The Limey (1999)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Steven Soderbergh

Writer (WGA):

Lem Dobbs (written by)

Release Date:

4 August 1999 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Vengeance knows no boundaries.

Plot:

An extremely volatile and dangerous Englishman goes to Los Angeles to find the man he considers responsible for his daughter's death.

Plot Keywords:

Actress | Father Daughter Relationship | Cockney Rhyming Slang | Swimming Pool | Cockney Gangster

Awards:

1 win & 8 nominations

Cast

Terence Stamp	...	Wilson
Lesley Ann Warren	...	Elaine
Luis Guzmán	...	Eduardo Roel (as Luis Guzman)
Barry Newman	...	Jim Avery
Joe Dallesandro	...	Uncle John (as Joe Dallessandro)
Nicky Katt	...	Stacy the Hitman
Peter Fonda	...	Terry Valentine
Amelia Heinle	...	Adhara
Melissa George	...	Jennifer 'Jenny' Wilson
William Lucking	...	Warehouse Foreman
Matthew Kimbrough	...	Tom Johannson
John Robotham	...	Rick (Valentine's Bodyguard)
Steve Heinze	...	Larry (Valentine's Bodyguard)
Nancy Lenehan	...	Lady on Plane
Wayne Pére	...	Pool Hall Creep (as Wayne Péré)
John Cothran Jr.	...	DEA Guy
Ousaun Elam	...	DEA Guy (as Ousan Elam)
Dwayne McGee	...	DEA Guy
Brian Bennet	...	DEA Guy
Allan Graf	...	Gordon (Valentine's Head Bodyguard)
Carl Ciarfalio	...	Warehouse Thug (as Carl Ciarflio)
George Marshall Ruge	...	Warehouse Thug (as George Ruge)
Lincoln Simonds	...	Warehouse Thug
Rainbow Borden	...	Warehouse Sweeper
Michaela Gallo	...	Young Jennifer
Jose Perez	...	Teen Gun Dealer
Alex Perez	...	Teen Gun Dealer
Brandon Keener	...	Excited Guy
Jim Jenkins	...	Party Guy
Mark Gerschwin	...	Party Guy #2
Johnny Sanchez	...	Valet
Brooke Marie Bridges	...	Child Actress
Randy Lowell	...	Director
Eva Rodriguez	...	Ed's Sister
James Earl Olmedo	...	Ed's Nephew
Jamie Lin Olmedo	...	Ed's Niece
Clement Blake	...	Pool Hall Bartender (as Clement E. Blake)
Tom Pardoe	...	Party Bartender
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George Clooney	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Bill Duke	...	Head DEA Agent (uncredited)
David Ward	...	Edward Ford (Cab Driver) (uncredited)
Carol White	...	Wilson's Wife (archive footage) (uncredited)

Directed by
Steven Soderbergh

Writing credits (WGA)
Lem Dobbs		(written by)

Produced by
John Hardy	....	producer
Scott Kramer	....	producer

Original Music by
Cliff Martinez

Cinematography by
Edward Lachman		(as Ed Lachman)

Film Editing by
Sarah Flack

Casting by
Debra Zane

Production Design by
Gary Frutkoff

Set Decoration by
Kathryn Peters

Costume Design by
Louise Frogley

Makeup Department
Ken Chase	....	makeup artist
Bonnie Clevering	....	key hair stylist
Raqueli Dahan	....	makeup artist
Deborah Mills-Whitlock	....	hair stylist
Waldo Sanchez	....	hair stylist
Rick Sharp	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Frederic W. Brost	....	unit production manager (as Fred Brost)
Pat Chapman	....	unit production manager
Caitlin Maloney	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lisa J. Bloch	....	second second assistant director (as Lisa Bloch)
Vincent G. Gonzales	....	additional second assistant director (as Vincent Gonzales)
David Hallinan	....	second assistant director (as Dave Hallinan)
Gregory Jacobs	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Peter Bankins	....	property master
Andrea Brody	....	art department assistant
Jon J. Bush	....	set dresser (as Jon Bush)
David Elton	....	on-set dresser
Harry Frierson	....	set dresser
Kris Fuller	....	set dresser
Christine Hughen	....	shopper
Blair Huizingh	....	art department coordinator
Michael Koellner	....	set dresser
Alberto Christiano Lombardo	....	assistant property master (as Alberto Lombardo)
R. Patrick McGee	....	set dresser
Chris Patterson	....	on-set dresser (as Chris T. Patterson)
David C. Potter	....	lead man
Stuart Rankine	....	propmaster: additional photography
Scott Shordon	....	stand-by painter (as Scott P. Shordon)

