Layer Cake | AccessAtlanta

'Layer Cake': Yummy movie, yummier star
by Eleanor Ringel Gillespie

"Layer Cake" is a tasty slice of stylish Brit criminal capering. Our hero is a nameless middleman drug dealer (Daniel Craig), who's done more than well enough to take an early retirement in the next week or so. But he's plagued by that just-when-I-thought-I-was-out-they-pull-me-back-in Al Pacino problem. His boss has two more little jobs for our engaging anti-hero. Both are the sort of thing Craig has strenuously sought to avoid. And either is likely to get him killed. Read the full review

TO SUM UP
Stylish crime caper in which Daniel Craig stars as a middleman drug dealer in London who plans on taking early retirement — like, next week. But his bosses, including coolly sinister Michael Gambon, have a few more jobs for him first.

FILM FACTS ...

Sony Pictures Classics

'Layer Cake'

Director: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: Daniel Craig, Colm Meaney, Michael Gambon
Run time: 105 minutes
Release date: May 13, 2005
Rating: R for strong brutal violence, sexuality, nudity, pervasive language and drug use.
See showtimes

On the web
Official movie site
View the trailer
Trailers require Quicktime

READ THE REVIEW

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: A-
"Craig has a cheeky impudence and a wiry toughness reminiscent of Steve McQueen. He's all agile charm and stubborn determination. ... 'Layer Cake' is well worth seeing for Craig alone, but there's more, too."

Read the full review

Austin American-Statesman: 2 of 5 stars
"A massively cliched final shot simply reinforces what you already know: Get past the frosting of 'Layer Cake' and it's all stale crumbs."

Read the full review

The Palm Beach Post: B-
"In a cast full of distinctive character actors, the suave Craig rises above them, offering further evidence that he would make a compelling James Bond."

Read the full review

The Palm Beach Post "Flick Chick"
"By the 50th time ... some wan, malnourished skank snorted some coke and hit on somebody, I just didn't care anymore. I just wanted to go home. But the thing just ... would ... not ... end. ."