SCREEN IT! PARENTAL REVIEW: SNATCH

"SNATCH"
(2000) (Jason Statham, Brad Pitt) (R)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Moderate	Heavy	Extreme	Moderate	Extreme

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Moderate	Minor	None	None	Extreme

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Heavy	Mild	Mild	Mild	Extreme

QUICK TAKE:: Drama/Comedy: After an 84-carat diamond is stolen, all sorts of criminal types and shady characters get involved or are affected, in one way or another, in the various attempts to retrieve the stone.

PLOT:

Franky Four Fingers (BENICIO DEL TORO) is a diamond thief with a gambling problem who's just heisted an 84-carat stone in Antwerp for his boss, Avi (DENNIS FARINA), who's back in New York. Franky's supposed to deliver the diamond to Avi's jeweler cousin, Doug the Head (MIKE REID), in London, but Russian criminal Boris the Blade (RADE SHERBEDGIA) convinces him to place a bet on an illegal boxing match instead.

He does so because he's hired pawnshop owners Vinny (ROBBIE GEE) and Sol (LENNIE JAMES) and their overweight getaway driver, Tyrone (ADE), to rob Franky. Despite what seems like a foolproof plan, things go wrong, which can also be said about the endeavor begun by Turkish (JASON STATHAM) and his business partner Tommy (STEPHEN GRAHAM).

They've recently gotten into the unlicensed boxing business and have scheduled a fight with another boxing promoter, Brick Top (ALAN FORD), a notorious criminal kingpin who feeds his victims to the swine at his local pig farm. When a local gypsy, Mickey O'Neil (BRAD PITT), knocks out their contender, Gorgeous George (ADAM FOGERTY), in a street fight, the two suddenly find themselves in deep water since they no longer have a fighter to take a dive in the fourth round against Brick Top's competitor.

Things get worse when they convince Mickey to take Gorgeous George's place and he knocks out his opponent instead of taking that dive. Brick Top is furious, but agrees not to kill the two novice promoters if they can get Mickey to fight again, but get it right this time. Meanwhile, and having heard that Franky's missing, Avi boards a plane and heads for London, where he hires the seemingly unstoppable Bullet Tooth Tony (VINNIE JONES) to find Franky and retrieve the stone.

From that point on, the various paths of all those players crisscross as the preparation for the next boxing match and the hunt for the missing diamond set into motion a series of zany and chaotic events that end with plenty of violence.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Male teenagers seem the most likely audience, while fans of anyone who's in the cast may want to see it as well.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R: For strong violence, language and some nudity.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: Considering all of the criminal and other bad behavior and attitudes and strong profanity expressed/displayed by the major characters, it's highly unlikely that any parents would consider any of them to be good/positive role models for kids.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

The following is a quick overview of the content found in this R-rated drama/comedy. Violence is listed as extreme due to various murders, a briefly seen but graphic suicide and other shootings, dismemberment, and other violence that involves people being beaten, injured or threatened. Some scenes involve many instances of punishing boxing blows and all of those moments may give some kids the wrong impression about invulnerability.

In addition, those scenes and the results of others occasionally have some rather bloody results, while all of them may be unsettling or suspenseful to certain viewers (particularly most women as this is definitely a guy's flick). That said, much of what occurs is meant to be viewed in a zany/humorous fashion.

Nearly every major character in the film is a criminal and/or is involved in various instances of wrongdoing (thus there are no good role models). Profanity is listed as extreme due to more than 140 uses of the "f" word, while other expletives and a plethora of colorful phrases are also uttered. Some sexually related comments are made, while we see various instances of bare-breasted women in person and on playing cards and a calendar.

Various characters smoke and drink (with one being drunk from the wake for his recently killed mother). If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone in your home who may wish to see it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed content listings for more specific examples of what occurs in it.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: A man pours some liquor for himself.
Doug the Head has a drink.
We see a very quick image of Avi downing a shot of liquor.
A woman appears to have a drink.
Tony has a beer.
We hear that Mickey's people drink heavily at wakes and we then see various disorienting shots of him doing just that (until he's sloppy drunk). The next day, he has a hangover.
Turkish and Tommy have liquor in front of them.
We see a very quick image of Avi downing a shot of liquor.
Turkish, Mickey and Tommy all drink once from a flask.

