Benjamin's Stash: Video Pick of the Week

      Hello, readers. Normally, as you've been seeing since Man of Steel, my "Benjamin's Stash" or even my "What the Hell Were They Thinking?!" pick coincides with one of the new films to be released later in the week. This week, with the passing of Dennis Farina last week, I'm gonna pay my respects to the late great character actor. I've already done one "Benjamin's Stash" pick of his with You Kill Me. Here is one more.

 

      Snatch focuses on three groups of characters intent on retrieving an elusive 86-carat diamond, which has been stolen from an Antwerp jeweler. The first group are friends and business partners Turkish (Jason Statham) and Tommy (Stephen Graham), who join up with Mickey (Brad Pitt), an Irish gypsy boxer. Turkish and Tommy make arrangements with Mickey to take a fall in a match setup by lunatic gang leader Brick Top (Alan Ford). In the second group resides equally loony Russian gangster Boris the Blade (Rade Sherbedgia), who has asked Jewish gangster Franky Four Fingers (Benicio del Toro) to place a bet on the match for him. Boris is also scheming to have Sol (Lennie James), the owner of a pawn shop, rob the place with a couple of not so bright partners. Meanwhile, "Cousin Avi" (Dennis Farina), who has just arrived in London from New York, hires Bullet Tooth Tony (Vinnie Jones) to find Franky when he goes missing.

      Like other Guy Ritchie films, the story is rather busy as it interweaves in and out of a variety of characters that intersect within each other's lives. While the story is certainly busy, it never gets out of hand or hard to follow. As in its predecessor, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, the success of this film hinges on the characters and dialogue - both of which Ritchie excels at. The cast - featuring everyone from Academy Award winner Benicio del Toro, Academy Award nominee Brad Pitt, Jason Statham and underrated characters such as Rade Sherbedgia and Dennis Farina - is first rate and everyone fits their respective roles just right. Pitt, who obviously has his heartthrob appeal for the ladies, plays against type here in a rather loony, indecipherable yet likeable role. Jason Statham's bread and butter has clearly been dumbed down action flicks, but it's film like these that really showcase his talent as an actor. Alan Ford is pitch perfect as the vicious mob leader, and Farina, Sherbedgia and Vinnie Jones provide some hilarious comical moments. There's a shootout scene between Sherbedgia and Jones in particular that's downright hysterical. Ritchie doesn't break any new ground here following Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. That being said, the dialogue is fresh and snappy, the comedy is dark and just right for the setting, and the performances are great. It's not quite as good as its predecessor, but this is still one hell of an entertaining time. 

      With the passing of Dennis Farina, the film world lost a great character actor and a great man in general. He served his country for three years in the Army and served his city in the Chicago Police Department for 18 years. He was never what you would call a "scene stealer", but he was never the type of guy that demanded it either. His performances - be it Manhunter, Midnight Run, Get Shorty, Out of Sight, Snatch, or You Kill Me - were always memorable though, and he will be missed. RIP, Dennis Farina.