Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Greetings from Lithuania. "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" (1998) is a movie that today should be considered as a genre classic. Its director Guy Ritchie soon was catapulted into stratosphere after the success of this film, and not without a reason. This is very involving film that had a unique vibe and style to it. Clearly the inspiration was Quentin Tarantino here, but Ritchie made his own stamp here. The story and storytelling here are the stars of the film. The way its told makes you glued to the screen. Very good and down to earth dialogs elevated this film. Again, inflections from "Pulp Fiction" are here, but done in a great way. Acting by many unknown at the time faces was very good. Overall, "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" is an excellently paced, edited, written and directed crime story. This one is a must see.

Both as a writer and director, Guy Ritchie for sure delivers and gives you your money’s worth. While the camera quality/lighting gave me a little bit of a headache and while I like Snatch (2000) better, this was still a good movie. The twists, the double crosses, the multiple different groups converging on each other, the subtleties with the plot and what happens in and out of order, all were great! This is the kind of movie that Pulp Fiction inspired and while many movies copied that film within the decade after it came out, that’s something I’m grateful for since I get to enjoy even more great movies with this style, yet movies that still feel different and unique in some ways in their own. I liked a lot of the humor as well!

One of Guy Rirchie's early geniuses. A director I adore. Very intelligent film with excellent music.

All Time Classic. The music is so catchy and memorable in this. It's a funk and rock mixture. The editing and pacing are excellent. This is very much inspired by Pulp Fiction with 3-4 multiple storylines going on at once and all tie into a very satisfying ending. Sometimes it can be a bit hard to follow some stories more than others but again it just makes so much sense in the end. The initial setup of the boys pulling a heist to pay off the rigged game is simple. It's the events in between with other parties that makes it so intricate and how it all adds up in the end. Everything else is really good. The gold tint this has is odd and a bit distracting. Reminds me Heaven's Gate. This has a on location low budget look to it and is very well directed. The cast is very memorable overall. Some do blend in a bit more and there is a lot of characters in this. It's hard to keep track of all of them but as a group I do remember them. It never divides them up into solo stories to it's credit. And honestly a bit of it might just be culture ignorance my part. Everyone should give this a try once though. Even if you can't follow it at times because of how complex it gets you still know in general what's happening and the ending ties it all perfectly together.

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, o filme tem cenas fracas, a história é mais ou menos, o elenco é bacana, mas quase ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, e os personagens são mais ou menos, e a trilha sonora de rock é muito boa.

great debut with great writing, directing, and performances

Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels barrels onto the screen with a chaotic charm that’s impossible to ignore. Equal parts gritty and hilarious, it’s a film that dances between crime thriller and dark comedy, with a swagger that feels uniquely British. It’s not perfect, but its imperfections only seem to add to its character, much like a slightly scuffed vintage wine glass - still functional, still beautiful, and full of stories. The plot twists and turns like a London back alley, introducing us to Eddie and his crew - friends bound by camaraderie and a shared knack for getting into deep trouble. Their high-stakes card game leads to a massive debt owed to a ruthless gangster, triggering a series of events involving guns, drugs, and enough misunderstandings to fill a Shakespearean comedy. Ritchie’s knack for juggling multiple subplots is on full display here, creating a story that’s tightly wound yet satisfyingly unruly. The dialogue crackles with sharp wit, delivered by a cast that oozes authenticity. Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran, and Jason Statham (in his debut!) bring an everyman relatability to their roles, even as their characters make increasingly absurd decisions. Meanwhile, the supporting cast, including the ever-menacing Vinnie Jones, lends an air of unpredictable danger. Visually, the film is a masterclass in style. From its washed-out colour palette to the quick cuts and frenetic pacing, it’s a visual embodiment of the chaos unfolding on-screen. The soundtrack is equally noteworthy, with its eclectic mix of rock, soul, and reggae adding to the film’s gritty, underground vibe. If there’s a fault to find, it’s that the film’s relentless energy can feel a touch overwhelming at times. The rapid-fire editing and thick Cockney accents may leave some viewers feeling as if they’ve missed a beat or two. But honestly, isn’t that part of the fun? The movie thrives on its unapologetic pace, daring you to keep up. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is a bold debut that established Ritchie as a filmmaker with a distinct voice. It’s rough around the edges but brimming with personality - a testament to what happens when style and substance collide. For fans of clever storytelling, eccentric characters, and a dash of mayhem, this one’s a must-watch.

Guy Ritchie made an outstanding debut with 'Lock, Stock'.

An innovative and creative blueprint was born which carries on successfully to this day

A very good and unique film. In some ways, it feels like a British Pulp Fiction. Clever writing from Guy Ritchie.