Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
Writing credits: J.J. Connolly
Movie Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller
Released: 2004
Running Time: 105 minutes
Rating: 18VSLN
Layer Cake (also spelled L4yer Cake) is a 2004 British gangster thriller, directed by Matthew Vaughn. It is based on a novel of the same name by J.J. Connolly.
The unnamed hero is a suave, polite businessman, just like any other. Except the commodities he sells are drugs and his business associates aren't the type to nip off for a round of golf, or have you round for dinner.
He has survived and thrived in the business for so long because he keeps his ear low to the ground and keeps his hands clean: no violence, no problem. And now, having made his fortune, he's ready to retire.
The only problem is when you're in a business like the drug market, getting out is the hardest thing to do.
Crime boss Jimmy Price is prepared to let him go, but he has to run two errands first. He has to track down the missing drug addict daughter of criminal Eddie Temple then sell a huge shipment of ecstasy to The Duke, a loose cannon crook well out of his depths.
Two jobs then freedom, that's the deal - it sounds easy enough, but XXXX's about to find that his world is going to turn upside down and inside out.
Layer Cake is the directorial debut of Matthew Vaughn who produced two other British crime movies - Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch.