By no means is Layer Cake a bad movie. Unfortunately, if one compares it to "Snatch" or even "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels" it quickly loses its glamour. While those movies were very gritty and had some excellent dark humor that kept the twisting plot moving, this movie opts for a straighter look, and ultimately lacks much of the spirit those films had thanks to this. The soundtrack has it's ups and downs (one song by Duran Duran while the awesome George Harris gives someone long brewing comeuppance especially fits and gives the scene a more spirited feel which much of the movie lacks otherwise), but the cast is uniformly great, especially Daniel Craig as the lead without a name. He has a laid back charisma that allows for a subtle charisma, and keeps the multiple plots from collapsing under there own weight. While the overabundance of characters and story show how the film took a bigger bite then it could chew of the drug underworld, it's a solid effort. B-

A-

SPOILERS

Not as good as Snatch (I haven't seen Lock, Stock so I can't use that as a comparison) but still a highly entertaining movie. Michael Gambon easily gave the best performance, followed by Daniel Craig. The British dialogue wasn't so "overly-british" that I couldn't understand what they were saying (forgive me for being an ignorant American) but what really won me over were all the twists near the end. I mean, he was talking to the freakin' camera, who gets killed while they're breaking the 4th wall. I was expecting Craig's character to die, but once he started narrating, I assumed he was going to leave unscathed. It totally threw me for a loop, and may be the most unexpected death in any movie I've ever seen ever. That alone brought the grade up significantly.

I defy anyone to completely understand the story of Layer Cake during their first viewing!

...and this is a good thing. Yeah, I got the main plot points, but the interconnections of the main characters are left pleasantly obscure as you watch in realtime. Daniel Craig was great - as far as I'm concerned, this makes a great calling card for James Bond, which he has been trumpeted for (and I'm a huge Pierce Brosnan supporter!).

Even though I loved the funky style and offbeat humour of recent Brit gangster movies like Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, I really got into the serious tone of Layer Cake - it's a well told tale...

4 out of 5.

LAYER CAKE - 6/10 (B-)

I'm not really into gangster stuff. It can be hard to follow sometimes because it just doesn't interest me, which is why I usually don't watch gangster movies. That being said, for being one, Layer Cake wasn't bad. It was pretty interesting for a while but went downhill and I got less interested. It was still decent though. It's not an action movie, it's more of a drama, but I do think some fans of action movies would dig it.

It was stylish, it had a solid soundtrack (including "Tits on The Radio" by Scissor Sisters during a scene in a club), and both Daniel Craig and Sienna Miller were sexy. Those were the highlights of the movie for me. I thought it was pretty decent, but the trailer made it look better.

B


Layer Cake was a decent crime flick with a solid lead performance by Daniel Craig. He played his role with just enough suaveness needed. My main gripe with this otherwise good flick was that it was played a bit too straight for my taste. Maybe I just got used to British humorous crime flicks à la Lock, Stock and Snatch, but I really felt that some humor could have lifted this film from decent to great.

The movie certainly becomes better during its course and it always keeps the viewer entertained. Towards the end, it does become a little too confusing, but I think I understood everything during my first viewing. You just have to follow the movie really closely. The ending bears several nice twists, while the very ending, the final 30 seconds or so, present some of the most unexpected outcomes I have seen in any movie in the recent years. It really catches you off-guard at the one moment where you really don't expect it. I saw the alternative endings on the DVD for the film and none of them comes even close to the greatness of the actual ending.

On another note, I really enjoyed the film's choice of music.

Okay, Doc, I'll bite - let's have your first viewing story summary...

Everything........now that is a powerful word.

*********************

and on Layer Cake, I would take a bite of one that was made with Sienna Miller.

Do I look like I want to type up all that? But feel free to ask questions.

Loved this movie. Daniel Craig is easily turning into one of my favorite actors. I loved the entire movie up until the end. It turned into an Ocean's 11 type film.

A

I liked it quite a bit. Until the last 30 seconds. I hate those kind of endings, just like I did in the Departed.

**1/2

I hated the last 30 seconds also.

I went back and saw this after watching Casino Royale. I really liked it, and while it isn't as good as Lock Stock, I think it is as good as Snatch, just not so oddball.

The ending is fine, and did not ruin the movie for me, although I am glad that I didn't watch it with my wife.

A in my book, I would recommend it.

B+.

I guess i'm one of the only people who liked the ending. Not as good as Lock Stock and Snatch but still a good film and Craig gives a great performance.

The ending was great. A total punch to the gut.