Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Guy Ritchie

Writer:

Guy Ritchie (written by)

Release Date:

5 March 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

A Disgrace to Criminals Everywhere.

Plot:

Four London working class stiffs pool their money to put one in a high stakes card game, but things go wrong and they end up owing half a million pounds and having one week to come up with the cash.

Plot Keywords:

Antique | Drugs | Drug Dealer | Cannabis | Cardsharp

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 13 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Jason Flemyng	...	Tom
Dexter Fletcher	...	Soap
Nick Moran	...	Eddie
Jason Statham	...	Bacon
Steven Mackintosh	...	Winston
Nicholas Rowe	...	J
Nick Marcq	...	Charles
Charles Forbes	...	Willie (as Charlie Forbes)
Vinnie Jones	...	Big Chris
Lenny McLean	...	Barry The Baptist
Peter McNicholl	...	Little Chris
P.H. Moriarty	...	Hatchet Harry
Frank Harper	...	Dog
Steve Sweeney	...	Plank
Huggy Leaver	...	Paul
Ronnie Fox	...	Mickey
Tony McMahon	...	John
Stephen Marcus	...	Nick The Greek
Vas Blackwood	...	Rory Breaker
Sting	...	JD
Jake Abraham	...	Dean
Rob Brydon	...	Traffic Warden (as Robert Brydon)
Stephen Callender-Ferrier	...	Lenny
Steve Collins	...	Boxing Gym Bouncer
Elwin 'Chopper' David	...	Nathan
Vera Day	...	Tanya
Jimmy Flint	...	Don
Alan Ford	...	Alan / Narrator
Sid Golder	...	Phil (as Sydney Golder)
Alex Hall	...	Slick
John Houchin	...	Doorman
Derek Howard	...	Policeman
Danny John-Jules	...	Barfly Jack
Bal Jusar	...	Gordon
Tim Maurice-Jones	...	Drowning Man
Victor McGuire	...	Gary
Mark Mooney	...	Serg
Suzy Ratner	...	Gloria
David Reid	...	Samoan Jo (as David 'Disco' Reid)
Graham Stevens	...	Policeman
James Tarbuck	...	John O'Driscoll
Andrew Tiernan	...	Man In Pub (as Andy Tiernan)
Richard Vanstone	...	Frazer
Matthew Vaughn	...	Yuppy In Car

Directed by
Guy Ritchie

Writing credits
Guy Ritchie		(written by)

Produced by
Stephen Marks	....	executive producer
Georgia Masters	....	co-producer
Peter Morton	....	executive producer
Angad Paul	....	executive producer
Sebastian Pearson	....	associate producer
Jan Roldanus	....	associate producer
Trudie Styler	....	executive producer
Steve Tisch	....	executive producer
Ronaldo Vasconcellos	....	line producer
Matthew Vaughn	....	producer
Jon Slan	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
David A. Hughes
John Murphy

Cinematography by
Tim Maurice-Jones		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Niven Howie

Casting by
Celestia Fox
Guy Ritchie

Production Design by
Iain Andrews
Eve Mavrakis

Set Decoration by
Jacalyn Hyman		(as Jacalyn [Jack] Hyman)

Costume Design by
Stephanie Collie

Makeup Department
Elle Cossington	....	haircutter: Nick Moran, Mahogany Designs Ltd.
Rebekah McVitie	....	makeup artist
Linda A. Morton	....	hair supervisor
Linda A. Morton	....	makeup supervisor
Ros Peat	....	makeup artist
Robyn Robbins	....	haircutter: Dexter Fletcher, Mahogany Designs Ltd.
Catherine Scoble	....	chief hair designer
Catherine Scoble	....	chief makeup designer

Production Management
Adam Bohling	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ben Burt	....	third assistant director
David Reid	....	first assistant director (as David 'Disco' Reid)
Daniel Toland	....	second assistant director
Sean Guest	....	additional first assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Alex Chandon	....	props hand (as Alex 'Jackie' Chandon)
Phil Donoghue	....	special props and effects
Rupert Gartrell	....	stand-by carpenter
Nick Gottschalk	....	art department assistant
Shay Leonard	....	props hand
Simon Morrissey	....	props master
Hannah Moseley	....	assistant art director
Susie Plant	....	props runner
Fanny Taylor	....	props buyer
Julian Weaver	....	on-set advance rigger

