IR TV Review: THE GENTLEMEN [Netflix]
Finding balance in tone and delivering on it are two individual aspects that don't work together well often. With "The Gentlemen" spearheaded by Guy Ritchie, the filmmaker has found a way to translate his energy and humor to the small screen with gusto that, at times, improves on his cinematic formula by knowing how to play his characters cheeky but not so off track that you don't understand them. This returns to the field of say "Snatch" or "Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels" but understands the lift and lightness that is needed, even with characters that, at times, are clearly bonkers. It works because the two leads in Theo James (The Duke/Eddie) and Kaya Scolederio (Susie Glass) exactly know how to play it and how far. Where it ends up is almost irrelevant because the journey and perspective says it all. Add Eddie's brother (Daniel Engs) who is out of his mind in many different ways and you are off and running.
But beyond the cinematic superlatives and music, there is an underlying "Godfather" structure which becomes more and more apparent as the series moves on. It doesn't follow exactly that formula but the essence of it keeps one guessing. All the ancillary characters are beautifully defined. They know what they want but not how they are going to get it...amd it is precise which is beautiful. Ray Winstone and Giancarlo Esposito plays different sides of the same coin, almost like the Montaques and Capulets but with such a vision of self that you never quite doubt them for a minute even if they mask certain ideas behind other motivations.. But this is not Baz Luhrmann's red velvet. This is Guy Ritchie's blood stained sheets with candy. It shows that with money behind you but with a steady hand, great TV like this can be done without overt notes and committee (which is sometimes done at a studio level). Netflix tries different things. Many don't work but some do depending how sturdy the hand is at the wheel. Unlike some recent series, this doesn't deviate. The character are cool, sliced, reactionary, funny at times and brutal (all with the dry sense of humor running innately in the background).
While something like "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." (which Inside Reel did interviews for) didn't quite hit, by getting some lesser known but no less capable actors in the lead roles for the smaller screen, it allows one to ease in and believe. And yet you can still have Vinnie Jones (a Ritchie stalawart) as a contemplative and decisive groundskeeper...think almost as a hardened Hagrid for James' Potter. So there is balance Eddie is learning the ropes and Susie ushers him along...both for their mutual benefit. But "The Gentlemen" (in a very different way than its cinematic counterpart that preceded it) works on different thrusters with an insane chemistry and energy to it. It really doesn't have an overt connection really to its progenitor but it is not necessary to have any knowledge of that to enjoy this series. If you like Ritchie's films you will like this series but its energy is something different with a bit of spice, a bit of sugar and a bit of salt in a great mixture with just enough stakes, drama, tragedy and intent to make it sing. A
By Tim Wassberg
