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Daniel Craig, Colm Meaney, Kenneth Cranham, George Harris, Jamie Foreman ... see more see more... , Michael Gambon , Tamer Hassan , Ben Whishaw , Burn Gorman , Sally Hawkins , Sienna Miller , Stephen Walters , Jason Flemyng , Dragan Micanovic , Dexter Fletcher , Louis Emerick , Matthew Ryan , Marcel Iures , Dimitri Andreas , Don McCorkindale , Ivan Kaye , Francis Magee , Darren Healy , Steve John Shepherd , Tom Hardy , Neil Finnighan , Brinley Green , Garry Tubbs , Natalie Lunghi , Marvyn Benoit , Rab Affleck , Paul Orchard , Ben Brasier , Budgie Prewitt

A mechanic in the British drug trade finds himself caught in the middle of some dangerous circumstances in this crime thriller. XXXX (Daniel Craig) is a nameless go-between in the British mob who buys... read more read more... drugs from underground wholesalers and them sells them to street dealers, keeping the system flowing and making a tidy profit in the process. XXXX is looking forward to getting out of the game, and has displayed both smarts and caution in how he's handled his business, but before his overseer Jimmy Price (Kenneth Cranham) will let him go, he has a couple of favors that need to be done. First, Eddie Temple (Michael Gambon) is a mob boss whose daughter has gotten hooked on hard drugs and run away from home; Jimmy needs XXXX to find them girl and bring her to him before Eddie's men can get hold of her. Second, Dragan (Dragan Micanovic) is a Ecstasy wholesaler who has had a large shipment stolen by Duke (Jamie Foreman); Jimmy wants XXXX to get the Ecstasy back to Dragan, but Duke isn't eager to sell and Dragan is becoming impatient. Between these two matters, XXXX isn't so sure he'll get out of the business alive, especially after he finds himself falling for Duke's nephew's girlfriend, Tammy (Sienna Miller). Layer Cake marked the directorial debut for Matthew Vaughn, best known as a producer for Guy Ritchie's lad-centric crime movies. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

83% liked it

135,446 ratings

Critics

81% liked it

133 critics

R, 1 hr. 45 min.

Directed by: Matthew Vaughn

Release Date: April 22, 2005

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DVD Release Date: August 23, 2005

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Stats: 9,180 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (9,180)

  • moonrivers
    April 26, 2012
    moonrivers
    Daniel Craig in one of his pre-Bond efforts, wherein a large shipment of drugs gone missing is the object of mucho consternation. Colm Meaney and Michael Gambon aid in ratching up the drama, but not enough to cause tension as is intended unfortunately. Still not a complete bore.
  • cosmo313
    December 28, 2011
    cosmo313
    Borrowing some cast members, genre, structure, and some style from his friend and collaborator Guy Ritchie, Layer Cake marked the directorial debut of Matthew Vaughn. Based on the novel of the same name (and scripted by that boo's author), this is the story of a successful namele... read moress (listed in the credits as XXXX) drug dealer/mob middleman who finds himself in one messy and complex situation just on the eve of retirement.

    Deciding he's gotten as far as he wanted in the world of crime, XXXX plans to retire for good. His plans are interrupted when he's asked to sell a shipment of 1 million ecstasy pills. It should be relatively easy, but matters are complicated by the fact that the pills are stolen from a Serbian war criminal who will kill him if he sells them, and a ruthless London crime boss who will kill him if he doesn't.

    What follows is a zany, wild, and energetic game through a tangled web of colorful characters, all kinds of intricate and layered subplots, and the tough decisions XXXX has to make if he wants out of his Catch-22 situation alive. As the title inplies, there's a lot going on here, and it can be a tad hard to follow at times, but I've read the novel, and actually found this to be a bit more enjoyable and easier to follow than that. Even having read the book, I wasn't able to keep it all straight, but I get the broad gist, and that's the most important thing.

    Vaughn basically employs a "Ritchie-lite" style, dialing down on some of the freneticness, and reserving the amount of flashy camera tricks and showmanship, save for a cool scene where an assault is shown from the perspective of the victim. The intricate, interweaving, and complicated plotlines remain the same though, but the way they are executed is somewhat more straightforward.

    The cast has a lot of well knowns and Ritchie players, but they do a fine job with the material, especially a scene stealing Michael Gambon and the always awesome and charismatic Daniel Craig in a fun pre-Bond role. I like Sienna Miller, but it's a shame she's pretty much wasted in what could have been a great femme fatale role that ends up going nowhere and having no real purpose.

