Hello everyone, and welcome back to director/actor collaboration week. The idea is simple, I’m looking at my top five favorite director/actor duos. I’m not counting down, or deciding on any particular order, because frankly, I don’t think there’s a reasonable way to measure. The only criteria is that the combo must have made at least three films together, and not in a series. So let’s dive into the final pair: Guy Ritchie and Jason Statham.
Jason Statham is well known for his roles as a driver, (The Italian Job, The Transporter 1, 2, and 3, Death Race,) but before all that, he made a name for himself with the help of one Guy Ritchie. On the flip side of that coin, Guy Ritchie would never have made it had he not discovered the talent of Jason Statham.
I know what you’re thinking. “Harry, did you just say that Jason Statham was talented? I thought you wrote a whole post about why he was just an action star, and nothing more. What’s the deal?” Well, you are both right and wrong. Yes, Jason Statham is now almost exclusively an action star. But before his driving, stunts, and explosions, Statham portrayed low-life swindlers on the streets of London.
The first two collaborations between Ritchie and Statham (Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking barrels; Snatch) are remarkably similar, and also fantastic. The third, (Revolver,) kind of sucks. My explanation is that Revolver was made after Statham had become a superstar action hero, and he had lost some of his touch as a savvy crook.
But let’s get back to the first two. Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels is quite simply the best crime movie ever to be set in London. It’s frenetic, funny, unbelievably well shot, and the acting is great. Even if you don’t see the movie, I highly recommend you watch the opening monologue, deliver by none other than Jason Statham. This was the first appearance for both men, and while it was very raw, the quality was undeniable.
Snatch was the further evolution of the same formula, with bigger name actors, but the same basic idea. With Statham as the lead, the movie rocketed from scene to scene, grabbing viewers attention and not letting go.
Since that time, sadly both men have dropped in quality, but those first two showings more than make up for the third, poorer edition of their beautiful cinematic experience.
And that does it for combo week. Feel free to sound off, and tell me your favorite combos. Thanks for reading.
Until next time,
Harry
Jason Statham is well known for his roles as a driver, (The Italian Job, The Transporter 1, 2, and 3, Death Race,) but before all that, he made a name for himself with the help of one Guy Ritchie. On the flip side of that coin, Guy Ritchie would never have made it had he not discovered the talent of Jason Statham.
I know what you’re thinking. “Harry, did you just say that Jason Statham was talented? I thought you wrote a whole post about why he was just an action star, and nothing more. What’s the deal?” Well, you are both right and wrong. Yes, Jason Statham is now almost exclusively an action star. But before his driving, stunts, and explosions, Statham portrayed low-life swindlers on the streets of London.
The first two collaborations between Ritchie and Statham (Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking barrels; Snatch) are remarkably similar, and also fantastic. The third, (Revolver,) kind of sucks. My explanation is that Revolver was made after Statham had become a superstar action hero, and he had lost some of his touch as a savvy crook.
But let’s get back to the first two. Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels is quite simply the best crime movie ever to be set in London. It’s frenetic, funny, unbelievably well shot, and the acting is great. Even if you don’t see the movie, I highly recommend you watch the opening monologue, deliver by none other than Jason Statham. This was the first appearance for both men, and while it was very raw, the quality was undeniable.
Snatch was the further evolution of the same formula, with bigger name actors, but the same basic idea. With Statham as the lead, the movie rocketed from scene to scene, grabbing viewers attention and not letting go.
Since that time, sadly both men have dropped in quality, but those first two showings more than make up for the third, poorer edition of their beautiful cinematic experience.
And that does it for combo week. Feel free to sound off, and tell me your favorite combos. Thanks for reading.
Until next time,
Harry
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