The Gentlemen Movie Cast & Crew
By Sajin Shrijith
Any fan of Guy Ritchie knows how much he loves his characters. He is one of the few filmmakers with a gift for making even his minor characters memorable, regardless of screen time. The Gentlemen, the latest Netflix series created by Ritchie, is a spin-off of his 2019 film of the same name, starring Mathew McConaughey.
Though The Gentlemen sees Ritchie involved in a directorial capacity in just the first two episodes, his signature can be seen on all eight episodes. The world of The Gentlemen, or the gangster drama genre for that matter, is one in which Ritchie has proved himself most comfortable. It doesn't necessarily have to follow the rules of the real world. This is why we hardly see any law enforcement officials in it. These gangsters are bound only by the laws they create.
Along with the 2019 film version of The Gentlemen, I regard Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch as my top favourites of his filmography. As someone who also found much to enjoy in his 2008 gangster movie RockNRolla, I must say that this series is one of his most entertaining creations.
With clever callbacks to the films of Stanley Kubrick, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola and even Ritchie's own films like Snatch and RocknRolla, the series shares its core idea with that of The Godfather. Like Michael Corleone, the main character Edward Horniman, played by Theo James, is an army guy born into an aristocratic family and suddenly forced not only to inherit his family fortune but also a highly profitable underground weed business. Now, Edward happens to be a guy who wants to remain as far away from criminal activities as possible. But he finds himself slowly being pulled into the gangster business when his spoilt younger brother Freddy's actions put Edward in a grave dilemma.
The man who didn't want to be a gangster now has to make all kinds of clever manoeuvres to right his brother's wrongs. This conflict of someone who didn't want to be a gangster, but now constantly is being told that he is good at it, makes this series so much fun. And when you bring in some of the biggest actors who have made a mark in crime cinema, such as Giancarlo Esposito, Ray Winstone or VinnieJones (a frequent Guy Ritchie collaborator), you get one immensely entertaining crime adventure.
While The Gentlemen doesn't quite match up to the 2019 film version or Lock Stock or Snatch, in terms of overall quality, there's no denying that it's a rewarding experience, especially if you savour every episode one at a time instead of bingeing all in one go. I say this because this is one of those shows that is more interested in individual character moments than fast-paced action.
Interestingly, there is a much welcome philosophical side to some characters' approach to life, particularly those played by Theo James and Vinnie Jones. You can't help but feel inspired by the calm manner in which they solve problems. Edward Horniman is Michael Corleone without the moral dilemma. In one scene, when he says something worth having in life is accompanied by an element of danger, I nodded in agreement. And Vinnie Jones, who played the menacing Bullet Tooth in Snatch, demonstrates his softer, more friendlier side in The Gentlemen.
The Gentlemen also feels like a James Bond adventure, minus the womanising. Theo James plays Edward Horniman with the swag of 007. It's not a performance-heavy role, and I'm not complaining. No matter what trying circumstance he gets thrown into, he always manages to regain his cool. And speaking of Bond films, there is actress Kaya Scodelario as the series' female lead, Susie Glass, essentially a femme fatale whose true intentions become clear only in the finale. She is a no-nonsense character who can be fun when she needs to be and lethal in situations that demand it. Suffice it to say, she is not a damsel in distress or a typical one-dimensional love interest.
Some might find the number of characters, unexpected plot twists, and complicated deals overwhelming. But, as I said earlier, it is suggested to watch one episode at a time. One of the screenplay's oft-repeated traits is the revelation of a drastic event after jumping forward in time. This not only keeps things interesting but also adds a slightly comical touch.
As in most of Ritchie's work, we see an abundance of clever wordplay in dialogue delivered most graciously, except for that rare occasion where you meet a few eccentric and shady characters who cannot maintain an air of elegance. For this reason, you could call The Gentlemen a crime caper with the sensibility of a Victorian period drama. I'm hoping there will be a second season.
