She Likes to Watch

Remember when Guy Ritchie was known for something other than being Madonna’s husband?

Back in 1998, he was Hollywood’s hottest new find, the director of the funny, fast-paced crime blitz known as “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.”

The movie, about four working-class stiffs who find themselves mixed up in high-stakes poker, pot and the search for two antique guns, made stars out of former Olympic diver Jason Statham and footballer-turned-actor Vinnie Jones.

It also set a new standard for British action flicks — and some unforgettable lines and one of the best movie soundtracks in years.

“Snatch,” released in 2000, ups the ante with more stars, more violence and and an even more confusing plot.

This time, a tangle of boxing promoters, bookmakers, amateur thieves, gangsters and jewelers are all after the same sparkling 84-carat rock.

Ritchie’s music-video-on-acid visual style makes for a wild time.

There are big names, like Benicio Del Toro and Dennis Farina, as well as a few familiar faces from “Trainspotting” and “Lock, Stock.”

But the most unexpected standout is Brad Pitt.

Pitt, playing an Irish-Gypsy prizefighter, is hilarious here — a tough scrapper with a nearly unintelligible accent and a deep love for “dags” (dogs) and “me mam” (his mother).

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Watch “Snatch” tonight at The Palm Theatre, 817 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. Showtimes are 7 and 9:15 p.m.

Tickets are $7.50.

Next in the Palm Wednesday movie series is “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” on July 2.

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Photo courtesy of MovieWeb.com.