Review of The Limey (1999) by Allan C — 26 Nov 2015

The past large looms large in this revenge film which casts Baby Boomer counter culture icons Terence Stamp and Peter Fonda, (Barry Newman of "Vanishing Point" fame and Joe Dellesandro of various Warhol films also appear), to which director Steven Soderbergh uses to it's fullest.

Stamp plays a British ex-con who comes to LA following the death of his daughter, which was under suspicious circumstances, and is looking for answers and revenge upon the music producer mogul, Fonda, who was dating her at the time and who he believes is responsible.

This film doesn't have the pacing of an action film and the action that the film does have is often subdued. The film has a dreamlike quality and I think that's the point of the film, that these baby boomers are now past their time and yet continue to exist in a time and place very unlike the prime days of their youth.

However, I may be reading more into the film and it may be more simply a revenge picture with a theme about family. Either way, the film is excellent. Not all of the film works, as it is rather indulgent in parts to no real purpose of the whole (such as Nikky Katt's comic quips on a movie set or Stamp's monologues with over-the-top cockney slang), but that can be forgiven for the film's may delights.

Stamp is absolutely commanding gin the lead and is the best part of the film, but Fonda is also deliciously slimy. I've also always been fascinated by bagman type of characters and Barry Newman is great as the guy who's likely been cleaning up Fonda's messes for year.

Nikki Katt is also memorable as a hitman with his mute partner, Dellesandro. Katt has been acting for years, but this was the first film where I really took note of him. Soderbergh's regular composter Cliff Martinez also gives the film a hypnotic score that complements the films dream-like reality.

You also get Bill Duke in an uncredited one scene role. Overall, this film is flawed, but a wonderful treat for fans of old style revenge pictures or of Soderbergh.