to his critically acclaimed Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels, exposes us to his hip and helter-skelter view of London's gangster underbelly. Ritchie's characteristic fast-paced and constantly twisting story features a madcap ensemble cast of larger-than-life characters, including Jason Statham, an unlicensed boxing promoter; Stephen Graham, his bumbling Sidekick; Alan Ford, the local underworld kingpin; Dennis Farina, Franky's no-nonsense boss; Vinnie Jones, a legendary thug; Rade Sherbedgia, a psycho double-crossing Russian; and Brad Pitt, in a hilarious turn as a fast-talking gypsy bare-knuckle boxer.

Featuring a few carry-overs from director Guy Ritchie’s debut film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (Alan Ford, Jason Statham, Vinnie Jones) mixed in with some bigger names like Benicio Del Toro and Brad Pitt, Snatch is filled to its absolute breaking point with one fabulous performance after another. 

I’ve seen Snatch something like six or seven times, and every character is so well fleshed-out, so thoroughly entertaining that I still can’t decide which of them is my absolute favorite. 

Hell, I don’t think I could even come up with a top-five list because I’d be leaving some great characters off. With a story that twists and turns in about a dozen directions, every performer is given ample opportunity to shine, and they all take advantage of it. 

If you haven’t seen Snatch, then definitely check it out and (if you can) let me know which character is your favorite. Trust me when I tell you there are plenty to choose from!