Snatch is often compared to Pulp Fiction as some sort of British equivalent, which is fine, given that Guy Richie obviously set out to achieve exactly that. Essentially, though, Snatch is a sort of recycled Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, with such an overabundance of plots and characters that it gives over the impression that Richard Curtis restrained himself when he sat down to write Love Actually. 92nd place on the Top 250? Really? There's an annoying sense of self-awareness that carries through the entire picture - one that is inherent to much of Guy Richie's work. But here it comes across as just trying too hard, and though there are large segments of the film that work, most of the good stuff comes courtesy of Brad Pitt. It's strange that a film so messy has earned such high honours, outranking the likes of, say, Woody Allen's Manhattan, for a place in the esteemed 250.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
