I’ve always appreciated Guy Ritchie’s distinctive style. While I recognize he sometimes relies too heavily on his own techniques—as he does here—he consistently brings something unique to his projects. He delivered a fairly successful live-action remake of Aladdin, adding his own touches (Jasmine's motivations are more compelling). I was pleasantly surprised by King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword, though the ending felt disappointing. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and the Sherlock Holmes films proved to be entertaining and fun. So, yes, I had a degree of excitement about watching The Gentlemen. With such a strong cast assembled, it’s hard not to be interested in an old-fashioned crime thriller. Right off the bat, I want to state that this is a film anyone can enjoy; however, for those familiar with how films are typically made, Ritchie employs a storytelling method that will likely fascinate many “filmmaking nerds.” Hugh Grant (as Fletcher) essentially serves as the narrator throughout the story, presenting what’s framed as Guy Ritchie's own account of his movie. This involves Fletcher frequently discussing filmmaking details like aspect ratios and film gauges while also guiding the audience along, announcing when the story is approaching its climax or when “the plot thickens.” It’s a clever and humorous way to deliver exposition without it feeling lazy or forced. Grant also prompts the questions that the intended viewers should be asking. This ensures even those who don't like to engage their minds at the cinema (and they do exist) can still follow the mystery as it unfolds. Naturally, the impressive cast contributes significantly to the film’s entertainment value. Matthew McConaughey is a truly masterful actor when it comes to delivering lengthy dialogue; everything he says is engaging through his delivery, expressions, and intensity. Charlie Hunnam (as Ray) likely gives his most amusing performance yet. Ray is sure to become a fan-favorite character, and his interactions with Fletcher—who he spends the majority of the film’s runtime with—are genuinely hilarious. Henry Golding (Dry Eye), Michelle Dockery (Rosalind Pearson), and Jeremy Strong (Matthew) all deliver strong performances, but Colin Farrell shines as Coach. His scenes are among the funniest I've seen this year. From his accent to the action he eventually finds himself in, he’s a character that will leave audiences wanting more. As for the story itself, it's undeniably one of the most intricate screenplays I've encountered recently. It shares some structural similarities with Knives Out. Both films are full of twists and turns that will have viewers puzzling over events for quite some time. Both present different parts of the story, focusing on a specific character at a particular moment using various techniques (flashbacks, flashforwards, exposition). However, The Gentlemen pushes this technique too far, especially in the first half. Something entertaining can quickly become irritating if the storytelling isn’t balanced properly; you can have too much of anything. This is my primary concern with the film. Guy Ritchie introduces a fresh approach to avoid excessive exposition, but it's still a considerable amount of information to convey, and it doesn't always flow smoothly. Some subplots felt overly detailed, detracting from more emotionally resonant storylines. Nevertheless, in the end, Ritchie skillfully weaves all the narratives together into a very well-written film. Bringing all these complex layers together for a cohesive finale is incredibly challenging, but Ritchie manages to do so exceptionally well. Overall, The Gentlemen represents another success for Guy Ritchie, and it might even be his best work yet. Featuring one of the most intricate screenplays in some time, the phenomenal cast elevates this crime-thriller into one of the best films of 2020 thus far. Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Hugh Grant, and Colin Farrell are particularly noteworthy, but every actor delivers excellent performances. The storytelling is extremely funny and captivating through Grant's narration, which is ironically both the film’s greatest strength and its biggest weakness. When overused, it can become tiresome and drawn-out, but for most of the runtime, this alternative to traditional exposition works wonderfully. Interesting characters, an intriguing mystery, and plenty of humor combine to make this a very entertaining movie. Technically, the editing maintains a good pace, but it’s Ritchie's layered narrative that truly stands out. Rating: B+

Source on TMDB