LAYER CAKE caught me by surprise, from trailers it was safe to assume I could settle for a low-focus style action comedy/drama just to chuck up a laptop and have it on in the background, I was very wrong.

Although its presentation is very reminiscent of a classical action film the film is very mature and sparse with its use of action and tends to focus a ridiculous amount of depth on the inner workings of the drug trade itself. Daniel Craig lends a solid performance to the film and it easy to see early in his career the bond blood in his veins. His natural leadership despite his young appearance makes for a character strung up by the doubt from his peers, and in some ways from the audience as it becomes quickly apparent how brilliant his reactivity is to plot scenarios. The way the story intertwines itself in absolution, whilst not compromising the realist perspective of life in crime is a joy to watch and never questionable, each plot device and decision has a level or "Layer" of its own justification.

This is a film that demands a re-watch just to re-consider each name unapologetically thrown into the mix as cartels and drug lords butt heads. It is a film that never attempts to compromise itself for its viewer and its use of action and violence is brutal but not gratuitous, and only accompanies a point of urgency. Editing has moments of flash and sub-par cutting that throw off narration and cutaway scenes which can be distracting for the time being but other than a few technical hiccups it is a well paced experience.

7.3/10