RocknRolla (2008)

Director:

Guy Ritchie

Writer:

Guy Ritchie (written by)

Release Date:

31 October 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

A story of sex, thugs and rock 'n roll.

Plot:

In London, a real-estate scam puts millions of pounds up for grabs, attracting some of the city's scrappiest tough guys and its more established underworld types, all of whom are looking to get rich quick. While the city's seasoned criminals vie for the cash, an unexpected player -- a drugged out rock 'n' roller presumed to be dead but very much alive -- has a multi-million dollar prize fall into his hands.

Plot Keywords:

Painting | Accountant | Faked Death | Fast Motion Scene | Corruption

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Gerard Butler	...	One Two
Tom Wilkinson	...	Lenny Cole
Thandie Newton	...	Stella
Mark Strong	...	Archy
Idris Elba	...	Mumbles
Tom Hardy	...	Handsome Bob
Karel Roden	...	Uri Omovich
Toby Kebbell	...	Johnny Quid
Jeremy Piven	...	Roman
Ludacris	...	Mickey (as Chris Bridges)
Jimi Mistry	...	Councillor
Matt King	...	Cookie
Geoff Bell	...	Fred the Head
Dragan Micanovic	...	Victor
Michael Ryan	...	Pete
Nonso Anozie	...	Tank
Gemma Arterton	...	June
David Bark-Jones	...	Bertie (as David Bark Jones)
David Leon	...	Malcolm
Bronson Webb	...	Paul
Kelly George	...	Danny
Roland Manookian	...	Bandy
Jamie Campbell Bower	...	Rocker
Alex Kovas	...	Chechnyan
Mario Woszcycki	...	Chechnyan (as Marios Woszezycki)
Mickey De Hara	...	Turbo
Scott McNess	...	Johnny - 12 Years old
Tim Wallers	...	Property Lawyer
James Greene	...	Judge
Jasper Jacob	...	Barrister
Joanna Bacon	...	Speeler Girl
Johnny Harris	...	Gary
Tiffany Mulheron	...	Jackie
Ben Caplan	...	Estate Agent
Ben Homewood	...	Estate Agent
David Sterne	...	Barman
Oliver Dimsdale	...	Posh Man In Shorts
Blake Ritson	...	Johnny Sloane
Robert Stone	...	Nightclub Bouncer
Andy Linden	...	Waster
Jason Courtis	...	Accountant
Charlotte Armer	...	Nurse
Rory Sadler	...	Eton Boy
Oliver Dean	...	Eton Boy
Anton Saunders	...	Detective Sergeant Barnes
James Puddephatt	...	Detective Sergeant
Laura McIntosh	...	Sexy Girl In Bathroom
Billy Lunn	...	The Subways
Charlotte Cooper	...	The Subways
Josh Morgan	...	The Subways (as Joshua Morgan)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Morne Botes	...	Jimmy (uncredited)
Ian Houghton	...	Held up Accountant (uncredited)
Aaron King	...	Theatre Goer (uncredited)
Laurence Richardson	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Tom Rooke	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Johan van Vuuren	...	Sloan 2 (uncredited)

Directed by
Guy Ritchie

Writing credits
Guy Ritchie		(written by)

Produced by
Martin Askew	....	associate producer
Steve Clark-Hall	....	producer
Mickey De Hara	....	associate producer (as Mickey De'Hara)
Susan Downey	....	producer
Navid McIlhargey	....	executive producer
Lauren Meek	....	associate producer
Steve Richards	....	executive producer
Guy Ritchie	....	producer
Joel Silver	....	producer

Original Music by
Steve Isles

Cinematography by
David Higgs		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
James Herbert

Casting by
Reg Poerscout-Edgerton

Production Design by
Richard Bridgland

Art Direction by
Andy Nicholson		(supervising art director)

Set Decoration by
Debbie Moles

Costume Design by
Suzie Harman

Makeup Department
Kirstin Chalmers	....	hair designer
Kirstin Chalmers	....	makeup designer
Jenny Harling	....	makeup artist
Laura Lilley	....	makeup trainee
Laura McIntosh	....	makeup artist
Kath Rayner	....	makeup artist
Laura Lilley	....	hair trainee (uncredited)
Waldo Mason	....	prosthetics (uncredited)
Brigitta Smart	....	makeup artist: dailies (uncredited)

Production Management
Tom Avison	....	unit manager
Mark Mostyn	....	production manager
Emma Zee	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matthew Baker	....	second assistant director (as Matt Baker)
Paul Bennett	....	second second assistant director
Max Keene	....	first assistant director
Paul Bennett	....	first assistant director: second unit (uncredited)
Sarah Brand	....	assistant director runner (uncredited)

