The original post: /r/movies by /u/JiskiLathiUskiBhains on 2024-05-06 08:14:26.
TLDR: Sub-optimal casting and over-complicated plot hurt an otherwise fun movie. It hits a lot of good spots but the sum of the parts only add upto an okay film.
That said, let me say more.
The Good:
Colin Farell. He was awesome. He had a small but fun role and I loved pretty much every bit of it. Hugh Grant was pretty interesting. It was strange to see him in the scumbag role, but he did it pretty well.
The plot. Its interesting. Plausible for the most part. It keeps ticking, much like the other Guy Ritchie movies. Dialog is mostly good.
And other smaller characters: Dry Eye, Big Dave, The Toddlers, Jeremy Strong. Guy Ritchie writes good characters, like always.
The Bad:
I dont think Charlie Hunman was the right cast. He is pretty one note and is probably the most woody actor in the whole lot. He is both too young and too old for the role. He does the cool demeanor + short fuse decently, but I think the role required either a more mature actor who could feel more appropriate for this Consigliere position or a younger actor who would embody the rudeness required for the rule. Since he makes up such a large part of the film, he is the weakest link here.
Mathew McConnaguey's Micheal was pretty one note too. His role was short but it did lack variety.
The plot was a little over complicated. There's a girl involved? And Russian Mafia too? I honestly cant remember too much about that. Maybe it wasnt even needed. Just the politics of the power struggle was probably enough of plot line.
A note on Tom Wu's George. Everything was upside down there. A person of asian origin is selling heroin and a white dude is selling weed - because it isnt as harmful and he feels morally superior for this. Given the historical context, its just tone deaf and kinda gross. It makes no sense why Micheal was able to walk in - armed - and threaten him to no consequence. A drug baron with no security? What even. idk just everything was wrong.
I havented watched the TV series yet, but I plan to.