Formula 51 (2001)
"The 51st State" (original title)

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.

Director:

Ronny Yu

Writer:

Stel Pavlou

Stars:

Samuel L. Jackson, Nigel Whitmey, Emily Mortimer

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Elmo McElroy is a streetwise American master chemist who heads to England to sell his special new formula - a powerful, blue concoction guaranteed to take you to 'the 51st state.' McElroy's new product delivers a feeling 51 times more powerful than any thrill, any pleasure, any high in history. But his plans for a quick, profitable score go comically awry when he gets stuck in Liverpool with an unlikely escort and his ex-girlfriend and becomes entangled in a bizarre web of double-dealing and double-crosses.

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Plot Keywords:

chemist | liverpool | drugs | drug lord | covered in blood | 

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Taglines:

Have a good trip.

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures [us]

Country:

UK Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 October 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Formula 51

Filming Locations:

1302 Palmetto St, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$28,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$57,988 (South Africa) (31 January 2003)

Gross:

$57,988 (South Africa) (31 January 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alliance Atlantis Communications, Focus Films, Fifty First Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the second film 'Robert Carlyle' and Paul Barber have done together. The first was The Full Monty in 1997.

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Goofs

When Felix and McElroy jump the Jaguar onto the garbage barge, you can clearly see that there is nobody there. Then, after the car comes to a stop and they get out, Popeye and his crew are just sitting there, a few feet away on the same garbage piles they crashed into.

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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.
[...]

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Connections

References Payback (1999)

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Soundtracks

"Good Fortune"
Written by P.J. Harvey (as Harvey)
Published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd.
Performed by P.J. Harvey (as PJ Harvey)
Courtesy of Universal-Island Records Ltd.
Licensed by kind permission from the Film & TV Division, Part of the Universal Music Group

User Reviews

Clearly Worships its Idols, but Can't Hope to Match Them

Bearing a wealth of guns, drugs, quirky characters and fiery chase scenes, this desperately wants to be a cool, slick, suave black comedy in the same vein as Pulp Fiction or Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. With none of the panache, authenticity, or cornerstone performances that made its forefathers into modern classics, though, it comes off as a weak, uncertain impersonation instead. The plot plays it loose and loopy, with characters losing sight of their own motivations between set changes, and becomes especially doublecross-happy as the credits near. Samuel L. Jackson plays the only part of note, as nothing more than his standard blue-lipped hardass, while Emily Mortimer is thoroughly unconvincing as a cold-blooded killer and Meat Loaf occupies the bizarre role of a drug-dealing Macguffin who constantly speaks in the third-person. Forgettable, shallow and bland.