7.4/10
143,541
273 user 151 critic

Layer Cake (2004)

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

Director:

Writers:

(screenplay), (novel)
Reviews
Popularity
982 ( 594)
2 wins & 9 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Brinley Green ...
Nobby
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Dimitri Andreas ...
Angelo
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Garry Tubbs ...
Brian
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Charlie (as Natalie Lunghi)
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Storyline

A successful cocaine dealer, who has earned a respected place among England's Mafia elite, plans an early retirement from the business. However, big boss Jimmy Price hands down a tough assignment: find Charlotte Ryder, the missing rich princess daughter of Jimmy's old pal Edward, a powerful construction business player and gossip papers socialite. Complicating matters are two million pounds' worth of Grade A ecstasy, a brutal Serbian gang and a whole series of double crossings. The title "LAYER CAKE" refers to the layers or levels anyone in business goes through in rising to the top. What is revealed is a modern underworld where the rules have changed. There are no 'codes', or 'families' and respect lasts as long as a line. Not knowing who he can trust, he has to use all his 'savvy', 'telling' and skills which make him one of the best, to escape his own. The ultimate last job, a love interest called Tammy, and an international drug ring threaten to draw him back into the 'cake mix'. ... Written by Anonymous

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong brutal violence, sexuality, nudity, pervasive language and drug use | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

1 October 2004 (UK)  »

Also Known As:

No todo es lo que parece  »

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Box Office

Budget:

£4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£1,090,561 (United Kingdom), 3 October 2004, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$81,706, 15 May 2005, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,338,695, 14 August 2005
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Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

| (US prints)|

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

When XXXX enters the house after his encounter with Eddie Temple, a poster that reads "The Devil's Harvest " is briefly visible on the right side wall. The Devil's Harvest is an Amsterdam based company that ships Marijuana seeds by courier. See more »

Goofs

Just before XXXX meets Lucky in the park, Gene beats him to a bloody pulp. But when he meets with Lucky there are no visible signs of blood or bruises. In the several scenes that follow, the blood and bruises are back. See more »

Quotes

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

The film lacks a traditional opening title. The title Layer Cake appears ten minutes into the film on a door that XXXX walks through. See more »

Connections

Featured in 20 to 1: Hollywood's Hot List (2009) See more »

Soundtracks

Hayling
Written by Daniel Ormondroyd, Jon Nowell, Hafdís Huld and Jon Collyer
Published by Copyright Control
Performed by FC Kahuna
Courtesy of Skint Records
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Frequently Asked Questions

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User Reviews

 
Like a good cake, it gets better with each layer.
9 October 2004 | by – See all my reviews

I was expecting good things and wasn't disappointed. It's been a while since I saw a good British gangster film. Layer Cake filled the void nicely. The acting was good, script was tight and the film was well cast. People I had not seen before were well used in their characters. The film starts out nice and simple but as it progreses it gets quite deep and twisted.

I was most surprised by Colm Meaney, I've ever only known him in Startrek.

But was superbly cast and had a quite menacing air about him.

LC has a few laughs for those with a more twisted sense of humour, it's not obvious comedy either and the film never plays for laughs. Very different to Lock Stock and Snatch. The director did well to move out from Guy Ritchie and make a serious film.


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