Sound Department
David Betancourt	....	foley mixer
Larry Blake	....	sound re-recording mixer
Larry Blake	....	supervising sound editor
Carrie Cashman	....	foley recordist
Mike Chock	....	sound editor (as Michael Chock)
Perry Dodgson	....	boom operator
Ezra Dweck	....	sound editor
Dawn Fintor	....	foley artist
Eric Flickinger	....	sound re-recordist: Vine Street
Tom Fox	....	utility sound
Aaron Glascock	....	all-purpose sound editor
James Morioka	....	assistant sound editor
John Pospisil	....	sound editor
Melissa Sherwood Hofmann	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Melissa S. Hofmann)
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley artist
Patrick Stoltz	....	sound re-recording engineer: Vine Street (as Pat Stoltz)
Marvin Walowitz	....	sound editor
James E. Webb	....	production sound mixer (as Jim Webb)

Special Effects by
Scott Garcia	....	special effects assistant
Kevin Hannigan	....	special effects coordinator
Eric Rylander	....	special effects foreman

Visual Effects by
Scott Dougherty	....	visual effects producer: Cinesite (uncredited)
Vincent Lavares	....	digital asset manager (uncredited)
Tiffany Smith	....	visual effects production coordinator: Cinesite (uncredited)

Stunts
Christie Hayes	....	stunt double: Melissa George
Eddie Matthews	....	stunts (as Ed Matthews)
Noon Orsatti	....	stunts
Jeff Ramsey	....	stunts
John Robotham	....	stunt coordinator
Jason Rodriguez	....	stunts
Kerry Rossall	....	stunts
Peter Stader	....	stunts
Brian J. Williams	....	stunts (as Brian Williams)

Camera and Electrical Department
Craig Aines	....	rigging grip
Gary Brostrom	....	key rigging grip (as Gary A. Brostrom)
Kevin Brown	....	electrician
Charles John Bukey	....	key grip
Russell Caldwell	....	best boy electric
Robert Clancey	....	rigging grip
Thomas Currna	....	grip
John W. DeBlau	....	gaffer (as John DeBlau)
Ray De La Motte	....	camera operator (as Ray de la Motte)
Stacy De La Motte	....	camera loader (as Stacy de la Motte)
Julian Del Valle	....	light balloon technician
Gary Dunham	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Frank Endewardt	....	electrician
Tammy Fouts	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Mike Hall	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Keith Hartley	....	rigging electrician
Richard Hartley	....	rigging gaffer
Roman Jakobi	....	electrician
Eric Lopez	....	electrician
Bob Marshak	....	still photographer
Daisuke Dice Miyake	....	grip (as Daisuke 'Dice' Miyake)
Robert W. Morgenroth	....	video supervisor (as Bob Morgenroth)
Lionel T. Portugal Sr.	....	grip (as Lionel Portugal Sr.)
Reginald Powell	....	electrician (as Reg Powell)
Jonathon E. Salzman	....	electrician (as Jon Salzman)
Katie Santore	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Paul Threlkeld	....	dolly grip
Dave Tutokey	....	rigging best boy
Marta Weiss	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Paul David Williams	....	best boy grip (as Paul Williams)
Dylan Rush	....	set lighting (uncredited)

Casting Department
Rich King	....	extras casting
Terri Taylor	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Suzanne Cranfill	....	set costumer
Robert Gmuer	....	costumer
Joyce Kogut	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Carol A. Ellison Fleming	....	first assistant editor (as Carol Ellison Fleming)
Angie Luckey	....	assistant editor
Colin J. O'Hara	....	post-production assistant
Dana Ross	....	color timer
Anne Sawyer	....	second assistant editor

Music Department
Buck Damon	....	music consultant
David Piltch	....	musician: bass
Reed Ruddy	....	music recordist: strings, Studio X/Seattle
Amanda Scheer-Demme	....	music supervisor
Jack Smalley	....	conductor: strings
Jack Smalley	....	music arranger: strings
Leanne Ungar	....	music mixer
Leanne Ungar	....	music recordist
Michael Williams	....	musician: piano