Sound Department
Tony Anscombe	....	adr recordist
Matthew Collinge	....	sound designer
Matthew Collinge	....	sound effects
Steve Cook	....	sound supervisor
Henry Dobson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Arthur Fenn	....	boom operator (as Arthur Turner)
Arthur Fenn	....	sound maintenance engineer (as Arthur Turner)
Simon Hayes	....	sound recordist (as Simon 'Purple' Hayes)
Scott Jones	....	adr recordist
Marc Lawes	....	foley editor
Claire Mahoney	....	foley artist (as Clare Mahoney)
Graham McCarthy	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
Danny Sheehan	....	supervising sound editor
Jez Spencer	....	foley editor
Jason Swanscott	....	foley artist

Special Effects by
Casper Lailey	....	special effects technician (as Caspar Lailey)
Ken Lailey	....	special effects supervisor
Alastair Vardy	....	special effects technician (as Alistair Vardy)

Visual Effects by
Martin Body	....	rostrum cameraman
Rob Gordon	....	digital online editor
Courtney Vanderslice	....	head of production: Cinesite
Paul Lambert	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Richard Graydon	....	stuntman
Sy Hollands	....	stunt driver (as Sy Holland)
Glenn Marks	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Ray Bateman	....	generator operator (as Ray 'Basher' Bateman)
Catharine Brown	....	camera trainee
Andy Duncan	....	gaffer (as Andrew Duncan)
Matthew Hale	....	focus puller (as Mathew Hale)
Dean Kennedy	....	best boy
Jake Marcuson	....	clapper loader
Richard Oxley	....	electrician
Sebastian Pearson	....	still photographer
Peter Wignall	....	Steadicam operator: "a" camera
Peter Wignall	....	camera operator
Terry Williams	....	camera grip

Casting Department
Emma Buckley	....	assistant casting director
Louis Elman	....	adr voice casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sue Coates	....	dresser
Lisa Shanley	....	assistant costume designer (as Lisa Stanley)

Editorial Department
Heather Clarke	....	post-production coordinator
Martin McGlone	....	color grader
Matt Reed	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Nicola Fletcher	....	music supervisor
Daniel L. Griffiths	....	additional score production
Laurence Kaye	....	music supervisor
Ian Neil	....	music supervisor
Greg Francis	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Mark Hinton Stewart	....	assistant music supervisor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Martin Alylmore	....	driver (as Martin Aylemore)
John Beach	....	driver
John Botton	....	driver
Frank Church	....	driver
Debbie Holland	....	driver
Javid Kahn	....	driver
Carlos Peres	....	driver (as Carlos 'Senna' Peres)
John Quinn	....	driver
John Stone	....	driver
Roger Sturtridge	....	driver
Mark White	....	transportation
Chris Williams	....	driver

Other crew
Charles Bodycomb	....	armourer (as Charlie Bodycomb)
Dan Cadan	....	runner
Heather Clarke	....	production assistant
Ayo Davis	....	production assistant
Lyn Gaskin	....	set runner (as Lyn P Gaskin)
Gwendoline Hayat	....	production coordinator (as Gwenda Hayat)
Kathy Hughes	....	script supervisor
Albert James	....	security: High Risk Security
Jessica Kirsh	....	unit publicist: Spirit Publicity
Lucy Knight	....	set runner
Johanna Pilgrim	....	assistant to producer and director
Jules Powell	....	set runner (as Jules Digby)
Andrew Rosen	....	production assistant: Paragon/Handmade
Tina Shadick	....	location accountant (as Christina Shadick)
Brian Shemmings	....	health and safety: H&S Advisory Service
Eddie Standish	....	location manager
Karen Walter	....	production accountant
Laura Zatloukal	....	production assistant