Art Department
Ben Bagley	....	stand-by props
Lee Biggs	....	carpenter
Julian Caldow	....	storyboard artist
Neal Callow	....	stand-by art director
Tina Charad	....	graphic designer
George Dean	....	senior painter
Peter Edge	....	stand-by painter
Nick Flatt	....	stand-by stagehand
David Gibson	....	carpenter
Jane Gilchrist	....	store person
Gavin Grant	....	dressing props
Darren Hayward	....	carpenter
Sarah Jenneson	....	set decorator assistant
James Mannell	....	dressing props
Simon Marjoram	....	carpenter
Paul Anthony McGill	....	architectural illustrator
Garry Moore	....	stand-by carpenter
Greg O'Donnell	....	stand-by painter
Mark Papworth	....	stand-by props
Steve Register	....	prop master
Julie Signy	....	production buyer
David Smith	....	stand-by stagehand
Rob Sutton	....	senior carpenter
Chris Tooth	....	art department assistant (as Christopher Tooth)
Luke Whitelock	....	assistant art director
Dennis Wilson	....	construction manager (as Denis Wilson)
Galo Make Canote	....	title art drawings (uncredited)
Paul Couch	....	stand-by painter (uncredited)
Thomas Jones	....	props mould-maker (uncredited)
Morgan Parker	....	props (uncredited)
Antony Parnell	....	props (uncredited)
Evie Wray	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Christopher Alba	....	first assistant sound editor
Ron Bartlett	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lukas Chyska	....	adr recordist
Valerie Davidson	....	supervising foley editor
Eric Flickinger	....	sound recordist
Nick Foley	....	adr mixer
John Hayes	....	production sound mixer
Doug Hemphill	....	sound re-recording mixer (as D.M. Hemphill)
Devin Joseph	....	dialogue editor
Garie Kan	....	boom operator
Susan Kurtz	....	dialogue editor
Mary Jo Lang	....	foley mixer
Mark Larry	....	supervising sound editor
Kimberly Ellen Lowe	....	dialogue/adr supervisor (as Trillby Kimberly Lowe)
Alyson Dee Moore	....	foley artist (as Alyson Moore)
Ian Morgan	....	adr editor: UK
Tom Ozanich	....	sound effects editor
John Roesch	....	foley artist
Andrew Rowe	....	sound assistant
Paul Schwartz	....	boom operator
Bryan O. Watkins	....	co-supervising sound editor (as Bryan Watkins)
Nathan Whitehead	....	assistant sound editor
Hugo Jeffreys	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
David Harris	....	special effects supervisor
Graham Hills	....	senior special effects technician
Craig Leong	....	special effects assistant
Kyle May	....	special effects trainee
Karl Openshaw	....	special effects engineer
Stuart Wishart	....	senior special effects engineer
Danny Hills	....	special effects trainee (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Dave Bannister	....	senior compositor: Rushes Post Production
Seb Barker	....	CG artist: Rushes Post Production (as Seb Baker)
Jocelin Capper	....	visual effects executive producer: Rushes Post Production (as Joce Capper)
Michael Deming	....	digital film bureau
Guy Elson	....	senior compositor: Rushes Post Production
Neil Harrison	....	digital intermediate systems administrator
Warwick Hewett	....	visual effects coordinator: Rushes Post Production
Louise Hussey	....	visual effects producer: Rushes Post Production
Alex Jenyon	....	digital matte painter: Rushes Post Production
Timothy P. Jones	....	digital film bureau
Tom Kimberley	....	compositor: Rushes Post Production
Alex Llewellyn	....	compositor: Rushes Post Production
Ian Murphy	....	compositor: Rushes Post Production
John Palmer	....	digital film bureau manager
Mark Pascoe	....	CG artist: Rushes Post Production
Kate Porter	....	compositor: Rushes Post Production
Scott Pritchard	....	composite supervisor: Rushes Post Production
Jonathan Privett	....	visual effects supervisor: Rushes Post Production
Cristina Puente	....	compositor: Rushes Post Production
Adam Rowland	....	compositor: Rushes Post Production
David Sjodin	....	compositor: Rushes Post Production
Lee Tibbetts	....	CG artist: Rushes Post Production
Alan Williamson	....	visual effects data assistant: Rushes Post Production
Jez Tucker	....	senior systems administrator: Rushes Post Production (uncredited)