Transportation Department
Rich Bennetti	....	picture car coordinator (as Richard Bennetti)
Loren Bess	....	driver
Jon Carpenter	....	transportation coordinator
Gary Cheek	....	driver
Emil Gergov	....	driver
David Glavin	....	driver (as Dave Glavin)
Diane Glavin	....	driver
Leon Glavin	....	driver
David W. Goodman	....	driver
Shane Greedy	....	transportation captain (as Shane S. Greedy)
Jeff Lira	....	driver
Brita McCollough	....	driver
Douglas Miller	....	driver (as Douglas G. Miller)
John Quittner	....	driver
Chance Robertson	....	driver
Chip Robinson	....	driver
Albert C. Rusk	....	driver (as Albert C. Rusk Jr.)
Bruce Shanahan	....	driver
Joseph E. Jones	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Newell Alexander	....	adr loop group
Cassandra Barbour	....	footage clearances provider: Entertainment Clearances
Allan Bragg	....	stand-in: Terence Stamp
Laure Brost	....	accounting assistant
Mitch Carter	....	adr loop group
Brett Cody	....	video coordinator
David Conley	....	production office coordinator
David Cowgill	....	adr loop group
Phylis Decker	....	assistant location manager: Monterey (as Phyllis Decker)
Quinn Donoghue	....	unit publicist
Charles Drake	....	craft service
Ike Eisenmann	....	adr loop group (as Iake Eissinmann)
Elisa Gabrielli	....	adr loop group
Kelli Gillam	....	payroll accountant
Jane E. Graves	....	assistant location manager
Ronald E. Hairston	....	craft service (as Ronald Hairston)
John Hillman	....	assistant accountant
Allissa Juillet	....	production office assistant: Monterey
Cheryl Kurk	....	production accountant
Michael LaCorte	....	set production assistant
Ken Lavet	....	location manager (as Kenneth D. Lavet)
Luisa Leschin	....	adr loop group
Keri Littledeer	....	first aid
Caitlin Maloney	....	assistant: Mr. Soderbergh, Mr. Hardy and Mr. Kramer
Antoine Mascaro	....	caterer
Edie Mirman	....	adr loop group
Lauren Moore	....	stand-in
Colin J. O'Hara	....	production secretary
Ferguson Reid	....	first aid
Nancy Reid	....	assistant production coordinator
David Sabee	....	contractor: strings
Laura Sevier	....	footage clearances provider: Entertainment Clearances
Lynn Struiksma	....	set production assistant
Annie Welles	....	script supervisor
Claudette Wells	....	adr loop group
Julie Adams	....	dialect coach: Terence Stamp (uncredited)
Michelle Gold	....	on-set production assistant (uncredited)
Lauren Moore	....	photo double (uncredited)
Timothy Scott Ralston	....	studio projectionist (uncredited)
Cathy Ziehl	....	studio assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Ken Loach	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Artisan Entertainment

Distributors

• Columbia TriStar Egmont Film Distributors (2000) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Artisan Entertainment (USA)
• Artisan Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Bac Films (France)
• Egmont Entertainment (2000) (Finland) (DVD) (VHS)
• Eurocine (Argentina)
• Highlight Film (Germany)
• Keyfilms Roma
• Nelonen (2003) (2004) (Finland) (TV)
• Nordisk Film (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Xanadeux Company (Japan)

Special Effects

• Cinesite (Hollywood) (image manipulation)
• Illusion Arts (digital effects)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance
• Axium Casting Agency  extras casting
• Axium Payroll Services  payroll services
• Banque Internationale A Luxembourg S.A., London Branch  production financing
• Canal+ Distribution  Poor Cow footage courtesy of
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• City National Bank  production financing
• E=mc²  video display
• Entertainment Clearances  footage clearances
• Film Finance  compeletion bond
• Films (Guernsey) Ltd.  production financing
• Gibson Dunn & Crutcher  financial legal services
• Gourmet on Location  catering
• Howard A. Anderson Company  titles and opticals
• L.A. Mad Dogs  adr voice casting
• Masterwords  cutting continuity
• Medics at the Movies  set medics (uncredited)
• NT Audio Visual  dallies telecine
• RD Negative Cutting  negative cutting
• Seattlemusic  performed score
• Studio X  music recording studio
• Summit Entertainment  foreign sales
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation  foley recording
• Vine Street Studios  re-recording facilities
• Warner Bros. Pictures  Poor Cow footage courtesy of
• Weddington Productions  post-production services
• Werndorf  main titles

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language.

