The Limey (1999)

What do you do when the father of the girl you killed flies over from England to avenge his daughter? Well, to begin with, do not go to your seaside getaway in Big Sur. "The Limey" was written by Lem Dobbs and stars veteran Brit Terrance Stamp as Wilson, our main character. Wilson is the father of Jennifer. Jennifer we find out has died in a car "accident." Wilson is certain that this is not the case and comes to the US, after being released from prison in the UK (He robbed a Pink Floyd concert –nice touch) to avenge his daughter. His only contact in the US is Ed, a friend of Jennifer from her acting class. Ed sent Wilson a letter about the accident and now finds himself a willing participant in the search for Valentine, Jennifer's music promoter boyfriend. Ed is beautifully played by Luis Guzmán, who is, if anything, the master of the sidekick savant. Valentine is played devilishly by Peter Fonda. One brief piece of dialogue regarding the 60's is a master stroke that left me wondering just how much influence Peter Fonda had on the writing; only Peter Fonda could comment on what the 60's were or were not in this scene.

Along for the ride with Wilson and Ed is Jennifer's acting coach, Elaine. Though I liked the character, I didn't quite understand how she could give Wilson a scathing ethics lesson of the morality of murderous vendettas in their first scene and then sign on to the posse in the next. Oh well. The long and the short of it is that, despite a tacked on extra bad guy, "The Limey" is well worth your time. Interesting editing and camera work compliment a screenplay laced with original dialogue and charming one-liners, supplying the viewer with a genuine experience and a truly intelligent crime movie.

Baron's six shooter …

5 slugs outta 6

by Baron Cameron (2000)


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