A smooth London lowlife discovers it's not quite as easy getting out of trouble as it is getting in.
Layer Cake (2005)
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Reviews Counted:128
Fresh:103
Rotten:25
Average Rating:7.1/10
Consensus: A stylized, electric British crime thriller.
Rated: R [See Full Rating] for strong brutal violence, sexuality, nudity, pervasive language and drug use.
Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Theatrical Release:May 13, 2005 Limited
Box Office: $2,277,736
Synopsis: LAYER CAKE, a riveting thriller set in the drug underworld of the UK, marks the directorial debut of producer Mathew Vaughn (Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch) and stars Daniel Craig, Colm... LAYER CAKE, a riveting thriller set in the drug underworld of the UK, marks the directorial debut of producer Mathew Vaughn (Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch) and stars Daniel Craig, Colm Meaney, Kenneth Cranham, George Harris, Jamie Foreman, Sienna Miller and Michael Gambon. Sleek, well dressed and polite, our unnamed hero (Daniel Craig) is a consummate professional. Treating cocaine and ecstasy like any other commodity, he has made a fortune for himself by keeping his hands clean and staying under the radar. Having made the decision to retire, his aim is to break free from the world of crime, drugs and violence and live a simple, quiet life with the money he has amassed. But before this can happen, crime boss Jimmy Price (Kenneth Cranham) wants two last favors from him. First, he must track down the missing, drug addict daughter of powerful criminal Eddie Temple (Michael Gambon). Second, he must negotiate the sale of a huge shipment of ecstasy with The Duke (Jamie Foreman), a loose cannon petty crook playing well out of his league. What should be routine transaction is anything but and nothing goes according to plan. Instead, duplicity and hidden alliances become the order of the day, in a struggle for power that reaches from the crack dens of London to the highest ranks of British society. Quickly he learns he is part of a machine much greater than he imagined, and getting out won't be quite as easy as getting in. Sony Pictures Classics presents a Matthew Vaughn Production, LAYER CAKE, starring Daniel Craig, Colm Meaney, Kenneth Cranham, George Harris, Jamie Foreman, Sienna Miller and Michael Gambon. Written by author J.J. Connolly (adapted from his novel of the same name), the film is produced by Vaughn, David Reid and Adam Bohling. The Executive Producer is Stephen Marks, Director of Photography is Ben Davis, Editor is Jon Davis and Production Designer is Kave Quinn. [More]
Starring: Daniel Craig, Colm Meaney, George Harris, Jamie Foreman
Starring: Daniel Craig, Colm Meaney, George Harris, Jamie Foreman, Sienna Miller, Michael Gambon, Kenneth Cranham, Marcel Iures, Tom Hardy, Tamer Hassan, Sally Hawkins
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Screenwriter: J.J. Connolly
Producer: Matthew Vaughn, David Reid, Adam Bohling
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
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Reviews for Layer Cake
Full of quirky types who populate Guy Ritchie movies but set forth with more clarity and higher style.
Marks an impressive directing debut by Matthew Vaughn, Guy Ritchie's producer on Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch.
Craig makes an amiable anti-hero with vague echoes of Steve McQueen. He's a guy we root for, even though we know he won't be able to cut that layer cake without spilling crumbs.
It's almost too much to follow, but the style, proven by Ritchie time and again, is irresistible.
An entertaining Brit gangster flick with absolutely no soul but plenty of style.
All of the nastiness here gets a little tiresome after awhile, as do the attempts to glamorize the drug trade.
It's not that Vaughn bites off more than he can chew. It's that we've seen these unsavory characters so many times before that they've gone stale.
Scripted by J.J. Connolly from his own novel, which may be why the film emphasizes double-crosses and conspiracies over the old ultraviolence.
British actor Daniel Craig... is the latest name rumored to play James Bond - and this smart gangland thriller could be his audition tape.
...a memorable and sympathetic protagonist ...Daniel Craig with a note of cool humility Steve McQueen made a career of sounding.
(Daniel) Craig, an actor who'll be noticed whether or not he slips on Bond's tuxedo, continues to reveal a different side of himself in every role.
When the film succeeds, it does so on Vaughn's command of the visuals and Craig's subdued, steely performance.
Has enough role reversals and big reveals to keep any audience guessing.
Nothing sweet here, and a stale crumpet and bad tea don't sound so bad right about now, because anything tastes better than a mouthful of hot lead.
If XXXX were not Daniel Craig, the film's clever plotting and imaging would overwhelm him.
Latest News for Layer Cake
December 17, 2007:
RT on DVD: The Simpsons, Stardust, and More!
This week the shelves are packed, and just in time for the holidays! Check out the long-awaited big-screen debut of Springfield's finest (The Simpsons Movie), Matthew Vaughn's... More...
August 08, 2007:
Matthew Vaughn To Helm Thor
Ain't It Cool News recently caught up with director Matthew Vaughn for a chat about projects past (Layer Cake), present (Stardust), and future -- including a possible film... More...
June 14, 2007:
Another Superhero Movie! "Thor" is Coming!
He's a Norse god with a giant hammer. Bring on the bad guys! More...
March 22, 2007:
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