What it’s about
Matthew Vaughn's twisty gangster picture concerns a nameless cocaine middleman (Craig) who foolishly believes he's got his risky business well under control and can get out anytime he pleases. However, his cocky efficiency annoys one of his superiors – and soon our hero's tidy little enterprise is turned upside down with a couple of distracting side-bar assignments, which lead to some double (and triple) crosses. Is our nameless anti-hero clever enough to put himself back together again?
Why we love it
Breathless and slick, intelligent and dense, this dynamite thriller marks an auspicious directorial debut for Vaughn, who produced Guy Ritchie's “Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch.” This picture lacks the black humor of these earlier features, but trumps them both on sheer impact and excitement. Craig is terrific in the lead, though two other performances – Colm Meaney as elder crook Gene and Michael Gambon as ringleader Eddie Temple – elevate the film to immediate classic status. I say: let them eat “Cake.”