Thanks
Barry Bloom	....	with thanks to
Kathy Ceaton	....	acknowledgment: this film would not have been possible without the help of
Robert Clark	....	with thanks to
Lucy Currie	....	acknowledgment: this film would not have been possible without the help of
Janet de Botton	....	acknowledgment: this film would not have been possible without the help of (as Janet De Botton)
Rebecca Green	....	acknowledgment: this film would not have been possible without the help of
Holly Greet	....	thanks: the costume department wish to thank
Lenny McLean	....	in memory of: The Guv'nor
Vinay Melwani	....	with thanks to
Leon Morgan	....	acknowledgment: this film would not have been possible without the help of
Kate Myers	....	with thanks to
Taha Ali Reza	....	acknowledgment: this film would not have been possible without the help of (as Taha Alireza)
Jane Sutor	....	with thanks to

Production Companies

• Summit Entertainment (presents)
• Steve Tisch Company, The (presents)
• SKA Films (presents)
• HandMade Films
• Polygram Filmed Entertainment

Distributors

• Polygram Filmed Entertainment (1998) (UK) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1998) (UK) (theatrical)
• Gramercy Pictures (I) (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• BV-film AS (1999) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Falcon (1999) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• PolyGram Filmed Entertainment Distribution (1998) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (1998) (Germany) (theatrical)
• REP Distribution (1998) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1998) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Warner Sogefilms S.A. (1999) (Spain) (theatrical)
• BDG
• Columbia Home Video (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia Home Video (Brazil) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (Argentina)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (Argentina) (video)
• PolyGram Video (1999) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• PolyGram Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Canada (1999) (Canada) (DVD) (as Universal Studios Home Video Canada)
• V8 (2001) (Netherlands) (TV)

Special Effects

• Cinesite (digital effects) (as Cinesite [Europe] Ltd)
• Ken Lailey Effects (uncredited)

Other Companies

• AFM Lighting  lighting equipment
• ARRI Media  camera rental
• Bapty and Co.  arms supplied by (as Bapty & Co)
• Canon Cameras  cameras supplied by (as Canon [UK] Ltd)
• Carlo Manzi Rentals  costumes provided by (as Carlo Manzi's)
• Cool Music  music supervisors
• Davenport Lyons  legal
• Fetherstonhaugh Design  animated logo
• Film Unit Transport  facility vehicles
• General Screen Enterprises  opticals
• Good Eating Company  catering by
• H&S Advisory Services  health & safety (as H&S Advisory Service)
• HC Slingsby  thanks: the art department wish to thank (as Slingsby Shelving)
• Hammerhead Television Facilities  steadicam equipment (as Hammerhead TV, London)
• High Risk Security  security
• Island Records  soundtrack album available on
• Kodak  film stock
• Location Medical Services Ambulance Services  paramedics (as Location Medical Services)
• Magmasters Sound Studios  post-production
• Mahogany Designs  hair cuts: Nick Moran & Dexter Fletcher
• Maverick Records  soundtrack published by
• Media Film Services  camera equipment
• Mr. Youngs  projection
• Near North Entertainment  insurance
• Nine Nine Cars Ltd.  low loader
• Oriental Casting Agency  extras casting
• PC Theatrical & Model Agency  extras casting (as PC Theatrical Agency)
• Parr Street Studios  original music recorded at
• Peerless Camera Company  titles
• Prop Portfolio  thanks: the art department wish to thank
• Propaganda  thanks: the art department wish to thank (as Prop.ag.anda)
• Ray Knight Casting  extras casting
• RoB London  thanks: the art department wish to thank (as Rob Leather)
• Rodney Rushton's Shooting Stars  action vehicles
• SVC Television (London)  video post production (as SVC)
• Samuelson Film Service  PhotoSonics (as Samuelsons Film Services)
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• She An' Me Erotic Clothing Co.  thanks: the art department wish to thank
• Soho Images  video post production
• Spirit Publicity  unit publicity
• Summit Entertainment  sales
• The Chase Manhattan Bank  bank (as The Chase Manhattan Private Bank)
• Torch Music  original score produced by (as Torch International)
• UK Computamatch  negative cutters (as Computamatch)
• Ugly Models  extras casting
• White Trux  facility vehicles

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language, sexuality and drug content.

