Layer Cake (2004)

Director:

Matthew Vaughn

Writers:

J.J. Connolly (screenplay)
J.J. Connolly (novel)

Release Date:

1 October 2004 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

A successful cocaine dealer gets two tough assignments from his boss on the eve of his planned early retirement.

Plot Keywords:

Ecstasy | Drugs | Cocaine | Pills | Gangster

Awards:

3 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Daniel Craig	...	XXXX
Tom Hardy	...	Clarkie
Jamie Foreman	...	Duke
Sally Hawkins	...	Slasher
Burn Gorman	...	Gazza
Brinley Green	...	Nobby
George Harris	...	Morty
Tamer Hassan	...	Terry
Colm Meaney	...	Gene
Marcel Iures	...	Slavo
Francis Magee	...	Paul the Boatman
Dimitri Andreas	...	Angelo
Kenneth Cranham	...	Jimmy Price
Garry Tubbs	...	Brian
Nathalie Lunghi	...	Charlie
Marvin Benoit	...	Kinky (as Marvyn Benoit)
Rab Affleck	...	Mickey
Dexter Fletcher	...	Cody
Steve John Shepherd	...	Tiptoes
Ben Whishaw	...	Sidney
Sienna Miller	...	Tammy
Paul Orchard	...	Lucky
Stephen Walters	...	Shanks
Louis Emerick	...	Trevor
Darren Healy	...	Junkie 1
Matt Ryan	...	Junkie 2
Ivan Kaye	...	Freddie Hurst
Jason Flemyng	...	Larry - Crazy
Ben Brasier	...	Jerry - Klburn
Neil Finnighan	...	Troop
Michael Gambon	...	Eddie Temple
Budge Prewitt	...	Golf Host (as Budgie Prewitt)
Don McCorkindale	...	Albert Carter
Dragan Micanovic	...	Dragan
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Dodd	...	Principal Dancer (uncredited)
Steve Hooper	...	Couple Having Sex (uncredited)
Kinky Kerry	...	Couple Having Sex (uncredited)
Peter Rnic	...	Serbian Gangster (uncredited)
Lucy Wills	...	70's Party Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
Matthew Vaughn

Writing credits
J.J. Connolly		(screenplay)
J.J. Connolly		(novel)

Produced by
Adam Bohling	....	producer
Stephen Marks	....	executive producer
David Reid	....	producer
Matthew Vaughn	....	producer

Original Music by
Ilan Eshkeri
Lisa Gerrard

Cinematography by
Ben Davis		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jon Harris

Casting by
Leo Davis
Jina Jay

Production Design by
Kave Quinn

Art Direction by
Steve Carter

Set Decoration by
Joanna Barrs		(as Jo Barrs)

Costume Design by
Stephanie Collie

Makeup Department
Fae Hammond	....	chief hair stylist
Fae Hammond	....	chief makeup artist
Maureen Hetherington	....	hair stylist
Maureen Hetherington	....	makeup artist
Pebbles	....	chief hair stylist
Pebbles	....	chief makeup artist
Karen Sherriff-Brown	....	hair stylist (as Karen Sherriff Brown)
Karen Sherriff-Brown	....	makeup artist (as Karen Sherriff Brown)
Dubi Preger	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Jatinderpal Chohan	....	post-production supervisor
Luke Jackson	....	unit manager
Alain Lagger	....	production manager: Amsterdam
Clare Maclean	....	post-production supervisor
Emma Pike	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Elliott	....	first assistant director (as Mike Elliott)
Samar Pollitt	....	third assistant director
David Reid	....	second unit director
Anthony Wilcox	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Chloe Boleyn	....	graffiti artist
Mick Boleyn	....	construction manager (as Michael Boleyn)
Sophie Boleyn	....	graffiti artist
Will Cann	....	stand-by props (as William Cann)
Nick Cosens	....	stand-by props
Noel Cowell	....	property master
Hannah Evans	....	assistant set decorator
Jonathan Holbrook	....	scenic painter
Martin Kane	....	props
Coralie Lew	....	assistant art director
Dale Manning	....	art department production assistant
Justin Overhill	....	stand-by painter
Matthew Parsons	....	scenic painter (as Mathew Parsons)
Sandra Phillips	....	assistant art director
Adrian Platt	....	dressing props
Will Pope	....	carpenter foreman
Nina Ross	....	assistant art director
John Watt	....	stand-by carpenter
Damian Butlin	....	dressing props (uncredited)
Damian Butlin	....	props (uncredited)
Craig Cheeseman	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Andrew Palmer	....	art department runner (uncredited)
Stuart Read	....	dressing props: dailies (uncredited)

