REVOLVER

BY CHRISTOPHER HASKELL
DECEMBER 17, 2011

Love him or hate him, Guy Ritchie has created a genre in film that is all his own. With a mobster mentality mixed with stunning visuals and a clear, discernible voice, Ritchie has a lock on what sets him apart. The problem that comes from anyone who steps outside the box and creates a world risks alienating anyone accustomed to specific styles or dynamics. Although Ritchie fails to revolutionize his niche, “Revolver,” Ritchie’s fourth feature film, is still a slice of the same pie that made him the distinctive director he is.

Jason Statham, the man Guy Ritchie brought to the big screen, plays the lead role of Jake Green, who releases from jail after seven years. Green plans to get revenge on the man that wrongfully put him in prison, Macha (Ray Liotta), a powerful casino tycoon but instead becomes mixed up in a money and drug war with two mysterious men, Zach (Vincent Pastore) and Avi (Andre Benjamin).

Ray Liotta is the perfect villain in “Revolver” as Macha, bringing even more humor to his ridiculous scenes, whether nakedly shouting orders while in his giant tanning room or aiming a gun at Jake (Statham) in nothing but a speedo. Few men could pull off this role as well as Liotta. Andre Benjamin (of Outkast fame) also has a unique way of adding a certain flair to the films that he is in (“Four Brothers,” “Idlewild”), and “Revolver” is no different. With wise dialogue and complex chess matches with Jake, the character of Avi becomes a favorite of mine, all due to Benjamin.

“Revolver” got a considerable amount of heat upon its original release. Among these complaints was the overuse of the voice-over narrative and inner monologue throughout the film. The narrator’s repetitive nature grows tiresome at times, but the film would not have the same effect without it.

Too many critics also strongly oppose using the Kabbalah teachings as a backdrop for the film. How Ritchie got the inspiration for the film is irrelevant. If someone did not enjoy the movie, they should chalk it up to any number of productional oversights or misdirection, not the film’s origin. If anything, I liked “Revolver” more because of the ideology weaved in, including dialogue references and production design.

There are few films out in the world resembling ” Revolver “; the same goes for any of Guy Ritchie’s films. His style garners plenty of flack for pushing the boundaries of a typical Hollywood mobster movie. Still, certain liberties are allowed to those who write and direct all of their films, and Guy Ritchie has found success in his formulas, following in the footsteps of directors like Quentin Tarantino. “Revolver” was a success. Just not a very popular one.

Note: Mark Strong’s performance in “Revolver” is one of his all-time best and one of the film’s highlights.