“Stephen Graham is outstanding”: Snatch is the Adolescence star’s “faultless” performance to watch tonight

If Stephen Graham is on the cast list for a drama, you know it’s going to be worth a watch. While he received critical acclaim for his portrayal of a devastated father in the hit Adolescence, he can also play formidable criminals. From a Liverpudlian mob boss in Peaky Blinders to Al Capone in Boardwalk Empire, he makes a mean mobster. He’s equally outstanding as a hapless rogue in Snatch, and you can enjoy his faultless performance tonight.

The wacky caper, starring Brad Pitt and Jason Statham, first hit cinemas in 2000. The film follows two criminal storylines that end up overlapping: an illegal bare-knuckle fight and a diamond theft. Fresh-faced Stephen plays an East End boxing promoter, but he doesn’t exactly fit the status quo. Tommy is extremely nervous and hopelessly out of his depth, making him one of the film’s most memorable characters.

Here’s everything you need to know about Snatch, including the cast, plot and how to watch it tonight.

What is Snatch about?

Guy Ritchie’s cult classic Snatch takes us to the gritty streets of the East End underworld. Telling the story of a diamond deal that goes terribly wrong, the film is fast-paced and eccentric, and it’s easy to see why it’s still popular more than two decades after it was released.

Diamond thief Franky Four Fingers (Benicio del Toro) stops in London on his way to make a delivery to his boss Avi (Dennis Farina) in New York. But his love for gambling lands him in trouble with the boxing promoters Turkish (Jason Statham) and his partner Tommy (Stephen Graham), who are also in trouble because they’re in debt to the top gangster.

Meanwhile, Tommy and Gorgeous George (Adam Fogerty) are trying to buy a caravan from Mickey O’Neil (Brad Pitt) and his family. Things go awry when Mickey knocks George out, leaving Turkish without a fighter for his match with Brick Top (Alan Ford). Turkish then attempts to recruit Mickey to fight for him in a dangerous bare-knuckle scrap.

Stephen’s character Tommy is anxious and often out of his depth, and he exudes his nervous energy perfectly. He previously spoke to The Independent about taking on his first major role and his first interaction with Brad Pitt.

‘He went, “How’re you doing?” because he knew it was my first big film. He was like, “It’s good fun, isn’t it?” And I was like, “Yeah,”’ he told the publication. ‘And then he said one of the most beautiful things anyone’s ever said to me. He said, “You’ve got a lot of characters in you. I can see it.” We’ve kind of kept in touch ever since,’ he added.

Who’s in the cast of Snatch?

The cast of Snatch includes:

• Jason Statham (The Beekeeper) as Turkish
• Stephen Graham (The Virtues) as Tommy
• Dennis Farina (Unsolved Mysteries) as Abraham ‘Cousin Avi’ Denovitz
• Brad Pitt (Fight Club, F1) as Mickey O’Neil
• Alan Ford (Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels) as ‘Brick Top’ Pulford
• Benicio del Toro (One Battle After Another) as Franky Four Fingers
• Robbie Gee (The Real McCoy) as Vinny
• Lennie James (The End) as Sol

Is Snatch any good?

If you love fast-paced Guy Ritchie gangster thrillers such as MobLand (starring Helen Mirren, who's pictured above) – yes. Word of advice, don’t get caught up in the plot but enjoy the weird and wonderful ride through the bizarre underworld, eccentric characters and snappy dialogue. One reviewer wrote: ‘Snatch is a confusing, twisting, crazy movie,’ and we wholly agree. But it’s equally entertaining, thrilling and utterly unique, and it helped pave the way for Stephen’s illustrious career.

Is there a trailer for Snatch?

You can watch the trailer for Snatch below.

View full post on YouTube

How can I watch Snatch?

You can watch Snatch on NOW.

What other Stephen Graham dramas can I watch now?

If you’re after an extremely emotional watch, we’d point you towards The Virtues. The drama introduces us to Joseph (played by Stephen), who’s distraught after learning his ex and son are moving to the other side of the world. After two years of sobriety, he decides to turn to the bottle. The next day, he boards a boat from Liverpool to Ireland to confront his repressed childhood trauma. You can watch The Virtues now on Channel 4. Or for a series where Stephen is on the right side of the law, try White House Farm. The series, based on harrowing real-life events, follows DCI Thomas ‘Taff’ Jones (played by Stephen), who’s the lead detective investigating a mass family murder in an Essex farmhouse in 1985. You can watch White House Farm now on ITVX.