Man in a kilt
plus Robert Carlyle
 |
|
At last, a
British action movie which is right up there with the best America
can turn out.
Nigel
Bell
Everyone connected with the lame High
Heels and Low Lifes should be forced to watch The 51st
State six times in a row to understand how a British movie can
be made which can take on Hollywood and win.
In it's own
strange way The 51st State is The Italian Job of the
21st century. Heck, we've even got a Mini Cooper taking centre stage
although this car wouldn't have graced the streets of Michael Caine's
Italy.
 |
| One of
the more relaxed scenes from 51st State |
Of course knockers
will point to the fact that the film's lead is an American. Samuel
L. Jackson is great, but so is every other member of the cast. And
if bringing a bona fide US film star helps the movie in the States
so much the better.
It worked with
Andie MacDowell in Four Weddings and a Funeral and Julia
Roberts in Notting Hill. Jackson proves it can work with
action films as well.
 |
| Saviour
of the British action movie takes the applause of the crowd |
He plays a chemist
who's shady life began after being busted for possession. He works
for the Lizard (Meat Loaf) but does away with him (or so he thinks)
to secure a $20 million drugs deal in, of all places, Liverpool.
The path to
this money is not straight forward. A hit-woman (Mortimer) ensures
the body count is high, there's a dodgy copper (Pertwee), drugs
baron (Tomlinson) and Yankee hater Felix De Souza (Carlyle).
It's a bit of
a Full Monty reunion since Paul Barber plays Carlyle's mate.
You can also play spot the Brookside actor. Even Sinbad's
in there!
 |
| Saviour
my...we get the message Ricky |
I had no idea
what to expect when I went to see The 51st State. I felt
guilty when I started laughing out loud. But this is an action-comedy.
Whether the humour and Scouse accents transfer abroad is another
matter. Let's hope so.
At one point
Jackson reprises his Pulp Fiction conversation with Carlyle
taking over from Travolta. The topic is about the difference in
meaning between genitals and dogs genitals. Believe me, it's funny.
There's also
confusion over the phrase "take care of him" which is
bad news for one chemist.
The 18 certificate
will sadly prevent some people from seeing this. Yes there's a lot
of swearing and violence but it really is top stuff with a superb
car chase to rival any Bruce Willis or Rambo sequence.
And Jackson
wears a kilt. Why? Well that would be telling!
|