    All in all, a fun and stylish British crime caper. It's a mess at times, but still highly enjoyable and shows signs of the great things Vaughn has come to do since.
  • phubbs1
    August 31, 2011
    phubbs1
    Along with Guy Ritchie, Matthew Vaughn is the probably the second biggest director from the UK at the moment with some huge films under his belt, he is also the British gangster film maker of our modern age along with Mr Ritchie having made 'Lock Stock' and 'Snatch' together.

    Th... read moreose two films pretty much flash started the British gangster/underworld flicks back into being and created a whole load of copies in film style and imagery. 'Layer Cake' is Vaughn's attempt without his partner in crime (pun intended) and you can obviously see how that collaboration has rubbed off on him.

    The film is pretty much like 'Lock Stock' and 'Snatch' and could almost be the third in a trilogy really, the plot is a hotpot of subplots wrapped around one main plot which all intertwine and work off each other well. Although its very familiar by now in visuals, dialog and concept its still somehow good fun to watch hardcases, fumbling crooks and foul mouthed crime lords all batter each other trying to get money/drugs/women/guns etc...one or the other.

    It really is nothing new after the last two big Ritchie films it has to be said with virtually the same cast yet again, bar Vinnie Jones, the same outcomes and the same kind of violence all topped off with outrageously harsh cockney accents. Craig fits in quite well with this world as the well spoken sensible dealer and he does a good job unlike his usual wooden pouting performances, you do want him to win the day and its nice to see someone play a role in these types of films without awhole load of attitude and mouth.

    Don't expect anything new to the genre with this as its the same again from Vaughn but its neater, tighter and not as ludicrous as the previous big two Brit gangster flicks, its still a lairy little sod of flick though hehe bosh! 
  • Julie
    June 6, 2011
    Julie
    Sometimes seeking out your newest crush's old bit-part movies leads you to a little gem. What a pleasant surprise! Plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes in this one.
  • TomBowler
    March 28, 2011
    TomBowler
    this is a really great movie. daniel craig is brilliant and the storyline is full of twists and turns. the score is also one of the best i've heard
  • paulkoh110
    February 18, 2011
    paulkoh110
    Matt Vaughn just made himself look just as good as Guy Ritchie. With a plot that is tight and characters sharp and on their toes, Daniel Craig deserves more credit for this role as a middleman trying to go up the layer cake.
  • imrealgod
    February 14, 2011
    imrealgod
    I enjoyed this intelligent crime flick. It ended exactly as I'd expected, but I didn't realize that Daniel Craig's character wasn't called by his name even a single time only when he says so at the end. A small detail, but I like the way it's presented. Some usual yet great dialo... read moregues only made it more enjoyable. Highly recommended for those who like crime/gangster movies.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    October 20, 2010
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Matthew Vaughn made a name for himself by producing two of Guy Ritchie's gangster films, Lock, Stock and Two smoking barrels and Snatch. Both films proved to be terrific, and reinvented the gangster genre. In the case with L4yer Cake, you have the traditional elements of both of... read more Guy Ritchie's films, but with a touch of a more serious approach to the film. While Snatch and Lock, Stock where very comical in nature, Layer Cake strips that away almost entirely and focuses on a serious gangster plot. Matthew Vaughn's directorial debut is one of the best gangster films that I've seen coming out of Britain since Snatch. A well, written film, Vaughn has made a terrific film with a terrific story. His directorial debut is nothing short of excellent and with Layer Cake, he redefines the gangster genre. Layer is unlike any other gangster films out there. I thought that Layer Cake elevated the standards of gangster films, and introduced many new aspects to be explored in the genre. For years, the British have made gangster films, but they have perfected the formula with Layer Cake. The end result is a film that is bold, brutal and confident. Not to mention smart, well acted and directed. This film is one of the best gangster films in a long time and is probably one of the best films since Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas and Guy Ritchie's Snatch. Layer Cake has very intriguing plot that will keep the viewer interested from start to finish and will definitely please fans of the genre. Layer Cake displays one of the best storylines in a long time for a gangster films, and Matthew Vaughn's directorial debut is simply brilliant. Above all, this film has secured Matthew Vaughn's place as a top notch director to look for, and he directed the superb Kick Ass; I'd say he's a name to look for in the future. Layer Cake is simply put a blast and very cool and slick gangster film. The best since Snatch, and thats saying a lot.
  • fb733768972
    October 1, 2010
    fb733768972
    This is one of the oddest films I have ever seen. It has a good plot and story to it, but it's just too weird. The cast is good for the roles, but it's just a strange film. It is very hard to take seriously sometimes, but overall I enjoyed it quite a bit!
  • hunterjt13
    September 14, 2010
    hunterjt13
    Like Guy Ritchie and Tarantino, Layer Cake attempts to incorporate multiple intersecting stories into one with Craig's character at the center. However, the film has too many beginnings. At first, this is the story of a competent drug dealer, then it's the story of trying to fi... read morend a missing girl, then his partner beats the hell out of some guy, who we've never heard about until now. At forty minutes in, the film is still starting plot lines.
    Daniel Craig is on the bad side of mediocre. His performance is uneven at best. He is often stoically cool in the tradition of fine British gangsters, but without warning, he becomes just as profane and screamy as the supporting cast.
    Overall, this movie is flawed in structure and performances, and it's attempt to be "cool" ultimately fell flat.