BLOOD/GORE: We see Mickey stand up alongside a car beside which he was earlier squatted down and apparently using the bathroom (we see him pulling up his pants).
Gorgeous George has some blood from his nose and mouth after being knocked unconscious during a fight.
In a very brief shot, we see a man put a gun to his head and pull the trigger, sending blood splattering/spraying onto a shower wall.
We see a dead dog lying on the floor with some blood around it (from illegal dog fighting).
After being knifed, a man pulls up his hand and it's bloody.
A man pulls out a huge meat cleaver and whacks off a dead man's arm (we don't see the impact), although we later see the arm completely wrapped in newspaper (with one end of it being bloody).
We see some blood on Tyrone's face after he's been beaten/tortured by others.
Tony's a bit bloody after being shot several times (but isn't killed).
A man's face is rather bloody.
Tony has a few bloody scrapes and bandages on his face and hand.
Avi and Tony have some bloody scrapes/cuts on their face after being involved in a car accident.
Boris is very bloody after his body has taken a beating, and again after he's shot several times.
Mickey and his boxing opponent become progressively bloodier as their match continues.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: If not included below, most every major character is a criminal of sorts and/or is involved - throughout the film -- in various forms of criminal behavior and/or other wrongdoings including theft, physical violence, and murder.
Franky and his cohorts rob an establishment and beat some of the people inside.
Mickey and his friends sell Turkish and Tommy a defective trailer.
Gorgeous George gets in a cheap punch while Mickey's removing some clothing to box with him.
Boris (who's a ruthless criminal) hires Sol and Vinny (who are criminals) to rob Franky. We also learn that Tyrone is a criminal who's driving a stolen car.
Those sensitive to animal issues might not like scenes that feature the following: Humor stemming from a dog swallowing a ball and thus squeaking whenever it barks or is pressed; the sight of a dead and bloody dog on a floor (apparently from illegal dog fighting); the sight of two dogs chasing after a rabbit, intent on killing it (and nearly catching it several times) as watched over by men who see this as sport; and a scene where Avi (with a gun) and Tony (with a knife) approach a dog, ready to cut it open to retrieve a diamond they believe to be inside it (Avi then tries shooting at the dog as it escapes, but doesn't hit it).
The same holds true for the film's comical and stylistic portrayal of violence and criminal figures.
Some viewers may be offended when Brick Top - who has nothing but bad/disrespectful attitudes toward everyone -- makes a sexual reference involving a religious figure: "In the calm words of the Virgin Mary, 'Come again?'"

FRIGHTENING SCENES: Scenes listed under "Violence" and "Blood/Gore" may also be unsettling or suspenseful to some viewers, particularly the more macabre material (cutting off limbs, etc.).
The sight of two dogs chasing after a rabbit, intent on killing it (and nearly catching it several times), will probably be tense/unsettling to some viewers.
We see Brick Top's men who are equipped with butcher knives and saws, etc. as they prepare to cut up Tyrone, Vinny and Sol (but they don't).
Tony grabs a man by his tie and partially pulls him into his car, trapping the man's head with his power window that he's now closed on the man's neck. Tony then starts to drive faster and faster (with the man's head still in the window and his feet scampering along the street) until he lowers the window and the man falls to the street.

