SNATCH
Year: 2000
USA: Screen Gems
UK: Columbia Pictures
Cast: Brad Pitt, Jason Statham, Vinnie Jones, Ewen Bremner, Benicio Del Toro, Dennis Farina, Jason Flemyng, Alan Ford, Stephen Graham, Mike Reid, Rade Serbedzija
Director: Guy Ritchie
Country: UK
UK: 102 mins
USA Rated: R for strong violence, language and some nudity
UK Certificate: 18 for strong violence and coarse language
USA Release Date: 19 January 2001
UK Release Date: 1 September 2000
Synopsis
A diamond heist gone helter-skelter, the rough and tumble world of bare knuckle boxing, an unpredictable Irish gypsy and...a dog. Guy Ritchie's highly anticipated comedy, SNATCH, features a colourful ensemble cast in a rollicking ride through London's gangster world, its bustling diamond district and a rowdy gypsy camp.
Diamond thief and courier Franky Four Fingers (Benicio Del Toro) arrives in London en route to New York to deliver a huge diamond (the McGuffin) to boss Avi (Dennis Farina). In his mission to offload smaller stones to Avi's cousin, Doug 'The Head' (Mike Reid) and other local jewellers, he is tempted into placing a bet on an illegal boxing bout by Boris 'The Blade' (Rade Sherbedgia). Little does he know that Boris has set him up - and local pawnshop owners Vinny (Robbie Gee) and Sol (Lennie James), along with their rather plump getaway driver, Tyrone (Ade) are to rob him at the bookies.
Meanwhile, novice unlicensed boxing promoters Turkish (Jason Statham) and his business partner Tommy (Stephen Graham) move into the 'big time' through a fight with local kingpin villain, boxing promoter and pig farm owner, Brick Top (Alan Ford). But when the novice's fighter is knocked out by Mickey O'Neil (Brad Pitt), a wildcard Irish gypsy boxer, the boys convince him to fight in their boxer's place in Brick Top's rigged match.
Unfortunately, Mickey proves to be highly unreliable and the duo find themselves in trouble as the fearless fighter refuses to "go down in the fourth" as planned. Luckily, the gypsy's prowess and technique impress Brick Top - saving all three from the fate of his pig farm. The catch is Mickey has to fight again - and has to get it right this time - since Brick Top more than happy to use brutality and bloodshed to make his point.
In New York, news that Franky has been waylaid by the bookies sends Avi into a tailspin and he hops on a plane to London. He hires local legend, 'Bullet Tooth' Tony (Vinnie Jones) to find Franky and the diamond. The sorry fate of the diamond courier is soon discovered and the hunt for the missing stone launches everyone into a madcap spiral which threatens to spin out of control....
Double-crossing, double bluffing and double-dealing abound as various parties pursue personal agendas - all of them illegal, some of them farcical and most of them destined to end in blood, pain and retribution. As plans go haywire and tempers fray, dogs, diamonds, mobile homes, boxers and assorted weaponry get swept up into a chaotic free-for all...
Screen Gems presents in association with SKA Films, SNATCH, written and directed by Guy Ritchie and produced by Matthew Vaughn. SNATCH stars Benicio Del Toro, Dennis Farina, Jason Flemyng, Vinnie Jones, Brad Pitt, Rade Sherbedgia and Jason Statham. Rounding out the cast are Ade, Alan Ford, Robbie Gee, Stephen Graham and Lennie James.