Runtime:

107 min | 120 min (director's cut)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:M18 (DVD rating) | Singapore:R(A) | Brazil:18 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Canada:16+ (Québec) | Canada:18A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Chile:14 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:16 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:16 | Ireland:18 | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Bethnal Green Town Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, UK

Company:

Summit Entertainment

Trivia:

The music that plays just before Hatchet Harry shoots Gary with the antique shotgun is from Per qualche dollaro in più (1965). It's from a pocket watch that Del Indio would play, and when the music stopped he would draw and shoot someone.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When "the neighbors" are torturing some unknown criminals - the leader is standing on one guy, hitting golf balls at another guy who is hanging upside down in his underwear. The first golf swing is using a metal wood, then he asks for a five iron. However, the club handed to him is clearly not a five iron, but another metal wood.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Bacon: Right. Let's sort the buyers from the spyers, the needy from the greedy, and those who trust me from the ones who don't, because if you can't see value here today, you're not up here shopping. You're up here shoplifting. You see these goods? Never seen daylight...
[...]

Movie Connections:

References An American Werewolf in London (1981)

Soundtrack:

Zorba's Dance

The essence of late 90's cinema -- hip, highly stylized, VISUAL

Guy Ritchie's hip, highly stylized 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' is a truly remarkable film, not only for its appropriately pyrotechnic camera work, but also for its seemingly flawless, puzzle-perfect script/screenplay. While the picture's main focus is on a group of lads who invest money in a high-stakes, rigged card game and lose, the broader story concerns approximately eight different groups of criminals whose paths cross (more> than once, in some cases) during various illegal pursuits: money, guns, drugs, even revenge. The film is quite violent, both on and off screen, but it's also uniformly humorous throughout. It's important to note that the four central characters (a cook, a card sharp, and a couple of guys who sell "discounted" items) are interested only in acquiring the money to pay off their enormous debt; they kill no one. The same applies to the laid-back college boys who "grow copious amounts of ganja".

The cast is comprised of mostly young, veteran, male actors. In fact, the only female in the film doesn't even speak, though she handles a machine gun fairly well. Sting appears briefly in several scenes as a bar-owning father figure. While his secondary performance is solid, as usual, it is also unmemorable. The soundtrack is first-rate, from the 60's hits of James Brown to the contemporary beats of London's underground. The groovy, pulsating music and lyrics are often succinctly synchronized with the action and dialogue in the film, creating a theatrical rhythm that is fairly uncommon in cinema (from any period).

Critics and audiences over the years have often dismissed stylized camera work as pretentious and unnecessary, stating that it detracts from the story, bogs it down, or pads it; however, the film medium has the luxury of actually "displaying" a story for its audience, unlike the written word alone. It's what the medium is all about -- it's VISUAL. Hence, one of the reasons a filmmaker chooses such visual displays is to "brand" his or her work, in the same way as writers like Cummings, Hemingway or Joyce did with their medium. It's hard to imagine a cinema without Hitchcock, Kubrick, or Scorsese to represent it. To this end, Ritchie has taken his first step in establishing his own brand. His energetic, ultra-contemporary camera work incorporates (through a fresh perspective) such devices as slow motion, fast motion, and freeze-frame coupled with narration. It is at times reminiscent of (and actually expands upon) Martin Scorsese's patented visual stylistics and camera movements, like those found in 'Mean Streets' and 'Goodfellas'. But the similarities with Scorsese's work end there.

Critics' endless comparisons of Ritchie's film with the works of Quentin Tarantino and Danny Boyle's 'Trainspotting' stand mostly unwarranted, as these comparisons take away from the inventiveness and originality of 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'. Ritchie's film is a much more involved, complex, layered work than the aforementioned comparisons. While Tarantino's films are very strong on dialogue, screenplay, and editing, they often lack creative camera work and direction. Boyle's 'Trainspotting' does have a resembling "feel" to 'LS&TSB', but aside from its Great Britain origins, there really is no need for comparison. 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' is essential viewing.