Stunts
Milan Alavanja	....	stunts wire effects
Richard Bradshaw	....	stunt performer
Jim Dowdall	....	stunt coordinator
Derek Lea	....	stunt performer
Maurice Lee	....	stunt performer
James Grogan	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Sid Karne	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Nick McKinless	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Alex Bailey	....	still photographer
Andy Bell	....	best boy
Dan Fontaine	....	gaffer
Dave Gray	....	stand-by rigger
Neil Gray	....	HD technician
Stewart Holt	....	electrician
Carolyn Hughes	....	camera trainee
Julian Morson	....	Steadicam operator
Julian Morson	....	camera operator
Gary Parnham	....	rigging electrician
Mike Parsons	....	electrician
Ricky Payne	....	electrician
Barney Piercy	....	focus puller
Matt Poynter	....	focus puller
Steve Pugh	....	key grip
Erin Stevens	....	loader
Fred Todd	....	electrician
John Walker	....	rigging gaffer
Frankie Webster	....	electrical rigger
Andy Woodcock	....	assistant grip
Peter Batten	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)
Emmet Cahill	....	grip (uncredited)
James Foster	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera: dailies (uncredited)
Jon Howard	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)
Nic Lawson	....	cinematographer: second unit (uncredited)
Richard Mason	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Abigail Barbier	....	adr voice casting
Chuck Douglas	....	extras casting
Louis Elman	....	adr voice casting
Lillie Jeffrey	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bartholomew Cariss	....	costume stand-by
Mark Lord	....	costume stand-by
James Pavlou	....	wardrobe assistant
Nat Turner	....	assistant costume designer (as Nathaniel Turner)
Joanna Wright	....	wardrobe supervisor
Samantha Kent	....	costume trainee (uncredited)
Elizabeth Wilson	....	costume supervisor: additional photography (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Rob Gordon	....	digital on-line editor
Emily Greenwood	....	digital on-line editor
Philip Hedgecock	....	first assistant editor
Patrick Malone	....	digital intermediate director of production
Erin McGookin	....	digital intermediate producer
Rob Pizzey	....	digital intermediate colorist
Mitch Rosin	....	assistant editor
Crispin Struthers	....	assistant editor
Nick Timms	....	technical operator
Laurent Treherne	....	digital film technical director
Andrew Bradley	....	projectionist: post-production (uncredited)
Aidan Stanford	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
George Doering	....	musician
Bruce Fowler	....	orchestrator
Scott Hosfeld	....	musician
Frank Macchia	....	music preparation
Ian Neil	....	music supervisor
Derek Somaru	....	music editor
Amanda Street	....	score supervisor
The Subways	....	musician
Tommy Lockett	....	music editor (uncredited)
Peter Rotter	....	orchestra contractor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Jim Atkins	....	unit driver
Nick Attfield	....	unit driver
Dave Ballard	....	driver: stand-by construction truck
Alan Burrows	....	driver: camera truck
Gary J. Dodd	....	driver: grip truck (as Gary Dodd)
Paul Elston	....	driver: props runaround
Barry Goodwin	....	unit driver
Georg Grohmann	....	driver: Tom Wilkinson
Alex King	....	action vehicle coordinator
George Morris	....	action vehicle coordinator
Richard Ong	....	driver: makeup trailer
Graham Pamment	....	driver: production trailer
Steve Pyke	....	driver: wardrobe truck (as Steve Pike)
David Speirs	....	unit driver
Tony Power	....	driver: construction department (uncredited)