Sound Department
Paula Boram	....	foley artist (as Paula Borum)
Chris Burdon	....	sound re-recording mixer
Matthew Collinge	....	foley editor
Matthew Collinge	....	sound designer
Matthew Collinge	....	sound effects editor
Arthur Fenn	....	boom operator (as Arthur Turner)
Peter Gleaves	....	adr recordist
Ben Greaves	....	cable person
Tom Harrison	....	cable man
Simon Hayes	....	sound mixer
Robin Johnson	....	cable man
Daryl Jordan	....	assistant sound editor
Danny Sheehan	....	adr editor
Danny Sheehan	....	dialogue editor
Danny Sheehan	....	foley editor
Jason Swanscott	....	foley artist
Sven Taits	....	sound re-recording mixer
Alexander Beddow	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Gareth Bull	....	foley recordist (uncredited)
Matthew Collinge	....	supervising sound editor (uncredited)
Hayden Collow	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Danny Sheehan	....	supervising sound editor (uncredited)
Ian Tapp	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Steve Benelisha	....	special effects technician
Neal Champion	....	special effects supervisor
Matthew G. Armstrong	....	special effects assistant: dailies (uncredited)
Laurence Harvey	....	armourer (uncredited)
Nick P. Phillips	....	senior special effects technician (uncredited)
Edward Smith	....	special effects supervisor (uncredited)
Rob Tucker	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Michelle Camp	....	visual effects editorial
Jonathan Dredge	....	scanning and recording
Robert Duncan	....	visual effects supervisor (as Rob Duncan)
Mike Morrison	....	data operator
Joanna Nodwell	....	visual effects producer
Asa Shoul	....	colourist
Annabel Wright	....	digital lab operator
Doron Zar	....	digital grading assistant
Andy Burrow	....	scanning manager (uncredited)
Edward Xi Chen	....	data operator (uncredited)
James Clarke	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Paul Doogan	....	scanning, digital cleanup (uncredited)
Andrew Francis	....	HD mastering (uncredited)
Joe Godfrey	....	scanning, recording & digital cleanup (uncredited)
Dianne Gordon	....	data operator: Framestore CFC (uncredited)
Alistair Hamer	....	film mastering engineer (uncredited)
Jan Hogevold	....	production executive: Framestore CFC (uncredited)
Jack James	....	compositor (uncredited)
Kevin Lowery	....	scanning, recording & digital cleanup (uncredited)
Dan McRae	....	digital lab (uncredited)
Steve Parsons	....	visual effects: titles (uncredited)
Sirio Quintavalle	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Dave Robinson	....	systems engineer (uncredited)
Jeremy Sawyer	....	data operator (uncredited)
Matina Skouteri	....	digital lab operator (uncredited)
Maria Stroka	....	film recording producer (uncredited)
Paola Varvaro	....	digital cleanup artist (uncredited)
Stephen Willey	....	systems engineer (uncredited)
Aubrey Woodiwiss	....	digital cleanup (uncredited)

