{image1}When Matthew Vaughn makes his directorial debut, as he does in the new Brit tough guy flick "Layer Cake," one sort of knows what to expect. After all, Vaughn produced the films "Snatch" and "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels."
"Layer Cake" has been cooked up from the same ingredients as those films: a good script loaded with hard man dialogue, fine acting and some good edge-of-your-seat moments. It's enjoyable, even though the most casual viewer will often be able to predict what will happen next.
So, when the unnamed main character says he's getting out of the crime game, we know full well that he's not. Otherwise, let's face it, there's no picture is there?
Polite, seemingly smart and thoroughly professional, our nameless hero (Daniel Craig) has an aversion to guns and likes to conduct his cocaine and ecstasy sales as if they were stocks and bonds or luxury cars.
But, still, he's tired of the game and wants out for a little rest and relaxation. But first, the big man Jimmy Price (Kenneth Cranham) wants him to do a little favor and find his friend's missing drug-addicted daughter. This job may present a few problems.
But it might not be as bad as some other business in Amsterdam that appears to be going awry. Our man has become embroiled in a messy ecstasy deal involving the hot-headed and inexperienced The Duke (Jamie Foreman) and his even more unbalanced girlfriend.
Our main man just might be looking to get out of the business and retire because he's gotten tired of the secret alliances and back-stabbing that are rife in the drug world.
Even those around him, who appear to be on his side, also seem ready to turn on him with a minute's notice. Folks like Gene (Colm Meany), who is a Jimmy loyalist, for example.
The story has been adapted for the screen by J.J. Connolly from his novel of the same name and it's a taut script loaded with modern-day gangster talk. Our hero is the picture of a smart, under-the-radar criminal and Craig walks him through the movie deftly.
If, in the end, you felt like some of the gangster blather was a bit over the top and bits and pieces of the film were predictable, you won't have regretted most of it. That's because "Layer Cake" is riveting and is the rare film in its genre in which the audience may actually feel something for the hero. Even though he's a bad guy.
"Layer Cake" opens Friday, June 3 at Landmark's Oriental Theatre.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
