THE LIMEY (1999)

Directed By: Steven Soderbergh
Written By: Lem Dobbs
Cinematography By: Ed Lachman
Editor: Sarah Flack

CAST: Terrence Stamp, Peter Fonda, Luis Guzman, Nicky Katt, Joe Dellasandro, Lesley Ann Warren, Bill Duke, Melissa George


This film is a marvel it is one of the many Steven Soderbergh films that is aimed at mainstream audiences while maintaining experimental techniques to tell the story. But it is one of the earliest ones before he started directing big budget blockbusters and stars.

One of the great ideas of this film is that Terrence Stamp’s character seems like he is this bad ass criminal suave and dangerous but everytime you think he is going to do something cool he stumbles and he gets what he wants but putting in a lot more work then you originally thought and not as thorough. Slowly you begin to realize he is more like a thug. Not only that but he is a man out of his element he has been locked up for so long that he has no knowledge of modern times and how things work nowadays. Along the way he gets a sidekick of sorts who has to be his guide through all of this who doesn’t exactly know what he has gotten himself involved in. He thinks he is helping a friend’s father track down her last boyfriend. Not helping him get revenge on the man he believes murdered his daughter. In fact Luis Guzman and Terrence Stamp in there respective roles almost make this team up like a buddy comedy only taken a bit more seriously.

The film builds up what seems to be a conspiracy but by the time you get to all the answers it ends up being rather simple. The film focuses on men who have grown older and with it so has there skills. Now they are shadows of what they used to be but still vibrant. It’s a grade a thriller that allows for a surprising amount of comedy. Not stupid comedy but more high brow type. The film revolves more around characters then plot. Though there is a abundance of the later.

There is never a false note in this film it is abundantly enjoyable and it appeals to mainstream and arty audiences. The casting of more character actors then flashy young stars add a afged lived in weight to the film. We have older charactyers trying to fit into modern times that are rapidly changing and them realizing they don't necessarily fit into them anymore. they are at the twilight of their years.

This film brilliantly uses scenes from a film Terrence stamp starred in when he was younger named POOR COW as flashbacks for his character in his youth and it plays perfectly into the story we are watching.

I don’t know how this film became a undiscovered gem. When it came out it caused quite a stir but all the noise has died down over the years. It doesn’t deserve to. I am even willing to say this is not only one of my favorite Steven Sodebergh films but I truly believe one of his top 5 best of all time.

This is definitely a film to add to your library.

GRADE: A