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:18A | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | New Zealand:R13 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Big Sur, California, USA

Company:

Artisan Entertainment

Trivia:

Peter Fonda is shown watching a television program featuring George Clooney. Clooney was in director Steven Soderbergh's previous film, Out of Sight (1998).

Quotes:

Wilson: I'm looking for a different kind of satisfaction.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

Soundtrack:

Spy

Stylish Limey Is Not Your Run of the Mill Crime Thriller

The very stylish and simple "The Limey" has me quite baffled. After digesting this movie for a while, I am still not quite sure what to make of it and more importantly, what exactly is it about. On the surface "The Limey" seems like a straightforward geriatric "Deathwish" with its theme of revenge. Go deeper and it is more a character study of a man who has devoted his entire being to a "life of crime" and dealing with a culture that he is not entirely familiar with. Look sideways and it deals with hard core men who are over-the-hill attempting to hang on to their lost youth and vitality by being tough (even though their bodies can't quite cut it anymore), wearing expensive designer suits with tinted glasses and having very young beautiful women by their side. Whatever the case may be director Steven Soderbergh, of the very sexy and stylish but much more superior "Out of Sight" with George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez, knows who to handle the crime drama/thriller with panache and style like no one else.

Dave Wilson (the very good Terrence Stamp), a smart, intense criminal just released from prison heads to LA from London to look into the somewhat mysterious death of his daughter, who he barely knew. He believes she died at the hands of her boyfriend, legendary and majorly rich record producer Terry Valentine (Peter Fonda) and will not stop until he tracks him down for answers.

The plot here of avenging father seems pretty much lame and not that interesting or complicated at all, but maybe that is the point, not everything in life is extraordinary, in fact much of life is standard, simple and uneventful. But the plot does not so much drive this movie as do the characters. In a world of 16-year-old superstar models, actors and singers, it is totally refreshing to see a movie where the majority of characters are over 40, many over the sixty mark. Even the hitmen of this movie are past their prime. These criminal characters are not your typical stock characters of most crime films, some are regular Joes who happen to have chosen crime as their career aspirations and deal with the same problems as the typical 9 to 5 office worker. As the one hitman hired by Valentine's head security Avery (Barry Newman) says, "I embrace my lifestyle".

While the acting is top notch, especially Stamp, Fonda and Newman, the real star of the film is director, Soderbergh and especially cinematographer Ed Lachman. Soderbergh cuts so many different scenes back and forth with a flair that I have not experienced yet as with a character speaking in one scene and finishing the sentence in another. His use of flashbacks of a young Terrence Stamp incorporating Stamp's 1967 film, "Poor Cow", are not only genius but a great homage to the actor. Also when we first meet the Fonda character, the background music has lyrics that include "easy rider is a curse". Just great. He also seems to get amazing performances from his actors as he did with Clooney and Lopez in last years "Out of Sight". Fonda still riding high from 1997's "Ulee's Gold" does well with the character of Valentine, showing a very vulnerable, insecure and weak man who hides behind wealth and power. Stamp delivers an intense and powerful, yet totally focused, subtle and real performance that is very rare in this film genre. It is a memorable performance and character. Cinematographer, Lachman, does an amazing job with shots that are standard fare, but gives them a different angel that make them stand out such as a scene where Wilson tosses one of Valentine's body guards over a balcony into the canyon below. Your typical cinematographer would have focused on this. Instead Lachman has this scene in the far background while the main shot is of Valentine having a good time at his party feeling totally safe and relaxed in his multi-million dollar home.

So the bottom-line, is "The Limey" a great film, I don't think so. Did I love it, not really. Was I bored with it, no quite. I guess it captured my interest in a different and quiet way that most films don't and for that I recommend it. Also when was the last time you saw 70's semi-icons, Barry Newman (TV's 1974 Petrocelli), Leslie Ann Warren and once hunky Andy Warhol mainstay, Joe Dallesandro. Recommended.