GUNS/WEAPONS: Handguns/Shotguns/Knives/Stun gun/Machine gun (or assault rifle): Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill various people (and commit suicide). See "Violence" for details.
Grenades: Seen in a floor safe.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Due to some of the thick accents, certain parts of the dialogue are difficult, if not impossible to understand (thus offering the possibility of more material being present than what's listed here): Phrases: "F*ck me," "What the f*ck are you two looking at/doing?" "Mary f*cking Poppins," "F*ck off," "F*cker," "For f*ck's sake," "What the f*ck did you expect?" "Plenty f*cking stupid," "You big-balled f*ck," "Who the f*ck wants to see him?" "We're f*cked," "Fat f*cker," "You silly f*ck," "F*ck you," "Sneaky f*cking bastard," "F*ck face," "Bastard," "Don't go screwing it up," "Piss off," "Shut up," "Schmuck," "Jaggers," "Bollocks," "Minerals," "Balls" and "Nuts" (all five for testicles), "Taking a piss," "Get your ass up," "Slut," "Faggot," "You lucky bastard" and "Jeez."
Some impressionable kids may want to imitate some of the characters and their "cool," criminal behavior and gun toting, etc.
Mickey has tattoos all over his body.
It's possible some kids could try to get their dog (or cat) to swallow a squeaky toy so that the animal will squeak when pressed or when it barks, etc. (although that swallowing is accidental in this film).
Mickey makes the gesture for male masturbation with his boxing gloved hand.

JUMP SCENES: A car suddenly strikes a person.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): None.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): None.

PROFANITY: Due to some of the thick accents, certain parts of the dialogue are difficult, if not impossible to understand (thus offering the possibility of more material being present than what's listed here): At least 144 "f" words (1 used with "mother"), 7 "s" words, 5 slang terms for/using female genitals ("p*ssy" and "c*nt"), 3 slang terms for/using male genitals ("d*ck" and "pr*ck"), 1 slang term for breasts ("t*t"), 6 asses (1 used with "hole"), 6 uses of bollocks, 1 hell, 3 uses of "Jesus" and 1 use each of "G-damn," "For God's sakes" and "God" as exclamations.

SEX/NUDITY: We see a partially out of focus calendar in the background of a shot that shows a bare-breasted woman.
We see various bare-breasted women in some sort of club.
Brick Top states, "In the calm words of the Virgin Mary, 'Come again?'"
While attempting to intimidate Sol and Vinny by making analogies to penis size and use, Tony tells them that when their "d*cks" smell "p*ssy," they want a piece of action. He then comments on both their genitals and testicles shrinking out of fear in the situation in which they now find themselves.
We briefly see some photos of bare-breasted women on some playing cards.
After one person calls Turkish "F*ck face," he tells that first man that he'll have to remember that phrase the next time he climbs off that man's mother.

SMOKING: Mickey smokes several times, while we see Franky several times with a cigar. Sol is also seen with a cigar, and some miscellaneous characters also smoke.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: A son grieves over his mother's murder and we briefly see a funeral scene and drunken wake that follow (but little of it's played realistically and/or with real emotion, etc.).

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: The way in which violence is portrayed here (in both a humorous and stylistic fashion).
The fact that various characters take a lot of bullets or other mayhem and survive (giving some kids the wrong impression about invulnerability).

