The 51st State (2001)

Director:

Ronny Yu

Writer (WGA):

Stel Pavlou (written by)

Release Date:

18 October 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

Nice Wheels. Dirty Deals. And One Mean Mother In A Kilt.

Plot:

An American master chemist plans to score big on a once in a lifetime drug deal. All does not go as planned and he is soon entangled in a web of deceit.

Plot Keywords:

Chemist | Ex Girlfriend | Drugs | Liverpool | Drug Use

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Samuel L. Jackson	...	Elmo McElroy
Nigel Whitmey	...	L.A. Highway Patrol
Robert Jezek	...	Priest
Emily Mortimer	...	Dakota Parker
Meat Loaf	...	The Lizard
Jake Abraham	...	Konokko
Mac McDonald	...	Mr. Davidson
Aaron Swartz	...	Mr. Yuri
David Webber	...	Mr. Jones
Michael J. Reynolds	...	Mr. Escobar
Sonny Muslim	...	Boy in Plane
Barbara Barnes	...	Boy's Mother
Junix Inocian	...	Mr. Ho-Fat
Robert Carlyle	...	Felix DeSouza
Paul Barber	...	Frederick

Also Known As:

Formula 51 (USA)
Formule 51 (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, language, drug content and some sexuality.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

UK | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

New Zealand:R18 | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:18A | Finland:K-15 (re-rating) | Finland:K-18 (original rating) | Germany:16 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Singapore:NC-16 (original rating) | Singapore:M18 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK

Company:

Alliance Atlantis Communications

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When DeSouza and McElroy are being chased in the red Jaguar, you can see that there are pyrotechnics under the car as it pulls of the sidewalk.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Elmo: I mean, rules are like, arbitrary, you know. Made up for people who believe in fairy tales like, you know, like Santa Claus. Hey, but not us, right? I mean, we know what's important. There's a war going on, man. A war. Ain't that a bitch?
[cop sucks his teeth]
Elmo: I just graduated today, man. With honors. Got my degree in pharmacology. I'm licensed. Look, if you write me up on this drug charge, I won't be able to practice. So what we're talking about here is, is my life. The rest of it.
[cop lights joint, takes one hit, then discards it]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "HBO First Look: Formula 51 (#9.16)" (2002)

Soundtrack:

Don't Be Cruel (To a Heart That's True)

Best Quentin Ritchie Spin-off ever

It's easy for any of us to resemble the 'comic book guy' from the Simpson's and rant for days about this belated release mimicking the action/comedies of the last decade. Don't. This is not 'Get Shorty' nor 'Who is Cletis Tout?'.

Plot: A unfortunate jinx leads a chemist to an underground drug world. With clever calculations at foot and in mind, he devises an intricate plan for early retirement. Then Liverpool happens.

Granted, the first time I watched it seemed like a product from a 'Quentin Tarantino' screen writing class. Upon watching a few more times it becomes clearer that there is no other fault. Had this movie arrived before such 'Res Dogs' type movies it may have been the golden boy of this new genre (not-likely). But it still stands as a light-weight contender. The situations are cleverly drawn, the acting is very comical and the casting is on the money. The fast drawn shots keep the pace, the thunderous soundtrack imports the ambiance, and the British ghetto lingo always reels you in to the lovely slums of Liverpool.

Bottom Line: Better Title 'An American Drug Dealer in Liverpool'