Product Description

Director Guy Ritchie (Snatch, Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels) brings you this no holds barred urban, crime-thriller featuring an all-star cast of gangster movie icons including Jason Statham (London, Collateral), Ray Liotta (Goodfellas, John Q), Vincent Pastore (Made, TV's The Sopranos) and Outkast's André Benjamin (Idlewild, Four Brothers). Jake Green is a hotshot gambler, long on audacity and short on common sense. He's rarely allowed to play in any casino because he is a winner and has taken in so much money over the years. He is the only client of his accountant and older brother Billy. One night, Jake, Billy and their other brother Joe are invited to sit in on a private game, where Jake is expected to lose to Dorothy Macha, a crime boss and local casino owner who can't play for squat, but always wins because people are too scared to beat him. Jake isn't afraid of Macha, and not only beats Dorothy in a quick game of chance, but takes every possible opportunity to insult the man. Jake and his brothers leave the game, and Macha puts out the order for a hit on Jake, who ends up working for and being protected by a pair of brothers, Avi and Zack, who are out to take Macha down.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5506 in DVD
• Brand: DANIEL,THOMAS
• Released on: 2008-03-18
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish, French
• Dubbed in: French
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 115 minutes

Amazon.com
This curious fourth film from Guy Ritchie returns the writer-director to familiar gangster territory following his disastrous remake of Swept Away, which starred Ritchie’s wife, Madonna. Jason Statham, a Ritchie regular, stars as an ex-convict named Jake Green, whose strategy for bankrupting a casino owner/crime boss named Macha (Ray Liotta)--whom Jake holds responsible for his incarceration--results in Macha ordering him killed. Enter a pair of other criminals (Vincent Pastore, Andre Benjamin) with a plan of their own, preventing the hit on Jake but telling him he has a fast-acting disease that will soon take its toll. From there, an increasingly convoluted gangster tale becomes a fascinating if often silly movie about Jake’s descent into possible madness while he simultaneously ponders the art of defeating one’s enemies and communing with God. Ritchie is indeed in a serious vein, but he doesn’t hold back on his unique sense of stylish fun, outfitting each character with memorable dialogue and behavioral traits. Standing out in a crowded pack of colorful underworld types is Liotta’s villain, who sympathetically conveys an all-too-human level of despair while wearing eyeliner and bikini underwear. The film becomes wearing after a while: Ritchie might be less interested in the crime genre than he once was. But there are plenty of fresh ideas here, even if they don’t always fit perfectly together the way Ritchie’s catchy debut, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, did. --Tom Keogh

Stills from Revolver (click for larger image)

Amazon.com Exclusive Interview with Jason Statham

We had the pleasure of talking with Jason Statham (The Transporter, Snatch, The Italian Job) about Revolver, his new film with director Guy Ritchie. Here’s a taste of what he had to say, and you can hear more in the February edition of the Amazon Wire Podcast.

Customer Reviews

A future Cult Classic. Masterpiece. Who is Sam Gold?
This movie is a completely different beast than 'Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels', and 'Snatch'. I enjoyed both of those movies immensely. But Revolver is quite unique to any movie I have seen.

I actually saw this movie a few years ago. It was released in the UK and Europe in 2005 in theatres and DVD. I purchased a copy online. I wondered at the time why it hadn't been released in the U.S.

Firstly, I cannot say much about the story, because I don't want to give anything away. It's that type of movie. Reminded me of the first time I saw 'Fight Club'. I said, "what the f---?" But I knew I'd just witnessed something pretty awesome. Definitely a movie you have to see twice.

I would really emphasize that to anyone interested in this film. It REQUIRES multiple viewings. I figured the movie out midway through the second watch. But it took several viewings to fully understand. Also, seeing other reviewers on different sites when the movie originally came out, it was definitely those who watched it several times to understand it that fell in love with 'Revolver'.

A warning here for some of you: lots of violence and blood and profanity. If that's alright with you, the movie is a thrill to watch. It tries some different things that really worked for me. Excellent sound editing, with the gritty voice over by Jason Statham. The editing is frantic. I have to say, the Elevator Scene, you'll know what I am referring to after viewing, is one of the most intense movie scenes I've ever seen.

That scene, and the finale. The final scene. In a word, INTENSE. This movie really goes out with a bang. One of my favorite all-time endings. Ray Liotta, fantastic. Great to see him with a top notch performance. Statham carries the movie. Also, Sorter, the hitman, really has a classic performance.

'Revolver' is filled with memorable scenes. They went out on a limb trying new things and it really paid off. Notably, the animated sequence is pretty cool. Dialogue: Unbelievable. Some of the things Jake (Statham) says in the voiceover, it's just really great stuff. And I loved the way they worked the quotes into the movie.

