Snatch (stylized as snatch.) is a 2000 crime comedy film written and directed by Guy Ritchie, featuring an ensemble cast. Set in the London criminal underworld, the film contains two intertwined plots: one dealing with the search for a stolen diamond, the other with a small-time boxing promoter (Jason Statham) who finds himself under the thumb of a ruthless gangster (Alan Ford) who is ready and willing to have his subordinates carry out severe and sadistic acts of violence.
The film features an assortment of characters, including Irish Traveller “One Punch” Mickey O’Neil (Brad Pitt), referred to as a “Pikey”, arms-dealer Boris “the Blade” Yurinov (Rade Šerbedžija), professional thief and gambling addict Franky “Four-Fingers” (Benicio del Toro),
American gangster- jeweller Abraham Denovitz known as “Cousin Avi” (Dennis Farina), small-time crooks Sol (Lennie James) and Vinny (Robbie Gee), getaway driver Tyrone (Ade), and bounty hunter Bullet-Tooth Tony (Vinnie Jones). It is also distinguished by a kinetic direction and editing style, an intricate double plot featuring numerous ironic twists of chance and causality, and a fast pace.
The film shares themes, ideas, and motifs with Ritchie’s first film, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. It is also filmed in the same visual style and features many of the same actors, including Vinnie Jones, Jason Statham, Jason Flemyng, and Alan Ford.
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Plot.
After stealing an 86-carat (17.2 g) diamond while dressed as an ultra-Orthodox Jew during a heist in Antwerp, Franky “Four-Fingers” goes to London to see diamond dealer Doug “The Head” on behalf of New York jeweler and Jewish-American organized crime figure “Cousin Avi”. One of the other robbers advises Franky to obtain a gun from his brother, arms dealer and ex-KGB agent Boris “The Blade”, then later calls Boris and encourages him to steal the diamond from Franky before he can turn it over to Doug. Meanwhile, Cockney boxing promoter and slot machine shop owner Turkish is persuaded by crime boss “Brick Top” to put his boxer “Gorgeous George” in a match against one of Brick Top’s boxers. However, when Turkish sends his partner Tommy and Gorgeous George to purchase a caravan from a clan of Irish Travellers, George gets challenged to a fistfight against Traveller bare-knuckle boxing champion Mickey O’Neil, who beats up and severely injures George. Turkish persuades Mickey to replace George in his upcoming match by agreeing to purchase a new caravan for Mickey’s mother. Brick Top grudgingly agrees, but only on the condition that Mickey will throw the fight in the fourth round.
Boris gives Franky a revolver in exchange for a favour: Franky is to place a bet on Boris’ behalf at Brick Top’s bookies. Avi, knowing Franky has gambling addiction, flies to London with his bodyguard “Rosebud” to pick up the diamond personally. Boris hires Vinny and Sol, two pawnbrokers and small-time crooks, to rob Franky while he is at the bookies. The robbery goes awry when they crash their car into Franky’s van while trying to park,
trapping Franky inside. Sol, Vinny, and their getaway driver Tyrone are caught on camera and find no money at the bookies due to the bets being cancelled since Gorgeous George had to drop out, but manage to kidnap Franky in their escape. At their pawn shop, Sol and Vinny hold Franky captive with a sack over his head. Upon Boris’ arrival, Sol and Vinny demand he gives them half of the cash when he sells the diamond, during which Vinny utters Boris’ name. Realizing that his identity and betrayal has been exposed to Franky, Boris kills Franky by shooting him in the head, and leaves with the diamond.