Snatch (2000)

Directed by: Guy Ritchie | 104 minutes | thriller, comedy, crime | Actors: Jason Statham, Stephen Graham, Alan Ford, Brad Pitt, Dennis Farina, Rade Serbedzija, Robbie Gee, Lennie James, Vinnie Jones, Benicio del Toro, Mike Reid, Jason Flemyng, Andy Beckwith, William Beck, Ewen Bremner

British director Guy Ritchie made a striking international debut in 1998 with his film ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’. His flashy, energetic way of filming, almost cartoonish characters and hard-hitting action scenes were reminiscent of Quentin Tarantino, the director who managed to attract a large fan base with this way of filming. The follow-up ‘Snatch’ is of the same cloth, with the small difference that thanks to his marriage to Madonna Ritchie, some big Hollywood actors, namely Brad Pitt, Benicio del Toro and Dennis Farina, were able to contract for his project.

‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ in a new and more expensive jacket; that’s the best way to describe ‘Snatch’. Not only do the confused storylines match, many old acquaintances from the first film are also present again in ‘Snatch’. Jason Statham, Jason Flemyng, Vinnie Jones and Alan Ford: they’re all back. In a different role of course, but you can’t help but feel that you are watching a repetition of moves. Provided of course you watch ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ before ‘Snatch’. Of course, that kite also flies the other way around. But even a rerun can be fun, when you can see from the acting that the cast – and undoubtedly the crew – had a lot of fun making this film.

It all starts in an Antwerp diamond shop where a large diamond is stolen by a gang led by Franky Four Fingers (Benicio del Toro). The diamond is scheduled to be delivered to Avi (Dennis Farina) in New York. However, Franky makes a stopover in London where his poker addiction rears its ugly head again. Thus, the criminal Boris ‘the Blade’, for whom the diamond was intended, comes after him, who calls in a number of petty thieves; Vinny, Sol and the extremely fat Tyrone. During a boxing match Franky will be robbed by them and they bring the diamond to Boris. At that moment, Turkish (Jason Statham) and Tommy, two petty criminals, become involved in the same boxing match when their own boxer Gorgeous George is knocked out by the gypsy Mickey (Brad Pitt). They run into this Mickey during a failed caravan purchase and because they have to arrange a replacement boxer for the promoter Brick Top (Alan Ford). Because the latter has a number of bets open, it’s up to Mickey now to go down in the fourth round. Of course he refuses, with all the consequences that entails.

‘Snatch’ follows the same ‘hack-to-the-branch story structure’, hard action and black humor as Tarantino and for the real fans of this type of film ‘Snatch’ is definitely recommended. The acting is also decent to very decent. Brad Pitt shows his most hilarious side as the boxing, almost unintelligible, Irish gypsy Mickey. Former professional soccer player Vinnie Jones shows that there is no one else who can portray an executioner like Bullet Tooth Tony as well as he can. Jones delivers hilarious one-liners with an extremely smooth face. And then there’s the ever-brilliant Benicio del Toro, who may not have a major role, but proves once again why he is one of the best actors of his generation. He even donned a Yiddish accent for the occasion!

For fans of Tarantino, ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ and ‘Trainspotting’, ‘Snatch’ is an absolute must. For fans of Brad Pitt, this is new proof that he really can act. For fans of Benicio del Toro, it’s a shame that his performance in ‘Snatch’ is so short.