Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

As I handed the clerk at the video store my selection, he said,” Snatch… That’s a good movie, but a little hard to follow.” I new immediately that I was going to like it. If you like Fight Club, Pulp Fiction and dark comedies, this movie should be on your “Must See” list. It has an excellent cast of interesting characters (to say the least), and the story is fast paced and entertaining.

The Story
Snatch is set in England, and the main protagonist is an underground boxing promoter named Turkish. There are actually dual plots at work, which indirectly influence each other in several occasions yet still remain completely isolated from each other. The bond that links the two is the interaction between characters from both story lines, and is one of the more brilliant, and hilarious parts of the film. One of the plots is that of Turkish’s predicament with wicked crime-boss/boxing promoter Flat Top, while the other revolves around an enormous stolen diamond and the struggle of many different parties to obtain possession of it.

The Characters
In the Boxing plot, we meet Tommy, Turkish’s partner and best friend, whose actions, however well intentioned, cause many of their distresses. It is through this that we meet Mickey (Brad Pitt), a hilarious gypsy boxer (or Pikey as the English call them) with such a strong accent that he speaks maybe 5 intelligible words through the whole thing. Flat Top is a horrible (and quite ugly) man, a cold-blooded killer whom every one knows and fears.

In the Diamond plot, Benicio Del Toro makes a smooth, albeit brief appearance as Frankie Four-Fingers, the thief who originally snatched the diamond (sorry for the pun). His boss Avi (Dennis Farina) is an American mobster, who comes to England and eventually meets up with Tony the Bullet Tooth (Vinnie Jones, Gone in 60 Seconds), who then together hunt down Boris the Bullet Dodger, a Russian arms dealer who is also after the diamond.

There are so many characters, and all of them have a story and a unique personality. I think that is one of the charming things about this film. Mickey (Pitt) is hilarious and a big reason to watch the movie. The foreboding Tony (Jones) is another bright spot with his cool demeanor and clever exchanges. The dialog is always snappy and sharp-witted, and the English accents seem to add a coolness factor to all the characters.

Downsides
This movie is just one out of many that seem to place little value on human life. It may be that some people are really like this, and this movie just might not work without it, but still, it has to be a little disturbing. I almost find myself ashamed to life this movie so much. Any way, I’ll get out from behind the pulpit, now.

Conclusion
Snatch is a roller coaster. It is a lot like Pulp Fiction in some ways, only a lot funnier. The main similarity, however, is in the way that Cause-and-Effect are used. Every action in this film has a reaction, and this is basically what keeps the story upbeat and interesting. The characters are interesting in their own right, and through the cause-and-effect method, they are all linked to each other in some way. I guess this is what you would call a tightly knit storyline, and I like it. It makes you have to pay attention to every thing that goes on. Nothing happens in this movie that does not come into play at some point in the story. Overall, I would say this is one of the funniest, cleverest movies I have seen in a while.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age