Stunts
Tom Aitken	....	stunts
Gary Connery	....	stunts
Bradley Farmer	....	stunts
Dean Forster	....	stunts
Andy Godbold	....	stunts
Paul Herbert	....	stunt coordinator
Rowley Irlam	....	stunts
James O'Donnell	....	stunts (as James O'Dee)
Seon Rogers	....	stunts (as Séon Rogers)
Nick Wilkinson	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
David Allain	....	video assistant
David Brown	....	chief lighting technician
Jeff Burden	....	electrician
Martin Duncan	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Kevin Fraser	....	grip equipment
Kevin Fraser	....	key grip
Shay Gallagher	....	stand-by rigger
Robert Gavigan	....	electrician
Phil Humphries	....	clapper loader
Lee Kemble	....	assistant grip
John Marzano	....	aerial camera operator
Guy Minoli	....	electrician
Steve Parker	....	director of photography: second unit
Clive Prior	....	focus puller
Alex Reid	....	focus puller: second unit
Mark Silk	....	underwater camera operator
Daniel Smith	....	still photographer
Greg Thomas	....	electrician
Simon Werry	....	aerial camera operator
Peter Wignall	....	Steadicam operator: "a" camera
Peter Wignall	....	camera operator
Matthew Dudding	....	focus puller: "b" camera (uncredited)
Leigh Gold	....	focus puller: dailies (uncredited)
Camille Griffin	....	clapper loader: second unit (uncredited)
Karl Hui	....	clapper loader: "b" camera (uncredited)
J. Glyn Williams	....	first assistant camera: aerial unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Vanessa Baker	....	voice casting
Brendan Donnison	....	voice casting
Melissa Holm	....	casting assistant
Dixie Chassay	....	casting assistant (uncredited)
Julie Dunne	....	additional casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mike Hodge	....	wardrobe master
Fiona Lucas	....	costume supervisor
Anna Palmgren	....	assistant costume designer
Gabrielle Spanswick	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Hattie Dalton	....	assistant editor
Claire McGrane	....	digital intermediate producer
Jason Wheeler	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Patrick Cassidy	....	composer: additional music
Tom Chichester-Clark	....	music editor
Felix Erskine	....	composer assistant
Vic Fraser	....	music preparation
Liz Gallacher	....	music supervisor
Julian Kershaw	....	orchestrator
Richard Lancaster	....	music recordist
The London Metropolitan Orchestra	....	music performed by
Stephen McLaughlin	....	music producer (as Gohl/McLaughlin)
Andrew Raiher	....	music programmer
Alex Scannell	....	music recordist
Jeff Toyne	....	orchestrator
Andy Brown	....	music contractor (uncredited)
Andrew Raiher	....	musician: guitars (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Simon Barker	....	transportation captain
Ben Dillon	....	picture car coordinator

Other crew
Luke Boyle	....	assistant production coordinator
Chris Brouwer	....	production coordinator: Amsterdam
Stacy Crago	....	production assistant
Claudia Creebsburg	....	production secretary: Amsterdam
Eran Creevy	....	production assistant
Tina Falcone	....	assistant accountant
Kevin Freemantle	....	production accountant
Daniel Gill	....	production assistant (as Dan Gill)
Rob Grundy	....	armorer
Mary Haddow	....	script supervisor
Stewart Hamilton	....	floor runner
Russell Hasenberg	....	production runner
Carrie Johnson	....	unit nurse
Diane Kelly	....	unit publicist
Piet-Hein Luykx	....	office manager: Amsterdam
Tarquin Pack	....	production assistant
Carlos Peres	....	production assistant
Thomas Rohde	....	production assistant: Amsterdam
Sanne Rosinga	....	production assistant: Amsterdam
Suzie Shearer	....	production coordinator
Rubin Snitslaar	....	location scout: Amsterdam
Eddie Standish	....	location manager
Anastasia Timeneys	....	production secretary (as Ana Timenys)
Alex Warder	....	assistant production coordinator
Nick Williams	....	floor manager
Marc Wolff	....	aerial coordinator
Marc Wolff	....	pilot
John Charles	....	software engineer: Sony DAC (uncredited)
Roger Phillips	....	end titles (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Sony Pictures Classics (presents)
• Marv Films (as MARV Films)

