One of the most successful British gangster movies of the 20th Century, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, has been celebrated as "a welcome entry into the flailing neo-noir tradition" (Seattle Weekly's Sean Axmaker). Despite its humorous touch, it raises questions about whether it is a parody of both film-noir and the general crime genre, or if it fits into the gangster genre. To determine whether it is a parody or a distinct genre, we must first scrutinize whether it aptly belongs within the gangster genre itself.
When analyzing Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Warshaw's Film vs. Western table presents a conflict of interest as the film only includes certain aspects of the gangster genre. For instance, the claim that gangsters are "lonely and melancholy" does not apply to this movie. The film introduces four main gangs, each led
...by questionable leaders - Hatchet Harry, Tom, Rory, and Winston - who rely on one another to complete their dirty work, illustrating that there is no solitary labor. However, a hierarchy is present within each gang. Among them, Hatchet Harry's crew is shown to be at the top with copious amounts of money and a reputation as infamous criminals. Additionally, Rory is established as a sarcastic and formidable character that's feared for his calm but violent approach towards those who fail to meet his expectations.
The characters in Lock, Stock are constantly getting into trouble, with Winston's drug-selling friends and Tom's gang being particularly troublesome. London is the setting for this movie, which explores the themes of enterprise and success along with a dramatic ending filled with doubt. It's hard to distinguish the actual "gangsters
within the film since multiple characters and groups are featured, leaving viewers wondering who ultimately succeeds and who doesn't. Despite their initial failure, Tom's group survives their tumultuous journey relatively unscathed, which could be seen as a success rather than a failure. Their redemption leans towards a western genre, but the film's comedic tone overshadows any similarities to the classic genre.
Lock, Stock features boisterous, violent gangsters who are unrestrained in their animosity towards anything or anyone they encounter. The movie is reminiscent of other British gangster films like Get Carter and The Long Good Friday, where individuals are either seriously injured or killed. However, because of its comedic tendencies, it is difficult to link it with those films since neither is a satirical imitation of gangster films. Instead, they are typical gangster movies or, in the case of The Long Good Friday, innovative. Certain members of the gangs subvert this stereotype of the noisy, fighting gangster archetype. For instance, "Hatchet" Harry, the boss of the notorious poker-ring group, is a serene, ominous individual who has only shown any aggression when he murdered someone using a sex toy.
In Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, the reserved Winston serves as a sharp contrast to the violent cronies Barry the Baptist and Big Chris who work for Harry. The film features few female characters, including Gloria, a drug-addicted member of Winston's gang, and a female card dealer at Harry's game. Unlike the typical portrayal of low-class women involved sexually or provocatively with gangsters, these characters are minimally involved in the plot. The film subverts expectations of a classical gangster movie by sympathizing with the humorous characters of
Tom's gang, and killing off the "bad guys" primarily by accident.
This film serves as a redemption for the boys and their freedom, had they not crossed paths with the notorious Hatchet Harry, leader of London's criminal underworld. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels was intentionally written to be a parody of the gangster genre, including elements of film-noire. The humor is found in the clumsy actions of Harry's henchmen and their iconic cockney accents. The film industry provided a unique insight into the dark world of gangster culture by infusing a human element in Lock, Stock, making it easier to understand. This film is comfortably placed in the gangster genre, while also incorporating humor and creating avenues for criticism as a parody.
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