RocknRolla (2008)

Director:

Guy Ritchie

Writer:

Guy Ritchie (written by)

Release Date:

31 October 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime

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:

Accountant | Painting | Robbery | Nightclub | Male Rear Nudity

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Nov. 18	11:30 PM	HBO
Sat. Nov. 28	2:10 AM	HBO

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
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	...	Drowned Sloane
Robert Stone	...	Nightclub Bouncer
Andy Linden	...	Waster
Jason Courtis	...	Accountant
Charlotte Armer	...	Nurse
Rory Sadler	...	Clan Boy
Oliver Dean	...	Clan Boy
Anton Saunders	...	Detective Sergeant
James Puddephatt	...	Detective Sergeant
Laura McIntosh	...	Sexy Girl in Bathroom
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 (in alphabetical order)
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)

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)

Art Department
Ben Bagley	....	stand-by props
Lee Biggs	....	construction coordinator
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	....	assistant set decorator
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	....	property master
Julie Signy	....	set 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)
Morgan Parker	....	props (uncredited)
Antony Parnell	....	props (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
Trillby Kim 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

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
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	....	compositing 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
Richard Bradshaw	....	stunt performer
Jim Dowdall	....	stunt coordinator
Sid Karne	....	stunt performer
Derek Lea	....	stunt performer
Maurice Lee	....	stunt performer
James Grogan	....	stunt double (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	....	technician: high definition
Stewart Holt	....	electrician
Carolyn Hughes	....	camera trainee
Julian Morson	....	Steadicam operator
Julian Morson	....	camera operator
Mike Parsons	....	electrician
Ricky Payne	....	electrician
Barney Piercy	....	focus puller
Matt Poynter	....	focus puller
Steve Pugh	....	key grip
Erin Stevens	....	camera 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
Louis Elman	....	adr voice casting
Lillie Jeffrey	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bartholomew Cariss	....	stand-by costumer
Mark Lord	....	stand-by costumer
James Pavlou	....	wardrobe assistant
Nat Turner	....	assistant costume designer (as Nathaniel Turner)
Joanna Wright	....	wardrobe supervisor
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
Laurent Treherne	....	digital film technical director
Andrew Bradley	....	projectionist: post-production (uncredited)
Aidan Stanford	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Ian Neil	....	music supervisor
Derek Somaru	....	music editor
The Subways	....	musician
Tommy Lockett	....	music editor (uncredited)
Peter Rotter	....	orchestra contractor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Jim Atkins	....	unit driver
Nick Attfield	....	transportation co-captain
Dave Ballard	....	driver: stand-by construction truth
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 traiuler
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	....	title designer
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
Gemma Copper	....	caterer
Sarah Critchley	....	clearance researcher
Ian Dawson	....	producer: titles
Marie-Cecile de Faucigny	....	assistant accountant
Charles Edwards	....	clearance researcher
Larry Eydmann	....	health and safety advisor
Ollie Gatehouse	....	post production assistant
Mia Gray	....	production assistant
Alex Hanson	....	title designer
Moira Houlihan	....	unit publicist
Patrick Isherwood	....	production accountant
Antony Judd	....	chef (as Tony Judd)
Lara Khajetoorians	....	assistant: Susan Downey
Adam Kuhn	....	production accountant: USA
Ron Levin	....	legal representative: US
Ben MacGregor	....	location scout
Paul McCloskey	....	assistant: Steve Richards
Richard Moxon	....	legal representative: UK
Ruth Nicol	....	nurse
Christine Perrett	....	caterer
Rebecca Rae	....	assistant production coordinator
Stacy Raskin	....	assistant: Joel Silver
Christina Rice	....	assistant: Garard Butler
Bobby Rich	....	assistant: Guy Ritchie
Chris Sanchez	....	titles illustrator
Sarah Shepherd	....	assistant location manager
Sam Smith	....	on-set assistant
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
Emma Baksi	....	assistant: Mr. Piven (uncredited)
Rob Ellingham	....	location scout (uncredited)
Glyn Harper	....	floor runner: dailies (uncredited)
Rob Sorrenti	....	behind-the-scenes (uncredited)

Thanks
Richard Mirisch	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)
• Dark Castle Entertainment
• Toff Guy Films (in association with)
• Studio Canal (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)
• Studio Canal (2008) (France) (theatrical)
• Village Films (2008) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (2008) (USA) (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)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2009) (Finland) (all media)
• 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

• Rushes Post Production

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)
• 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
• One Post  digital intermediate (as One Post London)
• One Post  digital opticals
• Pivotal Post  Avid Editing Equipment Provided By
• Premiere Catering  catering
• Production Copier Company  production equipment and services
• Prologue Films  main and end titles design
• Soho Images  film processing
• St. Anne's Post  rushes transfer
• Totally Entertainment  insurance
• Universal Records  soundtrack
• Warner Bros. Studio Facilities  foley recording
• Warner Bros. Studio Facilities  sound re-recording
• Your Choice Props  facilities

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Russian

Colour:

Colour

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 Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Netherlands:16 | France:U | Argentina:16 | Japan:PG-12 | Sweden:15 | Peru:14 | South Korea:18 | Iceland:16 | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Barbican, London, England, UK

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

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

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The two "Chechnyans" would more likely be veterans of the Russian Army who've served in Chechnya. This is because actual Chechens would speak the Chechen language rather than Russian.

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, other 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 Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Soundtrack:

Outlaw

Yeah, we've seen it all before, but...

I have to admit that I have a soft spot for Guy Ritchie's mockney gangster films. I don't know what it is. I know that they're not very profound and have nothing to say, I know that they're a pure fantasy vision of British crime and I know that if you've seen Lock Stock, you've pretty much seen them all. And yet, as Ritchie returns for a third iteration of the only formula with which he's tasted success , I still find myself walking out of the cinema massively entertained.

RocknRolla does absolutely nothing new. A quick list of things it shares with Lock Stock and Snatch would read thus: fast paced, witty dialogue; complex, interwoven plot threads; central McGuffin driving the mayhem (#1 antique shotguns, #2 huge diamond, #3 a lucky painting); smart, rapid editing; a mountain of Cockney crime stereotypes. Even things such as hard-as-nails Russian henchmen return. It completes the upward curve of scale in Ritchie's crime films: from a rigged card game to a rigged boxing circuit to rigged property development. The crime lords get larger in stature, the sums of money owed have more zeros on the end and the capers required to resolve the situation more grand, but it's still the same concept.

You'd think this was a list of criticisms, and if you found Snatch wearingly familiar you shouldn't need it spelling out that this film won't impress you. Looking for originality? Look elsewhere. RocknRolla may be pushing the formula a little bit, but if you accept that it's still enormous fun. Ritchie's directing is as proficient as ever, it moves at a merry old pace and the plot just about stays on the rails. The characters are endearing and there's plenty of laughs to be had. Other than its dearth of invention, the only real flaw with the film lies in the opening fifteen minutes, where Ritchie sets up the plot strands which will then unravel. Whereas previous films did this in a smooth, unforced way, here Ritchie lathers it with a liberal helping of voice-over narration so there's absolutely no confusion possible as to who is who and what they're after, which on many occasions extends to pointing out the bleeding obvious. Show don't tell- it's the first rule in the book Ritchie! It may be getting to the point where RocknRolla must go down as a guilty pleasure, but guilty pleasures are often the most fulfilling kind. And so it is here.