Layer Cake Is… People!
Posted on | May 29, 2005 at 3:50 pm | 2 Comments
Okay, I admit that the primary reason I wanted to see Layer Cake was because first-time director Matthew Vaughn has been tapped to direct the third X-Men movie (as I previously mentioned in this entry). And I do have a soft spot for British gangster movies. However, this one has the old same problem of the genre (at least for Americans) in that it’s sometimes hard to make out what is going on, due to the thick accents and dialects. There was one very crucial plot point (involving a double cross) that I didn’t understand at all. Not because it wasn’t explained, but because I didn’t understand anything anyone was saying during the explanation. For a plot-intensive movie like this one, that’s a fatal flaw.
The basics of the plot is that the main character/narrator, who is unnamed and played by Daniel Craig, makes a lot of money as a middleman in the illegal cocaine trafficking business, but wants to get out. But as always happens, his employer gets him involved in some things over his head and everything spirals out of control for him and his buddies. Craig does a good job of making you care about this guy even though he’s a criminal, showing a wide range of emotions with little facial movement. Colm Meaney (whom I think is contractually obligated to be in every UK movie imported over here) also does a great job as the main aide of the employer. The performances are generally pretty good. The director does have a visual flair, so it will be interesting to see what he does with the X-Men movie. There is some violence and some blood, but not over-the-top. The most brutal scene (set in a diner) doesn’t really show much of anything, but still manages to be very intense. There’s some humor, but very little Laugh Out Loud type stuff.
I give this a one on the Nod-O-Meter, as I did start to drop off once when there was some exposition going on that I couldn’t make out. I recommend the movie, but unless you’re very good at deciphering UK accents and dialects, you probably shouldn’t see it at a theater. Wait for the DVD and watch with the subtitles on. I’m definitely going to see it again once the DVD comes out.
On another subject, isn’t this just about the sickest thing ever? I first heard about it in this column. Hard to believe it’s on the up-and-up, but it sure looks like it. Think of the blackmail list this company could be compiling from its customer list. And shame on you, Milla Jovovich, for suggesting the name of the product. Too many flesh-eating zombie movies for you.
Oh well, at least vegetarians can eat it.
Latre.
Comments
2 Responses to “Layer Cake Is… People!”
May 31st, 2005 @ 5:31 pm
I personally have never understood why UK movies aren’t subtitled theatrically, or at least offered in subtitled versions at some showings. I have a really hard time with the dialogue too, at least if it’s a northern or more “working class” accent. If I rent them, I always turn the subtitle track on.
As for hufu, it sounds like a gimmick to me. Anybody who has ever eaten a vegetarian “meat substitute” knows that vegi beef, chicken, etc. tastes NOTHING like real meat. Of course, it’s not like anyone is going to set up a side-by-side comparison with human flesh vs. hufu to see how similar they are… ARE THEY?!?!?!
May 31st, 2005 @ 7:37 pm
Gimmick or not, you really have to wonder about the people who would actually order the stuff…