VIOLENCE: Although much of what follows is graphic and intense, a great deal of it's meant to be viewed in a black comedy fashion (to elicit equal amounts of shock and laughter).
Franky and his cohorts aim their guns at others during a heist. They then knock various people down and/or strike them with their guns. One also kicks a person on the floor and Franky repeatedly hits a person in the face with his gun.
We see a brief image of a man raising what looks like a mallet to strike someone, and then see an even briefer image of a man who looks like some of his teeth have been hit/chipped from that action (but it's done in such a quick and stylish way that it's hard to tell what's happening).
A person uses a stun gun on another person, while a third suddenly places a bag over the head of a fourth person to suffocate him (we only see the first moments of this and not to completion).
Mickey slaps some kid on the head to make him get away from a car window.
Mickey and Gorgeous George prepare to fight in an unofficial, bare knuckles fight. George delivers several bone crunching punches before Mickey is ready. He then picks up Mickey, throws him into a fence and then kicks him on the ground. He then smashes Mickey into another fence. Mickey, however, keeps coming back and finally delivers one jarring punch that knocks out George (we later see George with his mouth wired shut from that).
Tyrone accidentally backs into a van, knocking out Franky who's inside it.
In a very brief shot, we see a man put a gun to his head and pull the trigger, sending blood splattering/spraying onto a shower wall.
We see a dead dog lying on the floor with some blood around it (from illegal dog fighting) and it's implied that Brick Top hits a live dog as we hear it yelp.
Vinny and Sol hold a gun on a woman who immediately activates a security system that traps the men in the lobby (with Sol being squashed up against the ceiling by a wall panel that suddenly shot up toward the ceiling). Vinny then blows a huge hole in a wall with his large shotgun and threatens the woman, telling her to let Sol loose. She does and one of the men then shoots a hole through the ceiling. The woman then grabs the shotgun and shoots at the men (but doesn't hit them). One of the men then shoots his gun at the bulletproof door, causing the bullets to ricochet (but no one is harmed).
Tyrone knocks out Franky.
Mickey's boxing opponent head-butts him before the match starts. Once it does, Mickey knocks the man out with one punch.
Brick Top grabs a man by the face and then pushes him back against the wall. He then threatens to cut off the man's testicles and then quickly knives him somewhere below the camera shot (the man reacts and pulls up his hand that has blood on it).
Boris shoots a hooded man in the head, killing him (we don't see the impact, but a few moments later we see a smoking hole in the hood).
A man pulls out a huge meat cleaver and whacks off a dead man's arm (we don't see the impact), although we later see the arm completely wrapped in newspaper (with one end of it being bloody).
We see some men struggling with Tyrone, eventually pushing him into a trunk. We then see some blood on Tyrone's face after he's been beaten/tortured by others.
We see a flashback to Tony being shot several times (but not killed - and the scene's humor comes from just that).
Although we don't see the impact, we see that Tony is repeatedly smashing a car door on a man's head and/or neck.
Tony grabs a man by his tie and partially pulls him into his car, trapping the man's head with his power window that he's now closed on the man's neck. Tony then starts to drive faster and faster (with the man's head still in the window and his feet scampering along the street) until he lowers the window and the man falls to the street.
Tony holds a gun to a man's head.
Brick Top's men smash Tommy and Turkish's slot machines. Turkish then comes in and hits two of them with a bat. The others then menacingly approach him and moments later we see them holding him down, apparently ready to cut off his arm(s). Tommy then shows up and aims his gun at them.
We see that Brick Top's men have burned a trailer with a woman inside, killing her (we don't see the body).
A man's face is rather bloody after earlier stating he would take care of Boris (suggesting the Russian put up a fight). A man then holds a knife to Boris' throat.
A person accidentally shoots a gun that blows out a car window. The distracted driver then suddenly runs over a hooded person standing in the middle of the street.
A car crashes and we then see that a man in the backseat has been impaled by the sword he was carrying (and is presumably dead).
We see the hooded person above once again being struck by that car.
Boris grabs Tommy by the crotch.
Sol and Vinny aim their handguns at Tony.
Avi opens a door and knocks down Sol and Vinny. Boris then walks into this hallway and aims his machine gun at all of them.
Tony shoots his gun through a wall, hitting two people on the other side. He then goes in and repeatedly shoots one man (the impact isn't seen), but can't seem to kill him (all played for black comedy laughs). He then tries to shoot the other man, but his gun is now empty.
Vinny's dog attacks several people and Avi tries to shoot it as it escapes, but ends up shooting and presumably killing his companion.
Someone pushes Mickey before another boxing match and he briefly goes after them.
A boxing match has all sorts of brutal punches and blows during it, resulting in both competitors being bloody. After the match is over, we see people fighting with others in the ring as a melee breaks out.
Several men open fire on other men with various weapons, riddling them and the vehicles they're in with bullets (but no blood/gore). We hear that twelve people were killed.
Two men shoot two other men dead in a pointblank ambush.

Reviewed January 16, 2001 / Posted January 19, 2001

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