RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / RocknRolla
RocknRolla

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

RocknRolla (2008)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
59 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:135

Fresh:80

Rotten:55

Average Rating:5.9/10

Consensus: Mixed reviews for Guy Ritchie's return to his London-based cockney wideboy gangster movie roots, but most agree, it's a step in the right direction following two major turkeys.

Australian Rating: MA15+ [See Full Rating] Strong violence and coarse language

Runtime: 1 hr 56 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Australian Theatrical Release:
Oct 30, 2008 Wide

US Box Office: $5,665,302

Synopsis: Guy Ritchie returns to form with this cockney crime caper starring Gerard Butler and Tom Wilkinson. Lenny Cole (Wilkinson) is a bungling London crime boss who calls the shots in London's... Guy Ritchie returns to form with this cockney crime caper starring Gerard Butler and Tom Wilkinson. Lenny Cole (Wilkinson) is a bungling London crime boss who calls the shots in London's underworld. We learn all about Lenny from Archie (Mark Strong)--his second in command--who serves as the film's sly narrator. When a wealthy Russian property dealer by the name of Uri (Karel Roden) looks to Lenny for help on a major new deal, Lenny is eager to assist (for a very large fee, of course). Uri agrees to pay, and as a show of faith, he insists that Lenny borrow his "lucky painting." Uri then asks his accountant, Stella (Thandie Newton), to transfer the money to Lenny, but things quickly go awry when two crooks known as Mumbles (Idris Elba) and One Two (Butler) intercept the money before it reaches him. To make matters worse, the lucky painting has mysteriously been stolen, and the number one suspect is a crack-addicted pop star, Johnny Quid, who is presumed dead. Violent hijinks ensue as Lenny desperately tries to locate the painting, Uri calls in some sadistic thugs to recover his money, and Johnny Quid suddenly resurfaces. Men are battered with golf clubs, fed to crawfish, and attacked with machetes, and a surprise twist ending neatly ties up the whole bloody mess. Fans of Ritchie will likely be very pleased to see him return to his SNATCH-style of filmmaking. ROCKNROLLA has the same frenetic, humorous edge as the film that made him famous, though critics might complain that this particular style is starting to look a little dusty. Regardless, ROCKNROLLA features many fine performances, and once you get past the rather slow beginning, it kicks off into an entertaining and amusing romp. [More]

Starring: Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton, Jeremy Piven

Starring: Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton, Jeremy Piven, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Mark Strong, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, Toby Kebbell

Director: Guy Ritchie

Director: Guy Ritchie
Screenwriter: Guy Ritchie
Producer: Joel Silver, Guy Ritchie, Susan Downey, Steve Clark-Hall
Composer: Steve Isles
Studio: Warner Bros.

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • SDCC 08: Cast Interviews
    >
    Trailer
    >
    RocknRolla Gerard Butler Interview
    >
1 - 3 of 3

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for RocknRolla

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Allowing for its air of laddish self-congratulation and its sad whiff of homophobia, Ritchie's film is arguably his most entertaining to date.

Full Review Source: Time Out Sydney | comment Comment
11/07/08
Wally Hammond
Wally Hammond
Time Out Sydney
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

RocknRolla feels as if Ritchie is imitating his favourite director here, and that director is Guy Ritchie.

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
11/07/08
Paul Byrnes
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

For a while you go along for the ride. But as the film progresses it becomes increasingly unwieldy.

Full Review Source: The Australian | comment Comment
11/07/08
David Stratton
David Stratton
The Australian
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The film has the sprawl of a hardboiled novel, but without the richness of character that the best of that genre has to offer.

Full Review Source: FILMINK (Australia) | comment Comment
10/31/08
Peter Galvin
Peter Galvin
FILMINK (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Promoted as a story of 'sex, thugs and rock'n'roll,' this highly stylised mobster movie couldn't even be remotely confused with the real thing.

Full Review Source: Daily Telegraph (Australia) | comment Comment
10/31/08
Vicky Roach
Vicky Roach
Daily Telegraph (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It is perhaps high time for us to just come out and finally admit to the world that director Guy Ritchie is not a very good filmmaker.

Full Review Source: The Age (Australia) | comment Comment
10/31/08
Jim Schembri
Jim Schembri
The Age (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Part of the problem is that the plot is just too cluttered. There are far too many characters and sub-plots jostling for attention.

Full Review Source: At the Movies (Australia) | comment Comment
10/31/08
David Stratton
David Stratton
At the Movies (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A messy, often self-indulgent film with some redeeming features (including some of its humour), Guy Ritchie's crime thriller has above average intelligence, a great cast but a below par story structure.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/25/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

RocknRolla is a return to form, of sorts, for Mr. Ritchie. ... The British director has returned to familiar territory, that of the small-time hood.

Full Review Source: Washington Times | comment Comment
08/30/09
Sonny Bunch
Sonny Bunch
Washington Times

'RocknRolla' takes more left turns than imaginable. It might make sense in the mind of Guy Ritchie, but to the rest of the universe, I can not imagine the film will translate.

Full Review Source: BET.com | comment 1 Comment
07/03/09
Clay Cane
Clay Cane
BET.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
04/23/09
Tom Meek
Tom Meek
Boston Phoenix

A self conscious re-working of Guy Ritchie's now familiar style and storyworld.

