Released on February 5, 2020, The Gentlemen is the new action movie from the famous Guy Ritchie. On the occasion of its VOD release on May 28, Just Focus has decided to make an opinion on this novelty.
Between violent gangsters and British phlegm
The film begins with a bloody scene that sets the viewer in the mood. Gangster. English. Gentlemen. The scenario is at first glance quite simple: an American expat tries to sell his highly profitable marijuana empire in London, triggering conspiracies, schemes, bribes and blackmail that have the sole purpose of stealing his estate. First thing particularly remarkable: the casting makes the mouth water! Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Michelle Dockery, Colin Farrell, Eddie Marsan, Jeremy Strong, Hugh Grant Lyne Renee and many others. A cast that gives life to colorful characters and who really carry the film for no less than 133 minutes. Mickey is married to Roz (Michelle Dockery, aka "Lady Mary" in Downton Abbey) who runs a car body shop with only female mechanics. He loves his wife and it is for this reason that he seeks to sell his illegal business. Two of his rivals emerge as potential buyers: a Jewish American billionaire (Jeremy Strong) and a Chinese gangster named Dry Eye (Henry Golding). 
Colorful characters
Our favourite? The one called "Coach" played by Colin Farrell, an Irishman who runs a boxing club where he trains young people from the suburbs. He continually insists that he is not a gangster, although he is one. To perfect the character of this gangster-gentlemen he wears throughout the film a tweed jogging: we love it! The genius of Guy Ritchie is to have introduced a narrator to guide the entire scenario. Here, it's about a private investigator named Fletcher (Hugh Grant) who is desperate to sell his screenplay that turns out to be… real. Leather coat, tinted bezel, hair and beard pepper and salt. Deep, teasing voice. But make no mistake, the magic of this film lies in the hypothetical. In the event that all this is true. The cult replica of this film? It is from Michael Pearson of course:
"If you want to be the king of the jungle, it's not enough to act like a king. You must be the king. And there's no doubt about that. Because doubt causes chaos and its own demise. " A simple maxim, very telling and which will set the tone of this whole film. The intelligence and finesse of these gentlemen are the key words. And when we think we find the king of the intelligent, we realize that another is smarter than him.
As for the soundtrack, we owe it to Christopher Benstead known for the soundtracks of Beauty and the Beast, Gravity or more recently Aladdin. The soundtrack is really what punctuates this action film, brilliantly accompanying the stripping humor of this 5-star cast. The Gentlemen is what you would call a gangster movie. What makes it stand out? A finely crafted plot, a purely British humor and refreshing action scenes that benefit from impeccable timing. Verdict on May 28 on VOD and June 10 on blu-ray.
