Formula 51
by Ronny Yu
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Emily Mortimer, Nigel Whitmey, Robert Carlyle, Robert Jezek, Samuel L. JacksonDirector: Ronny Yu
Brand: Sony
Producer: Andras Hamori
Producer: David Pupkewitz
Producer: Eli Selden
Producer: Jonathan Debin
Producer: Julie Yorn
Producer: Malcolm Kohll
Writer: Stel Pavlou
DVD: Region Code 99
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled)
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 92 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-02-04
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures
Movie Reviews of Formula 51
Movie Review: [3.5 stars]-Samuel L. Jackson in a Kilt!.....now that's funny
Summary: 3 Stars
This film is all about style, humor and pace and not about character or plotting. In this regard it is an enjoyable ride, albeit a silly and energetic one. The hyper directing from Yu really suits this and he does well even if he is not really very original in regards his shots etc. The editing fits with the formula set by Ritchie and is pretty much what you expect. What makes the film stand out from the rest of the copies is that it actually is quite good fun to watch (as opposed to some copies that are just cheap and nasty) - never hilarious but it is energetic enough to pull you along with it no matter how silly it gets. Of course it has weak points - a few characters are too daft and, whenever the overall plot is the main focus then it struggles.
Despite this the cast do well to keep things moving and they play a massive part in making this work. Jackson may not be doing anything new or wonderful here but he is key to the film working and he is worth every penny they must have paid him. He has great presence and he brings a lot of fun and energy to the film in a way that his lesser co-stars cannot. Carlyle is a good actor but he pales in comparison to Jackson in this - he isn't helped by the awful accent he is lumbered with and the fact that he is a little irritating. Mortimer is annoying as her character is just daft in the context of the plot, but not as annoying as Meatloaf who is easily the worst thing in the film. The support cast includes reasonable turns from Pertwee, Ifans, Tomlinson and Barber but this is Jackson's film 100% and it is difficult to imagine it being as enjoyable without him.
`Formula 51' a.ka.'51 States' moves fast, slick, and clearly had a bit of cash thrown at it and, apart from a handful of stupidly silly moments, is actually quite fun to watch - even if it is almost instantly forgettable. The cast includes quite a few well-known faces but it is the great presence of Jackson (who looks like he is enjoying himself in an undemanding role) that makes this worth seeing. If you are a fan of Snatch and Lock Stocking, you will definitely recognize the ingredients of this movie.
Summary of Formula 51
This is the story of elmo mcelroy a streetwise american master chemist who heads to england to set up his last big deal - to introduce a new designer drug to the eurpoean market. Mcelroy soon becomes embroiled in a war of double-dealing as hes escorted around liverpools underworld. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 11/15/2005 Starring: Samuel L. Jackson Emily Mortimer Run time: 93 minutes Rating: R Director: Ronny YuWildly entertaining but riddled with as many plot holes as bullets, Formula 51 (a.k.a. The 51st State) is a love-it-or-hate-it action comedy that plays like Tarantino on the Thames. It's a raucous hash, highlighted by the sheer pleasure of Samuel L. Jackson--in a kilt, no less--strutting his stuff among denizens of the British underworld. As freelance chemist Elmo McElroy (whose tartan attire remains glibly unexplained), Jackson is perfectly teamed with The Full Monty's Robert Carlyle in a scam involving Elmo's latest pharmaceutical concoction, which promises to yield a fortune on the rave scene. This attracts a loopy British kingpin (the outrageous Rhys Ifans), Elmo's vengeful ex-boss (Meat Loaf), a corrupt cop (Sean Pertwee), and a lovely assassin (Emily Mortimer) with a soft spot for Carlyle. They're all given generous helpings of Stel Pavlou's profanely zesty dialogue, and director Ronny Yu strikes a breezy balance between rampant hilarity and blood-splattering violence. If that's your cup of tea, Formula 51 guarantees a satisfying buzz. --Jeff Shannon
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