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I seem to remember "Rock N Rolla" getting terrible reviews at the box office. I rented it yesterday at my local DVD rental store, and I must strongly disagree with the critics. I have enjoyed all of Madonna's soon-to-be ex-husband's (Guy Ritchie) films ("Snatch", "Revolver", "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels").
"Rock N Rolla" is basically "The Departed" on crack. I mean that literally in that one of the characters is a crack-addicted rock-star, and figuratively in that many of the plot elements are similar. The differences are in the style.
Guy Ritchie keeps the movie at an extremely fast and confusing pace, with enough carnage to satisfy any fan of gangster movies. I imagine many Americans were thrown off by the heavy British accents and slang references. I simply put the English subtitles on, and whenever I didn't understand a slang term: I used its context to figure it out.
There are also quick flashbacks that are integral to understanding the movie. It moves all over the place, the entire time. There are about ten characters you must get to know to realize this film at its best. That's no problem now since it is on DVD and you can rewind anything you think you may have missed. I say you must get to know so many of the characters because, as usual, Ritchie ends up tying them together at the end no matter how different they are from each other. If you are in the mood for a gangster movie that is filled with graphic violence, dialogue that is much deeper than it seems, a secret ending, and intertwining plots that will keep you guessing until the last seconds: WATCH IT!!! As usual, enjoy.