Other crew
Ilya Abulhandy	....	designer: Prologue Films (as Ilya Abulhanov)
Aaron Auch	....	assistant: Joel Silver
Philip Ball	....	utility stand-in (as Phil Ball)
Joanna Batten	....	stand-in: Thandie Newton
Stephen Bender	....	production coordinator: US (as Steve Bender)
Sarah Brand	....	on-set assistant
Carol Bulmer	....	caterer (as Carole Bulmer)
Kelly Kiyoon Chang	....	accounts assistant
Kyle Cooper	....	titles executive producer: Prologue Films
Gemma Copper	....	caterer
Sarah Critchley	....	clearance researcher
Ian Dawson	....	title producer: Prologue Films
Marie-Cecile de Faucigny	....	assistant accountant (as Marie Cecile De Faucigny)
Charles Edwards	....	clearance researcher
Larry Eydmann	....	health and safety
Ollie Gatehouse	....	post production assistant
Mia Gray	....	production assistant
Alex Hanson	....	designer: Prologue Films
Moira Houlihan	....	unit publicist
Patrick Isherwood	....	production accountant
Nick Jeffries	....	supervising armorer
Antony Judd	....	chef (as Tony Judd)
Lara Khajetoorians	....	assistant: Susan Downey
Adam Kuhn	....	production accountant: US
Ron Levin	....	legal representative: US
Ronald J. Levin	....	legal representative
Kramer Lucas	....	production assistant
Kramer Lucas	....	production coordinator
Ben MacGregor	....	location scout (as Ben Macgregor)
Paul McCloskey	....	assistant: Steve Richards
Richard Moxon	....	legal representative: UK
Ruth Nicol	....	nurse (as Ruth Nichol)
Sarah Parfitt	....	delivery paperwork coordinator
Christine Perrett	....	caterer
Rebecca Rae	....	assistant production coordinator
Stacy Raskin	....	assistant: Joel Silver
Christina Rice	....	assistant: Gerard Butler
Bobby Rich	....	assistant: Guy Ritchie
Chris Sanchez	....	illustrator: Prologue Films
Sarah Shepherd	....	assistant location manager
Sam Smith	....	on-set assistant
Tom Stourton	....	location scout
Isobel Thomas	....	production coordinator
Claire Tovey	....	location manager
Elizabeth West	....	script supervisor (as Liz West)
Oliver Wheeler	....	production assistant
Adam Winkleman	....	assistant: Navid McIlhargey
Danny Yount	....	title designer
Danny Yount	....	title designer: Prologue Films
Emma Baksi	....	assistant: Mr. Piven (uncredited)
Rob Ellingham	....	location scout (uncredited)
Glyn Harper	....	floor runner: dailies (uncredited)
Tom McNulty	....	technical director: online interactive (uncredited)
Rob Sorrenti	....	behind-the-scenes (uncredited)

Thanks
Martin Craig Martin	....	special thanks
Richard Mirisch	....	special thanks
Scott Walterschied	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Warner Bros (presents)
• Dark Castle Entertainment
• Toff Guy Films (in association with)
• StudioCanal (as StudioCanal) (financed in association with)

Distributors

• Karo Premiere (2009) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Films (2008) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB (2008) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2009) (Finland) (theatrical)
• StudioCanal (2008) (France) (theatrical)
• Village Films (2008) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment (2008) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2008) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Cinemax (2009) (USA) (TV)
• Film1 (2010) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland Oy (2009) (Finland) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (UK) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• One Post (digital opticals)
• Rushes Post Production (visual effects by)

Other Companies

• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting
• ARRI Media  cameras and lenses
• Action Factory, The  vehicles
• Amazing Animals  animals supplied by
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies/mobiles
• Bapty and Co.  weapons supplied by (as Bapty & Company)
• Bickers Action Enterprises  camera car supplied by (as Bickers Action)
• Cutting Edge Group  music services
• DNA Music  talent agency
• Danetracks  sound design and editorial
• Eurostar International  facilities
• Film Flow  facilities
• International Film Guarantors  completion bond
• Lays International  facilities
• Lofty's Lab  stills processing
• Makin Movies  facilities
• Media Safety  health and safety
• Momentous Insurance Brokerage  insurance
• Momentous Insurance Brokerage  production insurance services
• One Post  digital intermediate (as One Post London)
• One Post  digital opticals
• Pivotal Post  Avid Editing Equipment Provided By
• Premier Caterers  catering by (as Premier Catering)
• Production Copier Company  production equipment and services
• Prologue Films  main and end title design
• Soho Images  film processing
• St. Anne's Post  rushes transfer
• Totally Entertainment  insurance
• Universal Records  soundtrack
• Warner Bros. Studio Facilities  foley by
• Warner Bros. Studio Facilities  sound re-recording
• Your Choice Props  facilities

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language, violence, drug use and brief sexuality

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #44080) | UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Singapore:M18 | Australia:MA | New Zealand:R16 | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Finland:K-15 | Norway:15 | Brazil:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Netherlands:16 | France:U | Argentina:16 | Japan:PG-12 | Sweden:15 | Peru:14 | South Korea:18 | Iceland:16 | Germany:16 | Chile:Y7 | Malaysia:(Banned)

Filming Locations:

Abandoned Railway Line, near London City Airport, Newham, East London, London, England, UK

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

Director Cameo: [Guy Ritchie]Man on bicycle riding past Roman and Mickey as they approach Johnny's crack house.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Majority of the Russian lines in the movie don't correspond to the translation shown. Mostly the overall approximate meaning of a passage or dialogue is preserved, but even that is not always the case.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Archie:People ask the question... what's a RocknRolla? And I tell 'em - it's not about drums, drugs, and hospital drips, oh no. There's more there than that, my friend. We all like a bit of the good life - some the money, some the drugs, others the sex game, the glamour, or the fame. But a RocknRolla, oh, he's different. Why? Because a real RocknRolla wants the fucking lot.

