Some things in life are guranteed. The price of beer goes up, stock markets rise and fall, the summer ends before it begins and Guy Ritchie produces another Cockernee gangsta (sic)movie.

Whatsmore, despite their vagaries these dead certs in life usually offer up some kind of redeeming feature that ensures the public at large accept them good or bad.

And so it proves with Rock n Rolla. The film itself is typical Guy Ritchie fair, double crossing small times Gangsters, ripping each other off, in a complex and occassioanlly humorous plot. This time he chooses to back drop against a “dead” Rockstar, the stepson of one of the aforementioned Gangsters. By incorporating the Rock n Roll theme into the usual demons of drugs, guns and violence a fine soundtrack has been born.

‘I’m a Man’ (Black Strobe), ‘Bank Robber’ (The Clash) and ‘Rock & Roll Queen’ (a suprisingly good Subways tracK) are the standouts. To really appreciate the art of the soundtrack it is always better to match the pictures with the music, but the dialogue here is enough of insight to piece together the individual songs.

Of course as with any music compilation there will be individual dislikes, and ‘The Stomp’ (The Hives) is certainly not their best work. Overall the good ones outweigh the duffers on this collection. As sure as the refreshment of the first over-priced pint of the night, Ritchie has once again shown a deft touch in his film production and this is matched with a solid set of songs.
67%