Full Review Source: Screenwize | comment Comment
03/24/09
Simon Weaving
Simon Weaving
Screenwize

It's long, confusing but is definitely saved with great performances and a tight episodic script...

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
02/13/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

Breaks no new ground for movies or for Ritchie, but it is an amusing diversion and therefore a return to form. [Blu-ray]

Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | comment Comment
01/31/09
Peter Canavese
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews

Some movies go off on tangents. This movie is nothing but tangents.

Full Review Source: Aisle Seat | comment Comment
01/28/09
Mike McGranaghan
Mike McGranaghan
Aisle Seat

In spite of the film being derivative, RocknRolla is still a lot of fun. At least, what you can understand of it.

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
01/22/09
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

Ksanazestameno, alla akomi nostimo, to piato poy soy serbirei einai mia super sized ekdohi tis syntagis toy, me tin idia thermidiki aksia, alla horis tin geystiki apogeiosi tis neas anakalypsis

Full Review Source: Movies for the Masses | comment Comment
01/20/09
Joseph Proimakis
Joseph Proimakis
Movies for the Masses

Ritchie still has the knack for street-tough dialogue, and there's plenty of laughs amid the gunplay.

Full Review Source: Salt Lake Tribune | comment Comment
11/26/08
Sean Means
Sean Means
Salt Lake Tribune

A patchwork of set pieces, held together by a hip soundtrack.

Full Review Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) | comment Comment
11/14/08
John Beifuss
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

As a gangster named One Two, Gerard Butler is suitably rough around all his edges.

Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
11/14/08
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
PopMatters
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
all

Latest News for RocknRolla

January 27, 2009: Milk Among GLAAD Nominees Opens in new window
"Milk" has been a favorite on the awards circuit this year, and its hot streak has been extended courtesy of the GLAAD Media Awards, where it will compete in the Outstanding... More...

January 26, 2009: RT on DVD: RocknRolla, Mary Poppins, and Zodiac and Bourne Hit Blu-ray
The year is beginning to get good for home video enthusiasts, with a band of notable new titles and Blu-ray releases to get your itchy fingers twitching. Add Guy Ritchie's... More...

January 17, 2009: Ritchie's latest homoerotic guy bonding homicidal spree, might be termed a London mafia musical fueled by global capitalism's shaky economic indicators, going toe to toe with the underground urban economy's crimelords in cutthroat competition. Literally. Opens in new window
More...

January 17, 2009: Ritchie's latest homoerotic guy bonding homicidal spree, might be termed a London mafia musical fueled by global capitalism's shaky economic indicators, going toe to toe with the underground urban economy's crimelords in cutthroat competition. Literally. Opens in new window
More...

See All

More DVDs

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
95% 95% Star Trek
67% 67% Bruno
47% 47% My Sister's Keeper
66% 66% Is Anybody There?
82% 82% Thirst

More New Releases…

What’s Hot On RT

Coen Brothers

Coen Brothers

We count down their 10 best-reviewed films

Avatar

Avatar

Watch an exclusive behind-the-scenes video

RT's Twilight corner

RT's Twilight corner

Everything you need on New Moon is here

Doomed Romance

Doomed Romance

Our top 10 star-crossed movie lovers

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
16
  • Idris Elba Joins Thor Source: Hollywood Reporter
110
  • Jackass 3D Coming in 2010? Source: Collider.com
32
  • 6 Reasons 'Twilight' Is Doomed Source: The Wrap
59
  • Forbes Names Hollywood's Most Overpaid Actors Source: Forbes
20
  • Chris Weitz Says He's (Almost) Done with Directing Source: Film School Rejects
24
  • Spider-Man 4 Casting Rumors Multiply Like Rabbits Source: Deadline Hollywood Daily
51
  • McTeigue Says Superman Is "In a Weird Place" Source: MTV
204
  • Rachel McAdams Debunks Spider-Man 4 Rumor Source: Entertainment Weekly
117
  • Avatar: Gambling on Film's Future Source: Los Angeles Times
128
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Critics Consensus: New Moon Wanes
99
  • Tomatometer Watch: Will Twilight's New Moon Dazzle?
96
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: 2012 Destroys the Competition
85
  • Total Recall: Star-Crossed Lovers
56
  • Five Favorite Films with Werner Herzog
49
  • Friday Harvest: New Moon, Avatar, and more!
23
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
19
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
8
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
7
  • Win Classic Action Packs on Blu-ray
4
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
7
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
19
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
6
  • RT on DVD: Wassup, Bruno
3
  • Scott Hicks Talks The Boys Are Back
0
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Richard Kelly chats about The Box
2
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
16
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
8
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • RocknRolla at Rotten Tomatoes
  • RocknRolla at IGN

Fresh Links

Featured
Why Don't Australians Make Sci-fi?
Why Don't Australians Make Sci-fi? External Link

The New Matilda's Lynden Barber looks at the recent success of low-budget sci-fi -- and asks the question.

New Moon Portraits
New Moon Portraits External Link

TIME offers us a closer look at the characters from the latest Twilight film.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter
Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter External Link

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.

Competitions
Win Star Wars prizes
Win Star Wars prizes External Link

Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser

Win the entire 007 collection
Win the entire 007 collection External Link

Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.

Win Fight Club Special Editions and more
Win Fight Club Special Editions and more External Link

We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.