Movie Connections:

Features The Remains of the Day (1993)

Soundtrack:

Outside View

If this movie's rockin'…

Throughout his career, director Guy Ritchie (Snatch, Lock Stock and two Smokin' Barrels) has slowly gathered a cult-like following, ensuring that his movies, be they good or bad, will always earn a few dollars from loyal fans. With his 2006 release of Revolver, many of his avid followers found new 'stylistic' directors to drool over, the movie itself receiving mostly negative reviews as a majority of moviegoers claimed it to be 'all style and no substance'. His latest release, RocknRolla, shows Ritchie returning to his roots of gangster oriented, moronic villain centered, hit-man featuring fun. It's a welcome return.

RocknRolla is an ensemble piece, centering on many, many characters while remaining surprisingly capable of not focusing on any one member of the never-ending cast. Gerard Butler (300) plays a good-hearted crook for hire by the name of One-Two, a member in a group of 5 blood-to-bones friends, each of which doubles as a partner in crime. The main focus in the gangster-related circle of characters is Lenny Cole, a ruthless, old fashioned thug brought to life by Oscar-nominated Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton).

The movie truly begins 15 minutes or so after the rather unique opening credits, which in itself foreshadows Ritchie's stylistic thematic which circulates throughout the movie. The eclectically charged plot follows Lenny Cole and his cohorts as they meet and greet Uri, a seemingly reasonable Russian mobster, as the two speak real-estate business. Cole, a self-proclaimed "King of London", runs each and every aspect of London, and agrees to allow the Russians their building – for a small sum of 7 million Euros. Agreeing, Uri offers Lenny his favourite painting as a token of appreciation, a hopeful symbol that all will go well.

From this point on, viewers are treated to a mishmash of confusing twists, an infinite pallet of characters, and some of the most intelligent writing to hit Hollywood in years. The afore-mentioned painting is stolen from Cole, and a search ensues throughout the entire movie, eventually leading to Johnny Quid (Jamie Campbell), the lead singer of The Quidlickers, and step-son to none other than Lenny himself. Quid, also known as "The Rocknrolla", represents a solid contrast to his devilish step-father. Providing monologue after brilliant monologue, Quid becomes a character of classic cool, embodying olden day suave with modern day style, a true to time Rocknrolla.

As with every one of Ritchie's gifts to the silver screen, the subtle yet slick script throws the few negative aspects of the movie to the backburner, leaving only pure gold to shimmer and shine. With a never ending stream of British mannerisms combined with over-seas terminology, North American viewers are faced with a rather tricky dilemma: Sit through a movie that may require a small amount of effort to comprehend due to it's foreign tendencies, or instead rely on Dicaprio and Mr. Crowe to deliver yet another bland, meaningless CIA centered action movie in the form of now premiering Body Of Lies. Unfortunately for the masses that truly enjoy a movie with an intelligent script, box office numbers generally speak poorly for Guy Ritchie's films on our side of the pond, his movies usually making no more than a few hundred thousand dollars, only to become cult hits once released on DVD.

Viewers may be shocked to see Gerard Butler (best known for his overly masculine performance as King Leonidas in 300) hidden amongst an amazing yet unknown cast, with each actor holding their own and providing more than authentic performances. It is a rare yet beautiful sight to behold, a cast full of actors that have not yet been granted the "fame" or spotlight, yet manage to upstage a majority of the actors that we are presented on a day to day basis. It is beyond sad, the least can be said, to see Chris Bridges – A.K.A. Ludicrous (2 Fast 2 Furious) – and Jeremey Pivens (Smokin' Aces) failing miserably in their attempt to act in brief yet important cameo performances, also singled out as the only two American actors in the film, their "talent" shadowed and overcast by the nobodies surrounding them.

To those readers out there who are contemplating seeing this not-quite-so-common piece of theatre in the form of British Cinema, it is best for you to know there are many worse things you can do. Director Guy Ritchie weaves an intricate quilt the likes of which hasn't been since his debut to theatres, managing to create a truly witty film from nothing more than a missing painting. Definitely a must see.

5 out of 5 stars