Released: 7th March 2024
Number of Episodes: 8
Where to Watch: Netflix
Ceritificate: 15
Created by: Guy Ritchie
Starring: Theo James, Kaya Scodelario, Daniel Ings, Joely Richardson, Vinnie Jones, Giancarlo Esposito and Ray Winstone
Four years ago, Guy Ritchie returned to what he does best with The Gentlemen, another highly entertaining dose of criminal misadventures on the big screen. The film seemed like a great candidate for a small-screen series, resulting in an eight-episode outing on Netflix. It’s an admirable effort, but fans of Ritchie’s work and the wider crime genre will be left wanting.
Moving away from American moguls to ultra-rich dukes and dames, The Gentlemen tells the story of the Horniman family. Edward (Theo James), the youngest son, inherits a vast 15,000 acre estate from his father, only to learn that his older brother Frederick (Daniel Ings) has got himself caught up in some bad debts. We quickly learn that the Halstead Estate is connected to an underground weed-growing empire with plenty of ruthless connections to boot. To pay off the family debt without sacrificing the estate, Edward mucks in with the Glass crime syndicate, represented by his main business partner Susie Glass (Kaya Scodelario). As the family ventures deeper into this illicit jungle and schemes go sideways, the Horniman’s find themselves struggling to contain encroaching threats from other gangs and criminals. If you have followed the director’s filmography, The Gentlemen will deliver exactly what you expect; shrewd business talks, a dose of light comedy and a slice of bloody violence that stays within the 15 rating. Admittedly, things aren’t quite as witty or memorable as they were before, but the series still offers plenty of oddball scenarios. Freddy’s ego is damaged when he has to dance in a chicken outfit, a van full of illegal product is lost when the driver starts swooning over a local waitress and a boxing match goes wrong when a giant opponent refuses to throw the bout. Pretty much every one of Ritchie’s films makes a cameo here, though you should dial back your expectations when it comes to pacing and overall quality.
The cast is large with a variety of names and faces; admittedly the list of characters is stretched thin but none of the performances are at fault. Theo James is quite subdued which fits well with Edward’s posh roots, but it comes at the cost of dramatic tension. There are only a few moments in the latter half of the series where you see his frustration levels building. Susie is also standard-fare for the most part; Kaya’s performance is assertive and straight-talking, but she doesn’t really distinguish herself from Michelle Dockery in the original film. Giancarlo Esposito makes his mark as always with the endlessly eloquent Stanley Johnston, even if he is somewhat underused. Other characters like a scouse priest (Pearce Quigley) and another aristocrat with a creepy collection (Freddie Fox) are able to elevate their respective episodes. Last but not least we have two veterans of the genre; Ray Winstone and Vinnie Jones who both play surprisingly understated roles. One is a crime boss kicking back in an open prison and the other is the groundskeeper of the Halstead Estate; they don’t form a huge part of the story, but their witty presence is still felt.
Guy Ritchie is well known for his kinetic aesthetics and camerawork; returning to the small screen after more than two decades, the look and feel of The Gentlemen TV show is modest and restrained. The environments and sets are very well built with much of the film split between London and the country estates. Between racing stolen Lamborghinis and watching some clay pidgeon shooting, the series does a solid job of pulling us into this society of elaborate mansions mixed with the criminal underworld. However, it could have done this with more cinematic flair. On occasion, we’ll see an inventive shot like mounting the camera onto an automatic rifle or car door, but it lacks the dynamic energy of Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. The series could have crafted its own identity if leveraged the director’s talents. As it stands, every episode is shot and edited to a good standard. The soundtrack stays true to the original in the best way, bringing in more licensed songs that match each major set piece.
The Gentlemen is a perfectly competent series that stays true to the original film, transplanting the underhanded dealings into the British aristocracy. With that said, none of its elements come close to matching the director’s previous efforts. As a result, we’re left with a middling production that plays things relatively safe.
Rating: 3/5 Stars (Fair)
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