I understand that it could be a frustrating and very confusing movie to many. Again, I would highly recommend multiple viewings. But this is no doubt a movie not to be liked by all. But some of you will love it as I did.

'Revolver' really demands your attention. It has a deep and cool message behind all of it. This movie is sure to be a cult classic. Give it 5-10 years and some people will see it for what it is. A masterpiece.

The final question you'll be asking... Who is Sam Gold?

UPDATE March 21st, 2008: This review is actually for the UK version. I rented the US version tonight, because it is a great movie and I haven't seen it in a while. Turns out, the movie has been changed quite drastically the US release.

The original ending, which is one of my all-time favorite endings (as noted in the review) is gone! The elevator scene, which happens near the 3/4's mark in the original version, is part of the ending here. A few other parts were completely cut out.

I feel like they botched it. Reminds me of 'Once Upon a Time in America', where they released the ridiculously edited and cut version and it bombed. But the full length version of that film is a masterpiece.

My STRONG ADVICE: Forget about this one. Get an all-region dvd player and buy the Region 2 version on eBay for $20.

3.5--It's not Ritchie's best, but it's not a total mess either.
Guy Ritchie says he got into the film business because he always wanted to direct entertaining movies. And his latest crime thriller "Revolver" is exactly that. It's heavily flawed and utterly ridiculous, but at least it's entertaining. The story, confusing as it is, focuses on Jake Green (Jason Statham), a quick-witted gambler who puts his life on the line when he insults Dorothy Macha (Ray Liotta), a powerful casino owner. After Macha orders his ruthless killers to take him out, Jake seeks shelter with two con men offering to protect him in return for his fortune.

"Revolver" is as chaotic as a massive shoot-out in which it's nearly impossible to figure out who's shooting whom. Ritchie's script is a total, pseudo-philosophical mess, digging deep into the intricacies of the human ego. Ritchie also plays around with certain rules and formulas to pull off the ultimate con, but the whole game concept is ludicrously over the top. Meanwhile, the characters spend most of the time tossing around wise rules instead of delivering a coherent exchange of dialogue. "You can only get smarter by playing a smarter opponent" or "The greatest enemy will hide in the last place you would ever look" are just two of a horde of examples. The film also ends with a major twist, but if you haven't lost track of things or even care enough to stay focused until the end, chances are you won't be surprised.

I initially expected more from the actors, but they're certainly not in their best shape. Jason Statham is always good at playing tough guys looking for trouble, and he's undoubtedly the only cast member to put on a good show as Jake Green. Ray Liotta struggles in the role of malicious casino tyrant, but the only intimidating thing is his underwear. He really could've worn more clothes. As for Andre Benjamin and Vincent Pastore, their shallow performances almost go unnoticed.

On a more positive note however, "Revolver" is incredibly fast-paced and action-loaded. No matter how confusing or ludicrous the plot really is, the movie is stuffed with hot pursuits and crazy shoot-outs, captured stylishly by cinematographer Tim Maurice-Jones. In the end, despite the crippled script, Ritchie's direction and vision give way for some extravagant but compelling sequences that will keep the entertainment boat afloat for 105 minutes. I recommend this flick to Ritchie fans who are glad he dumped "Swept Away" and returned to the action genre.

Edited to minor disappointment
I had originally seen Revolver on it's opening night in local cinema in England. That movie I saw there was a five star movie. When it was released in the UK as a DVD, I pick up a copy at a nearby HMV. It was the same awesome movie I saw in the theatre. Now, I'm back in the USA and I hear a region 1 version is finally available. I purchased it out of convenience. I thought a couple scenes seemed short, but when the movie ended where it did, I started checking the deleted scenes. No Joy! Watching this version, you are left with a much different message and no sense of closure.

I don't think this edit terribly ruined the movie, but I seriously question the motive behind it. I would be shocked if it was Mr. Richie's decision.

Now, for those fans of "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch," you may not like this movie. It depends on what your tastes are. Fans of David Lynch's "Lost Highway" or "Inland Empire" might warm to this film a little better. I would say the movie falls somewhere between the two camps.

Guy Richie spells out quite a bit for you, but he leaves a lot open to interpetation and analysis. I applaud the fact the director doesn't spoon feed it to you.

On a purely visceral level, he wows the audience with an arsenal visual effects. Fortunately, this not distract from the story.

However, I cannot emphasize how much better the original UK version is. I hope that somewhere down the road a more complete package of the movie is released.

Cheers!