A gangster film featuring acclaimed actors Daniel Craig and Tom Hardy has found a new home on streaming platforms in the UK. Layer Cake, which marks the directorial debut of Matthew Vaughn, is now available for viewers on Prime Video. The film, based on J.J. Connell’s own novel from 2000, delves into the intricate criminal underworld of London.
In Layer Cake, Craig portrays an unnamed cocaine distributor who prefers to navigate his illicit business with a semblance of legitimacy, eschewing violence. As the protagonist, he is poised to retire from his life of crime, only to be interrupted by a call from his boss, Jimmy Price, played by Kenneth Cranham. Price assigns him two challenging tasks: locating Charlie, the drug-addicted daughter of an associate, and overseeing a significant ecstasy purchase from the dubious low-level criminal known as the Duke, portrayed by Jamie Foreman.
The film’s ensemble cast includes Sienna Miller as Tammy and Ben Whishaw as Sidney, alongside Hardy, who takes on the role of Clarkie. Critics have responded favorably to Layer Cake, awarding it a Certified Fresh status on Rotten Tomatoes, with an impressive 81% rating based on 141 reviews.
The Washington Post lauded the film as a “classic gangster saga,” praising its stylish execution and thematic depth, particularly in showcasing the collision of rival criminal enterprises. Similarly, the London Evening Standard highlighted the film’s “uniformly excellent” cast and applauded Vaughn’s direction as a vital component in enhancing the genre’s trademark twists and turns.
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Variety added to the acclaim, noting the film’s realistic portrayal of a caste-like system within the criminal world, which aligns closely with the film’s title. The review emphasized the film’s authentic feel in illustrating the intersections of wealth and crime.
Currently, Craig is appearing in theaters in the latest installment of Rian Johnson’s Knives Out series, titled Wake Up Dead Man, where he reprises his role as detective Benoit Blanc.
Fans of gritty narratives and compelling character arcs can now enjoy Layer Cake on Prime Video, further expanding the availability of Vaughn’s notable works, which also include Stardust and the Kingsman series.
