Critics pan 'RocknRolla'

Guy Ritchie’s latest gangster film failed to impress critics, with one labelling it his “third turkey in a row”.

During the build-up to last night’s world premiere of 'RocknRolla', the British director’s movie was being seen as his make-or-break effort after 'Swept Away' and 'Revolver'.

Set in London’s criminal underworld and featuring property scams and Russian mobsters, the film stars Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson and Thandie Newton, but first night reviews suggest it did not hit the mark.

According to the Daily Mail, the characters were identical in all but name to those of his previous gangster capers such as 'Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' and 'Revolver', and the “convoluted” plot was “horribly familiar”.

Its “dated air” was brought to the attention of the audience when the opening voice-over claimed that London property prices were going up and up.

“This is Guy Ritchie’s third turkey in a row, after 'Swept Away' and 'Revolver',” the paper’s first-night review said. “It is a pitiful attempt to recapture the success of his first two movies, 'Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels' and 'Snatch'.”

Ritchie, 39, revealed at the premiere in London that he has already written the sequel to 'RocknRolla'.

“If people go and see this and like it I’ll make the second one straightaway,” he said.

But the Daily Mail pleaded for this not to happen.

It said: “This embarrassing piece of self-parody ends hubristically with the threat of not one but two sequels starring the most annoying character and least welcome survivor, the junkie rock star.”

The Times described 'RocknRolla' as a “standard-issue Ritchie thug movie” but praised the film’s action scenes to give it a two-star rating.

The paper said: “The film is basically another mad trawl through London’s seedy underworld with mavericks and crack addicts around every corner.

“The film hurtles propulsively on and if there is any vicarious pleasure to be had it’s in the high-octane battery of car chases, punch-ups and bungled heists.”

But The Times review said homo-eroticism throughout the film was a “bemusing twist” and levelled criticism at the plot’s “familiar” concept and characters.

It also highlighted an “uncharacteristic number of loose ends”, with storylines and characters “brushed under the carpet” to fit the ending.

The paper concluded: “Ritchie is still taking his cues from Quentin Tarantino. But he has clearly run out of invention, if not sheer nerve.”

However, The Sun called the film a “corker”, having reviewed it last month.

Describing 'RocknRolla' as “absolute class” and Ritchie’s most polished work to date, the review said: “There were guns, lashings of violence, some cracking laddish humour and killer crayfish thrown in for good measure.”

Ritchie’s wife Madonna brought A-list glamour to the red carpet when the couple walked arm-in-arm into the Odeon West End cinema in Leicester Square.

Wearing a short black Stella McCartney dress, the superstar singer arrived just minutes before 'RocknRolla' was screened.

Speaking before his wife arrived, Ritchie – who hit fame a decade ago with 'Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels' – described his latest film as an “indulgence”.

He said: “It’s the kind of film I like. I’ve made a film for me. My inspiration came from the fact that London has changed so much in the last 10 years.”

Ritchie said there was a lot of money in the capital and an increasing influence of Russian billionaires.

He said: “The film reflects the big guys and their big properties – they haven’t been touched by the credit crunch.”

Thandie Newton, 35, who plays an accountant in the criminal underworld, also attended the premiere looking glamorous and every inch a Hollywood star in a white dress which was cut away at the front.

Madonna had a star role in 'Swept Away', but the film and her performance were panned by critics. Ritchie reverted back to gangster films with 'Revolver', but it was also badly received.

He recently stamped on suggestions his marriage was over with a public show of support at his wife’s 50th birthday party.

Madonna is due to perform in Amsterdam tonight on the latest leg of her 'Sticky And Sweet' world tour.