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Formula 51 (aka The 51st State)(2002)
Plot: An American chemist comes to Britain to sell his new high powered recreational drug. He ends up teamed up with a local hitman as they try to arrange the deal while chased by an assassin and the police.
News:
23 August, 2002
We've got a variety of clips from the movie for you to check out today.
"Let's make sure."
"You're negotiating with me?"
"Where's my formula?"
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19 August, 2002
What follows is my review of the script. It's a positive review but does contain some spoilers so if you don't want to know too much, you might want to skip past to the pictures below.
Howdy folks, once again your friendly neighborhood webmaster reporting from the Adirondacks in upstate New York. I'm on a mini-vacation to show off my baby boy to his relatives. The peace and quiet here is very conducive to writing so you're getting my review of the script for The 51st State by Stel Pavlou. The script is listed as being the drector's draft revised October 1999. Internet rumors indiate that the script has been rewritten several times but I won't speculate on the accuracy of such rumors. Let's just say that it's probable that the script changed somewhat in the time between this draft and the start of shooting. Ronny Yu was scheduled to direct the film, which would star Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Carlyle and Meat Loaf.
The script could best be described as in the vein of British gangster films like Guy Ritchie's Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. It goes for considerably more humor though and is laced with numerous sly nods to the films that inspired it. It works on the buddy cop formula but twists it by instead making the criminals the buddies. So we're on familiar ground but the writer was trying to find ways to be different.
The main character is one Elmo McElroy (Jackson). He is a chemist working for a crimelord known as The Lizard (Meat Loaf). McElroy has just developed a new recreational drug that puts crack, heroine, opium and pot all to shame. Even scarier, he concocted this mixture out of items that can be purchased over the counter in any pharmacy.
McElroy
Here's the deal. HF-51 fools the brain into thinking you just took every single drug there is. Coke, acid, ecstasy. HF-51's just like your girlfriend wriggling on your cock telling you you're the biggest man she's ever been with. To your average doped up fuck-head it's 51 times more powerful than cocaine. 51 times more explosive than acid. 51 times more giggles than ecstasy.
(pause)HF-51. It's like a personal visit from God.The Lizard calls a big meeting of major dealers from all over the globe to arrange sales. McElroy has other ideas though, double crossing The Lizard by rigging a bomb to take him and the rest of the syndicate out. McElroy then hightails it to Liverpool to arrange his own deal. One problem though: The Lizard survived and proceeds to hire his favorite assassin, a woman sharpshooter by the name of Dakota.
McElroy arrives in Liverpool, anxious to deal his formula for the drug HF-51. Problem is his contact has vanished to be replaced by an obnoxious hitman by the name of Felix DeSouza (Carlyle). Felix doesn't want to babysit this kilt wearing American (yes a kilt) but his boss wants that formula, so no sneaky killing of McElroy. The meeting is arranged and begun, only to be disrupted by Dakota, under orders from The Lizard to stop a deal and capture McElroy.
The pair manage to escape. Now McElroy drives Felix to find a new deal for the formula. They travel the city, chased by Dakota, a psychotic police detective and a group of skinheads.
This was a fun script to read. The characters are wildly colorful and the situations are lively and unusual. Yes we've seen the buddy formula a million times before but usually the pair is a wildman and a straightman. In this story, both men are pretty extreme, which means they are more antagonistic and unpredictable than normal buddy pairings. It also means that they are so intent on their arguing that they tend to deadpan through tough situations.
McElroy is an angry paranoid individual. He is not at all shy about inflicting pain and damage on others if it suits his purposes.
McElroy
(raises a finger)
You need medical attention. You're gettin' weak. See this? See my finger?Felix nods, trying to concentrate, when BANG! McElroy punches him with his other fist. Felix goes down like a sack of spuds.
McElroy
Oh, I'm sorry! Did that surprise the shit outta you? Only Lawrence bein' dead sure as hell surprised the shit outta me! He was my only contact here. You fucked my deal 'fore it ever started! You owe me BIG!Felix on the other hand is a motormouth with no respect for anyone but himself. He has an even bigger attitude problem when it comes to Americans.
Felix
Nah, I ain't got a 'problem', Lawrence... I've got a big, fat, swollen, sore, pus-ridden fucker of a problem. I'm in Florida and I'm asked: Do we 'ave Thanksgivin'?! Shit! I fuckin' wish! Celebrate getting rid of them stupid twats! 'Ere's one - what's the definition of a Yankee ?
(no response)
It's like a quickie only ya do it to y'self!A potential problem could be the casting. The script sounds like it was written with Carlyle and Jackson specifically in mind. That means these two won't be stretching themselves at all. Of course it also means we know that they can handle the roles. If you want more of the same from these two you're in luck. If not, well there are plenty of other films coming out.
This script is fairly strange so it will require a certain suspension of disbelief to accept. For instance, I was never sure what kept these two guys together. I never understood the Mad Dougal character and The Lizard was way over the top. The detective Kane is inexplicably violent and inneffective. If taken individually these items could put you off but when blended together they develop an offbeat charm that I found entertaining. Execution will be vital to make this material work. A fine line has to be tread to avoid going over into camp humor. Something this outrageous has to be played serious or it will never be taken seriously.
The style of the script leans heavily on the local color and accent of Liverpool residents. This is the sort of film that American audiences may struggle to understand because of the accents. That would be a shame though. That accent, style and rhythm contribute greatly to the script's charm. While the script may not present the city in the best light it amused me considerably for an afternoon. And that is all I can really ask from a script.
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18 August, 2002
We've got tons of multimedia goodies for you on this picture today. There are a bunch of photos below from the movie. Take note of Sam Jackson in a kilt and the fascinating outfit on the assassin known as Dakota. Then there is the poster, which you can see to the right. I particularly like the way it integrates story elements like M&M's and Felix's obsession with soccer/football. If that isn't enough, we've also got links to the trailer in various formats.
Windows Media
Real Player
Quicktime:
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