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2004) (worldwide) (all media)
• Columbia TriStar Film Distributors (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Barbar Film (2005) (Turkey) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Nordisk Film Distributors A/S (2005) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Falcon (2005) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Filmhouse (2005) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Gaumont/Columbia TriStar Films (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2005) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2006) (Argentina) (all media)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2005) (UK) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Nelonen (2008) (Finland) (TV)
• RTL Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL7)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2005) (Norway) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Special Effects (GB) (special effects)
• Framestore CFC (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Anvil Post Production  foley recording
• Hyperactive Broadcast  editing equipment
• AFM Lighting  lighting
• Abbey Road Studios  music recorded at
• Arion Facilities  dailies telecine transfers
• De Lane Lea Sound Centre  sound re-recorded at (as De Lane Lea)
• Director's Film Company  production services: Amsterdam
• EMI Records  soundtrack released by
• Flying Pictures  aerial filming services provided by
• Frameline Productions  end titles (as Frameline)
• Framestore CFC  digital film grading
• Framestore CFC  post-production
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  additional ProTools systems supplied by
• Global Music Service  music copyist
• Hammerhead Television Facilities  steadicam equipment
• Jason Wheeler Film Services  negative cutting
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by (as JDC)
• Kodak  motion picture film supplied by
• Pepper Post Production  preview conform and grade
• Phaze UK  sound supervision
• Sargent Disc  production services (as Sargent-Disc Ltd.)
• The North Pole  music mixed at
• Wood Hall Catering  catering

Also Known As:

L4yer Cake (Ireland: English title) (DVD box title) (UK) (DVD box title) (USA) (DVD box title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong brutal violence, sexuality, nudity, pervasive language and drug use.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Romanian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS (US prints) | DTS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Argentina:16 | USA:R (certificate #40603) | South Korea:18 | Malaysia:18PL (DVD) | Japan:R-15 | Portugal:M/16 | Netherlands:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | Czech Republic:15 | Germany:16 | Ireland:18 | Italy:T | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Brazil:18

Filming Locations:

1 West India Quay, Isle of Dogs, London, England, UK

Company:

Sony Pictures Classics

Trivia:

In the penultimate scene at the Stokes country club, XXXX and his fellow drug dealers are eating a layer cake.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The only Police officers in London who carry or use firearms are SO19 (now CO19) or special operations (now central operations). Cody and Tiptoes appear to be drug enforcement officers so would not be present in the raid on the hide out and the 'SWAT' scene.

Quotes:

[first lines]
XXXX: When I was born, the world was a far simpler place. It was all just cops and robbers.

Movie Connections:

References Carlito's Way (1993)

Soundtrack:

You Got the Love

Not Bad

I went into Layer Cake with no expectations. Being honest, I found the trailer tedious the second time I saw it. I didn't like the whole cake idea, it was okay to a certain extent I guess. I did however enjoy Lock Stock and Snatch. Layer Cake is a different kind of animal.

Whilst Lock Stock and Snatch were more comedy based, Layer Cake has this more serious approach, no names flashing on the screen, identifying any of the characters, so you have to pay extra special attention!

There are several flashback/sub plots which don't particularly help as they can confuse you if you're not paying attention. There were many characters introduced to you in a short space of time and then suddenly going off at a tangent involving some of the 'slightly minor lead' characters.

You can see the influences of other directors in Matthew Vaughn's end product. The direction style is good and the montage is solid.

Daniel Craig gives a good solid performance. His narrative does help place him well in the movie. His narrative in the beginning is definitely something that draws you in. The rest of the performances are pretty good. Tamer Hassan has a minor role. After seeing the major role he had in The Football Factory, he can act, he should have possibly had a larger character. His character does not shine across as that 'demented' as that in The Football Factory. Sienna Miller was underused also, which was a shame.

Although there are some problems with the story, Matthew Vaughn has made a respectable movie. This being his debut, he has nothing to be ashamed of. As long as he works on the clarity of the plot more, he will have no problems securing full audiences. Layer Cake gives a good reputation to British films instead of the some rubbish released over the last few years.

I enjoyed the ending, it was good, I'm not going to say anything about it!

My rating 7/10