RocknRolla

RocknRolla

Company type	Film
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	2008 (2008)
Founder	Guy Ritchie
Products	Crime comedy film
Parent	Toff Guy Films, Dark Castle Entertainment, StudioCanal, Warner Bros.

RocknRolla is a 2008 crime comedy film crafted and helmed by Guy Ritchie, showcasing a diverse ensemble cast including Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandiwe Newton, Mark Strong, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, Toby Kebbell, Jeremy Piven, and Chris Bridges. The movie premiered in the United Kingdom on 5 September 2008, debuting at number one on the UK box office charts. With a production budget of $18 million, it earned $25 million globally and garnered a range of critical responses.

Plot

Set in London, the narrative centers on mob boss Lenny Cole, who controls the city's growing real estate sector through corrupt political connections and his enforcer Archy. Billionaire Russian Uri Omovich orchestrates a rigged property transaction that draws in various criminal groups across London, including Uri’s deceitful accountant Stella and the gang known as "The Wild Bunch," led by petty criminal "One-Two" alongside his associates "Mumbles" and driver "Handsome Bob."

Uri agrees to pay a €7 million bribe to the council, offering Lenny his "lucky painting" as security. However, Stella betrays Uri by enlisting the Wild Bunch to intercept the bribe. Concurrently, Johnny Quid—Lenny’s estranged stepson battling addiction—steals the painting after staging his own death. Lenny and Archy coerce Johnny’s former managers, Mickey and Roman, into tracking him down. Handsome Bob forms a connection with Stella’s lawyer husband, who possesses vital information about a covert informant within their circle.

Uri becomes suspicious as Stella continues secretly diverting funds. Following another theft executed by the Wild Bunch, Uri’s aide Victor suspects Lenny’s involvement and confronts him during a private golf game, breaking Lenny’s leg as a warning to recover the painting.

The painting changes possession several times—initially taken by Wild Bunch member Cookie, then handed to One-Two, who later gifts it to Stella as a token of gratitude after an affair. Uri uncovers the painting at Stella’s residence while attempting to propose marriage; furious over her treachery, he commands Victor to eliminate her.

Archy apprehends One-Two after rescuing him from Uri’s henchmen. At Lenny’s warehouse, Archy reveals Lenny’s role as an informant manipulating police forces to imprison rivals while securing his own immunity. Archy frees the Wild Bunch and orchestrates Lenny’s assassination.

Johnny alerts Mickey and Roman about their impending execution but arranges their escape with assistance from the Wild Bunch after dispatching their would-be killers.

Later, Archy collects Johnny from rehab and presents him with Uri’s painting as a symbol of newfound liberation. Johnny pledges to reinvent himself as a genuine "RocknRolla."

In a post-credits scene, One-Two consents to dance with Handsome Bob.

Cast

• Gerard Butler portrays One-Two, leader of the Wild Bunch gang.
• Tom Wilkinson plays Lenny Cole, head of London's fading old-school crime syndicate.
• Thandiwe Newton (credited as Thandie Newton) appears as Stella, accountant and One-Two's romantic interest.
• Mark Strong acts as Archy, Lenny Cole's right-hand man and story narrator.
• Idris Elba features as Mumbles, One-Two's partner within the Wild Bunch.
• Tom Hardy is Handsome Bob, member of the Wild Bunch harboring secret feelings for One-Two.
• Karel Roden portrays Uri Omovich, Russian business magnate.
• Toby Kebbell plays Johnny Quid, musician and Lenny's estranged stepson struggling with addiction who faked his death to boost record sales. Raised by Lenny and Archy after abandonment by his biological father and his mother's suicide.
• Ludacris appears as Mickey, Johnny Quid's former talent manager.
• Jeremy Piven takes on Roman, another ex-manager of Johnny Quid.

The supporting cast includes Jimi Mistry as the Councillor; Matt King as Cookie; Dragan Mićanović as Victor (Omovich's chief aide); David Bark-Jones as Bertie (Stella's criminal defense lawyer husband); Geoff Bell as Fred the Head; Gemma Arterton as June; Nonso Anozie as Tank; David Leon as Malcolm; Bronson Webb as Paul; Michael Ryan as Pete; Jamie Campbell Bower as Rocker; Tiffany Mulheron as Jackie; and Robert Stone portraying a nightclub bouncer. Director Guy Ritchie was unable to cast Jason Statham, who starred in three previous Ritchie films, due to scheduling conflicts.

Production

In May 2007, director Guy Ritchie revealed plans to produce RocknRolla, a project developed by Ritchie's Toff Guy Films, Joel Silver's Dark Castle Entertainment, and the French company StudioCanal, with Warner Bros. managing distribution. Casting was finalized in June 2007, and principal photography commenced in London on 19 June 2007. Two sequences were filmed at Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire: the opening scene set on the tennis courts and another featuring golf on the 21st green.

During the post-production phase, producer Joel Silver presented the completed film to various studios, including Lionsgate and Sony Pictures. Ultimately, Warner Bros. took charge of distribution, releasing the movie theatrically on 5 September 2008 in the United Kingdom and later on 10 October 2008 in the United States.

Critical response

The movie garnered a mixed critical reception, holding a 60% approval rating based on 147 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 5.98/10. The general consensus described it as an improvement for Ritchie following earlier setbacks. On Metacritic, it earned a score of 53 out of 100, signaling mixed or average feedback. Reviewers commended the screenplay, direction, and performances by Strong, Butler, and Kebbell, despite the film’s familiar themes.

IGN awarded it four out of five stars, describing it as "a witty, adrenaline-fuelled blast" reminiscent of Ritchie's initial works. Film critic Roger Ebert gave the film three stars, emphasizing its lively tempo and noting British actors’ enthusiasm for gangster roles comparable to American portrayals of cowboys.

Box office

The film opened at number one at the UK box office during its debut week. Globally, it accumulated US$25,739,015 in revenue, generating a modest profit against its US$18 million production budget, especially when compared to the US$83 million worldwide gross of Snatch (2000).

Soundtrack

United Kingdom edition

1. "Dialogue Clip: People Ask the Question" – Mark Strong
2. "I'm a Man" – Black Strobe
3. "Have Love, Will Travel" – The Sonics
4. "Dialogue Clip: No School Like the Old School" – Various Artists
5. "Bankrobber" – The Clash
6. "The Trip" – Kim Fowley
7. "Dialogue Clip: Slap Him!" – Various Artists
8. "Ruskies" – Steve Isles
9. "Outlaw" – War
10. "Waiting for a Train" – Flash and the Pan
11. "Dialogue Clip: Junkies" – Various Artists
12. "Rock & Roll Queen" – The Subways
13. "The Gun" – Lou Reed
14. "The Stomp" – The Hives
15. "We Had Love" – The Scientists
16. "Dialogue Clip: Sausage & Beans" – Various Artists
17. "Mirror in the Bathroom" – The Beat
18. "Funnel of Love" – Wanda Jackson
19. "Such a Fool" – 22-20s
20. "Dopilsya" – Sektor Gaza
21. "Negra Leono" – Miguelito Valdés

Future

Guy Ritchie indicated plans to expand RocknRolla into a trilogy should it receive strong audience support. The closing title card teases "Johnny, Archy and the Wild Bunch will be back in The Real RocknRolla". According to Ritchie's commentary track and interviews, a script for the sequel has been completed and is pending studio approval.

In a 2011 interview promoting Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Ritchie confirmed that he had written a sequel screenplay with producer Joel Silver’s endorsement but explained that production was postponed due to scheduling conflicts involving Warner Bros. projects such as Sherlock Holmes and The Man from U.N.C.L.E..