Movie of the Week

This week,

SNATCH (2000)

Starring- Benicio Del Toro, Brad Pitt, Jason Statham, Alan Ford, Dennis Farina

Guy Ritchie's colorful film about life in the London underworld focuses on the intertwining lives of hitmen, thieves, boxing promoters, bookies, gypsies, mob bosses and a dog as they search for a stolen diamond. Snatch is the film that made Ritchie a household name and brought him to the attention of American moviegoers. That, and his marriage to Madonna.

Snatch is a true ensemble piece, but the story's main focus and narration comes from Turkish (Statham), a boxing promoter that owes a favor to seedy mob boss, Brick Top. There are other stories that are going on at the same time, most notably the theft of a diamond by Frankie Four Fingers (Del Toro) who gets into trouble at a bookie's while trying to unload the jewel. Eventually the stories all connect in a fun and exciting climax. The story really serves as a means of introducing us to compelling characters and the diamond is really just a device in the mold of a Hitchcockian MacGuffin. With that said, I will now profile a few of the best characters in the movie because the plot is too complex to explain in a short blog post.

Mickey played by Brad Pitt is a "Pikey," or Irish gypsy who Turkish and his associate Tommy stumble upon when they go to buy a caravan. Pitt does a fabulous job as the fast talking bare knuckle boxer who despite his wiry frame is a master at laying out much bigger and stronger opponents. Oh, and he likes "dags."

Let's not forget the Russian Assassin, Boris the Blade a.k.a. Boris the Bullet Dodger. He's a degenerate gambler who has money and diamonds on the brain. He's also a tough customer, so don't cross him- unless you're prepared to run him over and shoot him...a lot.

Another member of the Snatch rogue's gallery is the bounty hunter, Bullet Tooth Tony played by Guy Ritchie discovery Vinnie Jones. Like Boris, Tony is not to be trifled with and will drag you around by your tie in his car to get some information.

Cousin Avi, played by the always watchable Dennis Farina, is the Jewish New Yorker who bankrolls the diamond theft, but is forced to come to London when things go awry. Farina gets off some great lines in his trademark style while he tries to track down Frankie Four Fingers.

Now that you have a little background, I hope that you will watch Snatch for all the other little goodies that lie within.

Things to watch for-

Men with pig farms are dangerous
The world's slowest getaway driver
The Desert Eagle
Boxing, lots of boxing

"I'm gettin' heartburn. Tony, do something terrible"