The 51st State (2001)

Director:

Ronny Yu

Writer (WGA):

Stel Pavlou (written by)

Release Date:

18 October 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

Nice Wheels. Dirty Deals. And One Mean Mother In A Kilt.

Plot:

An American master chemist plans to score big on a once in a lifetime drug deal. All does not go as planned and he is soon entangled in a web of deceit.

Plot Keywords:

Chemist | Ex Girlfriend | Drugs | Liverpool | Drug Use

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Samuel L. Jackson	...	Elmo McElroy
Nigel Whitmey	...	L.A. Highway Patrol
Robert Jezek	...	Priest
Emily Mortimer	...	Dakota Parker
Meat Loaf	...	The Lizard
Jake Abraham	...	Konokko
Mac McDonald	...	Mr. Davidson
Aaron Swartz	...	Mr. Yuri
David Webber	...	Mr. Jones
Michael J. Reynolds	...	Mr. Escobar
Sonny Muslim	...	Boy in Plane
Barbara Barnes	...	Boy's Mother
Junix Inocian	...	Mr. Ho-Fat
Robert Carlyle	...	Felix DeSouza
Paul Barber	...	Frederick

Also Known As:

Formula 51 (USA)
Formule 51 (Canada: French title)
Baladas, Rachas E um Louco de Kilt (Brazil) [pt]
Chemical 51 (Japan: English title) [en]
Codice 51 (Italy) [it]
Dinero sucio (Argentina) (video title) [es]
Fórmula 51 (Brazil) (video title) [pt]
Kaava 51 (Finland) [fi]
Le 51e état (France) [fr]
Negocios sucios (Spain) [es]
Negocios sucios (The 51st state) (Spain) [es]
Oraia mera gia na pethaneis (Greece) [el]
Valem 51 (Estonia) [et]

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, language, drug content and some sexuality.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

UK | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

New Zealand:R18 | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:18A | Finland:K-15 (re-rating) | Finland:K-18 (original rating) | Germany:16 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Singapore:NC-16 (original rating) | Singapore:M18 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK

Company:

Alliance Atlantis Communications

Goofs:

Continuity: At the start of the chase when McElroy and DeSuza get in to the red Jaguar and turn round, you can clearly see damage to the front headlight and bodywork before the car has even bumped in to anything.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Elmo: I mean, rules are like, arbitrary, you know. Made up for people who believe in fairy tales like, you know, like Santa Claus. Hey, but not us, right? I mean, we know what's important. There's a war going on, man. A war. Ain't that a bitch?
[cop sucks his teeth]
Elmo: I just graduated today, man. With honors. Got my degree in pharmacology. I'm licensed. Look, if you write me up on this drug charge, I won't be able to practice. So what we're talking about here is, is my life. The rest of it.
[cop lights joint, takes one hit, then discards it]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "HBO First Look: Formula 51 (#9.16)" (2002)

Soundtrack:

Warrior

Brilliant film. Funny, loud and outragous

The thing I like most about the 51st State is that it seems calculated to annoy pretentious idiots with their heads stuck up their own bottoms. It doesn't take itself seriously at all, and is therefore a very good psychological device that can employed to weed out those people that do. I LOVE the fact that it's an American style movie but that it takes place on English shores. Who on earth wrote the rule that if it's British it needs to look crap, have bad acting, have laughable dialogue (Guy Ritchie) and generally be embarrassing to watch? We live in a global age, and The 51st State is very much a global movie appealing to people in whatever country they happen to be. Hence British writer. American Star. Hong Kong Director.

AND IT'S A DAMN GOOD LAUGH. SEE IT!!!!