Layer Cake

Name: Layer Cake
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: May 13, 2005
Duration: 105 min
Rating: 73
Cast: Daniel Craig

2005

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 30 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 258 Ratings

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8.4

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8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 258 Ratings

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Layer Cake

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: May 13, 2005 | TV-MA

Starring: Daniel Craig

Summary: A riveting thriller set in the drug underworld of the UK. (Sony Pictures Classics)

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 105 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Owen Gleiberman

Fast, convulsive, and densely exciting new British gangster thriller. Read full review

Steven Rea

Things get a little tricky by the end, but it's the sort of trickery that's immensely satisfying. Read full review

Leslie Felperin

There's a proper lived-in believability about Layer Cake's depiction of how the worlds of the rich, the criminal and the criminally rich intersect. Read full review

Michael Sragow

Cheeky, brass-knuckles British crime film. Read full review

Premiere Glenn Kenny

It’s hilarious, and genuinely cool. Read full review

Nathan Rabin

The always-dependable and chameleon-like Craig has the chops and substance for that kind of film, but Vaughn prefers to keep matters brisk and superficial. Read full review

Rick Groen

One of those crime flicks besotted with its own plot. Read full review

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User Reviews

WesM

Jul 28, 2008

The ultimate synthesis of recent British crime classis; the seriousness, characterization and aesthetics of Sexy Beast and the loopy, multilayered plotting and style of Lock Stock... and Snatch. Very highly recommended.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

AdamC.

Feb 4, 2008

too good

1 of 1 users found this helpful

DANIELW45

Jun 7, 2015

Layer cake is a true modern British crime drama. A excellent book to film adaptation with a great story and Daniel Craig does a outstanding job of portraying this modern day gangster.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

House

May 22, 2006

Like a great rock song, Layer Cake hooks you early and never disappoints, rocking you until the final power chord of an ending. Daniel Craig is sensational supported by a cast that once again proves the UK has the best characer actors in the world.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Justinavery7074

Oct 11, 2011

Somewhat great, but a great predecessor to Matthew Vaughn's hollywood masterpieces. Once again, you get to see the pure brilliance and genius of Matthew Vaughn. I **** love that talented bastard.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

MarkS.

Jul 12, 2006

This was pretty good. The lead actor was very good. But I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels or as much as Snatch. And the very end made the movie almost pointless, it angered me.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

amheretojudge

Mar 31, 2018

even drug dealers don't work weekends..

Layer Cake Its fast paced gripping screenplay that enfolds in each phase as it ages on screen with witty humor and complex yet amusing characters blends in perfectly creating a brilliant gangsta rap environment that is although palpable but stilleven drug dealers don't work weekends..

Layer Cake

Its fast paced gripping screenplay that enfolds in each phase as it ages on screen with witty humor and complex yet amusing characters blends in perfectly creating a brilliant gangsta rap environment that is although palpable but still fails to connect with the audience. J.J. Connelly's keen adaptation (and it's short runtime) helps survive this feature where even Mathew Vaughn; the director, is supporting thoroughly and is convincing too. Daniel Craig holds tightly on to its part but seems a bit distracted to carry the whole feature on its shoulder. Layer Cake fails on creating the impact of character's emotion and the drama that come along with on screen which ultimately fails to communicate with the viewers and justify them with enough reason to convince them.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

SEE ALL 19 REVIEWS

84	#84 Best Movie of 2005
68	#68 Most Shared Movie of 2005