Around three
years ago, The 51st State's writer was working in an English off-licence
(liquor store), bored by his everyday routine. There, he began work on a
screenplay that featured a black, kilt wearing American chemist who travelled
across the Atlantic to sell a new wonder-drug that would take it's users to
'The 51st State'. It's your familiar Quentin Tarantino esque rags to riches
story, but this isn't the only connection with the Pulp Fiction genius. This
screenplay is litterered with great dialogue, laugh out loud funny set pieces
and a superb twist at the very end. And, the final similarity, well it just
happens that Samuel L. Jackson picked up the screenplay and here stars as that
cool, black, American kit wearing dude, in his first bad motherfu**er role
since Jackie Brown.
Jackson also executive produced the film and hired
Hong Kong director Ronny Yu (Bride Of Chucky) to direct. Here, Yu is the
perfect chioce as he's combines action and comedy in a suberb unique style that
British films haven't really seen before. The direction sort of reminded me of
those countless Hong Kong action/ comedies, of which Yu has around 15 to his
name. Here, he takes us on a high-octane, no holds barred rollercoaster of a
journey that doesn't relent, giving us one of an action movie that we just
don't see too often over here.
The film is set in the city of Liverpool,
famous for it's football club (which plays an important role) and as the birth
place of The Beatles.
Sam Jackson plays the lead as Elmo McElroy, the
chemist from LA who comes over to England to sell a new drug known as POV 51.
Jackson is perfect as MElroy who oozes with cool even as the fish out of water,
and yes he has dozens of witty one liners that do remind you of his previous
characters Jules Winfield and Ordell Robbie. But here he shows a different side
to his acting qualities as he tries to understand the English ways of doing
things.
Also giving another fantastic perormance in the fil is the every
reliable Robert Carlyle as Liverpool fan Felix DeSouza. In the films opening
scenes, his character reminds you of his classic performance as Bebgie in Danny
Boyle's Trainspotting, but his character mellows as the film progresses. It is
indeed Carlyle that is the funny sidekick to Jackson's straight man in the
movie.
There are also great supporting performances, from Emily Mortimer
in an unlikely role as a hitwoman and former girlfriend of Felix, Ricky
Tomlinson as Scouse druglord Durant, Sean Pertwee as the bent copper after a
cut of Jackson's earnings from the sale of his new drug and Rhys Ifans as
loaded club owner Iki. The only let-down is Meatloaf who fails in his bid to
play the pissed off drugs baron/ former employer of Jackson. He's just totally
unbelievable in role.
The only other thing that I would say about the
film is how the film will translate overseas. It's full of very British humour
and culture references, that I can't see going down too well in the States. I
could be wrong, but our American friends have a while to wait, as The 51st
State isn't released until August.
To summarise, The 51st State is an
enjoyable movie. Nothing more, nothing less. Don't expect The Long Good Friday,
because it isn't. If you want a great night out, this shouldn't dissapoint as
the film is laugh out loud hilarious in more than few place. Also look out for
a few familiar faces from Lock, Stock and Snatch.
Worth the ticket price
just to hear Samuel L. Jackson say bollocks and shagging in his best English
accent. "Dogs bollocks is good and just bollocks is bad,
right?"