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Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper
June 20, 2005
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

I like Layer Cake a lot. Full Review

James Berardinelli
June 11, 2005
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

It's a little bleak, a little twisted, a little gory, and a lot funny. Full Review

Peter Howell
June 10, 2005
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

The film is lamentably short of narrative coherence. Full Review

Rick Groen
June 10, 2005
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

The intricate thing dodges and feints and twists this way and turns that way until, by the time of the alleged resolution, we've lost our bearings completely. Full Review

Roger Moore
June 3, 2005
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

It's almost too much to follow, but the style, proven by Ritchie time and again, is irresistible. Full Review

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
June 2, 2005
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It has more heft than the Ritchie movies. Full Review

Bill Muller
June 2, 2005
Bill Muller, Arizona Republic

A masterly, intricately plotted crime story. Full Review

Desson Thomson
May 27, 2005
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

It's a stylish and classic gangster saga about the clashing of rival empires, where the only thing worse than the killer before you is the killer waiting behind him. Full Review

Stephen Hunter
May 27, 2005
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

An exercise in high style, high octane and low-key suaveness. Full Review

Eric Harrison
May 27, 2005
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle

A gangster film, despite what its title suggests, that ranks with the best of the genre. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Morty: [XXXX is beaten and bloodied on the ground] You killed crazy Larry?
    • Gene: So? This fucker killed Jimmy! [kicks XXXX in the chest]
    • XXXX: Oh. Jesus Christ!
    • Morty: [grabs XXXX by his shirt] Why did you do it?
    • XXXX: He was an informer! He was a police informer!
    • Gene: Jimmy, a grass? Are you fucking mad? You'll have to do better than that.
    • XXXX: I've got a recording at home, of Jimmy and a cozzer called Albie Carter.
    • Morty: Gene, let's listen to this shit. If he's lying, we'll both fucking kill him.
    • XXXX: [answering his phone] Who is this?
    • Dragan: My name is Dragan.
    • XXXX: How did you get this number?
    • Dragan: Boatman Paul gave me your number, in the end.I believe you have some property that belongs to my employer and you're the person I should talk to about the return of this cargo stolen by your associate, the Duke.
    • XXXX: Dragan, the Duke is nothing to do with me.
    • Dragan: Mr. Duke came to Amsterdam, used your name, said he worked for you. Are you listening?
    • XXXX: Dragan... I've got an idea. Why don't you come round for breakfast, I'll squeeze some orange juice and grind some coffee and we'll talk about this like adults, how does that sound?
    • Dragan: Sounds very hospitable.
    • XXXX: Do you know where I live?
    • Dragan: No.
    • XXXX: Well fuck off then. [hangs up]
    • Morty: Why did you keep the gun?
    • Gene: Silly as sounds, but it was me favorite.
    • Morty: I hope you don't tell your other guns that you have a favorite. [Gene and XXXX laugh]
    • Cody: [impersonating a police captain] Is the area now secure?
    • Tiptoes: Yes sir.
    • Cody: Well you can fuck off then, can't you?
    • XXXX: Hey Gene, I've got some good news.
    • Gene: Oh yeah? Whats that? [punches XXXX in the face] You murdering bastard!
    • Clarkie: Where are we going Morty?
    • Morty: Back to that boatyard. Someone is about to get a fucking slap.
    • Terry: Yes Morty, about fucking time. [pats him on the back]
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Layer Cake Trivia

  • Daniel Craig is the new 007. But in which British gangster film did he find fame?  Answer »
  • in what 2004 film, is Daniel Craig a successful drug dealer ready for early retirement only for his boss to give him two tough assignments the day before?  Answer »
  • In what movie does Daniel Craig play a cocaine dealer?  Answer »
  • In the movie "Layer Cake," what is Daniel Craig's occupation?  Answer »
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