Hey folks, Harry here with a look at THE 51ST STATE over in England... George Lucas watched this the other day, wonder what he thought. Well, we'll never know so here's what Voorhees thought... and he does have spoilers....
Greetings from our side of the pond Harry, I've just got back from a London press screening of Samuel L Jackson's latest The 51st state and I thought I'd share my views with you guys. Oh and by the way its real late here so go easy on the flames people.
51st state is a real mixture of cliches. A drug dealer called Elmo McElroy (Jackson) who only deals drugs because of one bad mistake he made 30 years ago, comes to England to push his wonder drug and get the one last big score that'll set him up for his retirement. Of course the deal goes sour and Elmo has to team up with local lad and Al-round anti American Felix De Sousa (Robert Carlyle) in order to find a new buyer. Elmo and Felix are of course the classic mismatched buddies who hate each other but need each other, throw into the mix a hit woman close on Elmo's trail who just happens to be Felix's ex girl friend, Elmo's ex mob boss who wants the wonder drug formula for himself and a policeman who doesn't exactly play by the rules and you've got yourself a crash bang comedy thriller that hasn't got to many original bones in its body but it does have good times running through its veins. Jacksons performance is nothing short of what we've all come to expect from the man who constantly redefines cool. Elmo McElroy is pretty much Pulp fiction's Jules but in a kilt! yeap thats right Sam the man spends almost all the movie sporting a nice tartan kilt and of course he makes it look good. When Elmos not creating wonder drugs it seems he likes to play a little golf as the only thing apart from his drugs that he brings to England are his golf clubs although he doesn't always see it fit to use them in the traditional manner. Mr Jackson treats as to what might be a little peep of whats to come in episode 2 by using his 1 wood to pull some jedi knight ninja shit on a few would be attackers. Lemme tell you guys this dude can kick ass and chew bubble gum. If Sam had been around to face of against Darth Maul, Liam Neeson would be in Attack of the clones, of that I have no doubt.
The rest of the main cast are recognisable faces, Robert Carlyle is believable as the love torn gangster who just wants to get this deal done so he can make it to a football match. The only thing letting Carlyle down is his scouse accent witch is mostly fine but in times of real expression it breaks. This is very obvious in a scene where Felix and Elmo square off in a shouting match and of course neither wants to back down, Begbie vs Jules! people place your bets. Rhys Ifans shows up as a possible buyer for Elmo's product putting in another predictably zany performance as the yoga fanatic and drug pusher. Ifans does provide some laughs but it seems that he is struggling to find a new way to deliver the same routine. The big bad boss from America who wants Elmo's head on a plate is played by Meatloaf and while he is ok in the role I couldn't help but shake the feeling that he was only given the role to heighten the films profile. Emily Mortimer who I last saw in Disney's The Kid is the ex girlfriend hit woman and very nicely she does it too. Playing cool, calm and calculating with sexy, sharp and sassy. The rest of the main cast are all fine in there roles but would be more familiar to people on this side of the Atlantic. Ricky Tomlinson and Paul Barber both play parts a million miles from there Tv roles and Sean Pertwee is the bent copper. Ronnie Yu has the directors chair and he never stops that camera moving. We're treated to lotsa fast cuts and even few MTV style camera tricks and all to the beat of a great sound track spanning hip hop, rock and dance. Yu does a stand up job keeping the film moving and fresh so there's always something on screen to hold your attention.
There's a lot of comedy in this film too and its nicely of set by moments of tension or violence. Cars jumping from docks onto boats, skin-heads losing control of there bowels, an unfortunate guy who stomach explodes curtesy of Elmos creativity and of course that Jedi knight ninja golf scene. So despite its familiar feel this movie offers a helluva lot. For the price of a ticket you get laughs, blood, sex, drugs and Sam being the man what the hell else do you want? they already made Citizen Kane.
Voorhees (ch ch ch chhhh aah ahh ah ahhhhhhhh)
