Layer Cake (film)
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For the food, see layer cake. For the novel, see Layer Cake (novel)
| Layer Cake | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Directed by | Matthew Vaughn |
| Produced by | Adam Bohling Stephen Marks David Reid Matthew Vaughn |
| Written by | Novel & Screenplay: J.J. Connolly |
| Starring | Daniel Craig Colm Meaney George Harris Michael Gambon Kenneth Cranham |
| Music by | Ian Astbury Billy Duffy Ilan Eshkeri Lisa Gerrard |
| Distributed by | Sony Pictures Classics |
| Release date(s) | 2004 |
| Running time | 105 min. |
| Language | English |
| Budget | 4,000,000 GBP |
| IMDb profile | |
Layer Cake (also spelled L4YER CAK3) is a 2004 British gangster thriller, directed by Matthew Vaughn. It is based on a novel of the same name by J. J. Connolly.
The title refers to the human social strata, especially in the British crime underworld, as well as the numerous plot layers in the film.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
The film is set in London, and focuses on an unnamed successful cocaine dealer (represented in the credits as XXXX, played by Daniel Craig). At only 29, he has a respected place amongst England's Mafia, and is secretly planning to retire from the business.
However, XXXX's boss, Jimmy Price (played by Kenneth Cranham), knowing he imminently intends to leave the business, gives him two tough assignments. XXXX is first delegated with the task of tracking down the daughter of Jimmy's old friend Edward (Sir Michael Gambon), Charlotte Spencer-Temple, who has disappeared after developing a drug habit with a fellow junkie she met in rehab.
Secondly, Jimmy asks that XXXX work with an associate named "The Duke" to unload nearly one million Grade A Ecstasy pills. Unknown to XXXX and his team is that the Duke had stolen the pills from a bloodthirsty militant Serbian gang. XXXX is then marked with an honour crime by the Serbian druglord who unleashes a cleverly trained and apt assassin, Dragan.
There are multiple complications, as well as numerous double-crossings. XXXX has to use all of his considerable talent to secure his own escape, without being drawn back into the 'cake mix'.
[edit] Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Daniel Craig | XXXX |
| Colm Meaney | Gene |
| George Harris | Morty |
| Michael Gambon | Eddie Temple |
| Kenneth Cranham | Jimmy Price |
| Jamie Foreman | The Duke |
| Sally Hawkins | Slasher |
| Sienna Miller | Tammy |
| Tom Hardy | Clarkie |
| Nathalie Lunghi | Charlotte Spencer-Temple |
| Dexter Fletcher | Cody |
| Steve John Shepherd | Tiptoes |
| Tamer Hassan | Terry |
| Burn Gorman | Gazza |
| Ben Whishaw | Sidney |
| Jason Flemyng | Crazy Larry |
[edit] Trivia/Goofs
- The film trailer featured an appearance from celebrity chef Marco Pierre White.
- The golf club where Price gives XXXX his assignments was also used in the filming of Goldfinger. Coincidentally, Daniel Craig would accept the role of James Bond not long after the US release of this movie.
- The entire soundtrack was put together in just 4 days.
- The soundtrack used for most of the film is also used in Keen Eddie in the episode "Eddie Loves Baseball" which coincidentally also starred Sienna Miller who played Tammy in the movie.
- When Eddie Temple tells XXXX "Follow me" during the scene on top of the building, Troop's arms are folded, but, in the next shot, his arms are by his sides.
[edit] Sequel
J.J. Connolly and Matthew Vaughn have both given interviews stating that Connolly is currently writing a sequel to Layer Cake. Vaughn said, "The concept of the novel is that [XXXX] moves to the Caribbean" and "[XXXX and a friend] take over the Caribbean drug business." [1] Daniel Craig stated in an interview that if the new novel is adapted into a film, he'll only be interested in reprising his role if Vaughn directs.
