This movie is an awesome example of the Ritchie British gangster oeuvre. It just clicks along, with a tension-inducing plot, AMAZING acting, and enough humor to keep me giggling in between bouts of crushing action.
I have yet to read a (professional) critic's review that's not all about the supposedly overwhelming racism. To them, I must say, "please, fellows, LIGHTEN UP!" I'll get this out of the way: I'm a woman of color. I'm a bleeding heart liberal. There. Everybody feel good? Normally, I get pretty prickly whilst reading a certain kind of IMDB review that's a thinly disguised alt-right whine-fest at having to watch (gasp) women, people of color and "teh gays" play roles that used to be exclusively for straight white dudes.
In "The Gentlemen", there are racial slurs, and one of the Jewish characters and the gay character aren't "good guys". But the "racism" is presented as tongue-in-cheek, and a reflection of the stupidity and unlikeability of the characters voicing it. I think you have to be pretty humorless, pedantic, and incredibly eager to be offended to snippily mount your high horse and complain about "The Gentlemen" being "horribly" racist.
As far as the performances, my gawd is this a great cast!!! Hunnam and Grant are standouts, but everyone is firing on all cylinders. And per usual in a Ritchie film, the soundtrack is just CRACKING, filled with some 70s deep cuts from Roxy Music and Can, as well as some impeccably chosen obscurist tracks from artists like El Michels Affair's horn-filled cover of Wu Tang's "Shimmy Shimmy Ya". The haunting, folksy opening credits song, "Cumberland Gap" will be echoing in your head for weeks.
If you're capable of getting over yourself, "The Gentleman" is a solid choice that stands up to MANY MANY re-watchings. A solid YES!!!
I have yet to read a (professional) critic's review that's not all about the supposedly overwhelming racism. To them, I must say, "please, fellows, LIGHTEN UP!" I'll get this out of the way: I'm a woman of color. I'm a bleeding heart liberal. There. Everybody feel good? Normally, I get pretty prickly whilst reading a certain kind of IMDB review that's a thinly disguised alt-right whine-fest at having to watch (gasp) women, people of color and "teh gays" play roles that used to be exclusively for straight white dudes.
In "The Gentlemen", there are racial slurs, and one of the Jewish characters and the gay character aren't "good guys". But the "racism" is presented as tongue-in-cheek, and a reflection of the stupidity and unlikeability of the characters voicing it. I think you have to be pretty humorless, pedantic, and incredibly eager to be offended to snippily mount your high horse and complain about "The Gentlemen" being "horribly" racist.
As far as the performances, my gawd is this a great cast!!! Hunnam and Grant are standouts, but everyone is firing on all cylinders. And per usual in a Ritchie film, the soundtrack is just CRACKING, filled with some 70s deep cuts from Roxy Music and Can, as well as some impeccably chosen obscurist tracks from artists like El Michels Affair's horn-filled cover of Wu Tang's "Shimmy Shimmy Ya". The haunting, folksy opening credits song, "Cumberland Gap" will be echoing in your head for weeks.
If you're capable of getting over yourself, "The Gentleman" is a solid choice that stands up to MANY MANY re-watchings. A solid YES!!!
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