The 51st State (2001)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

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
Christopher Hunter	...	Lawrence
Stephen Walters	...	Blowfish
James Roach	...	Grimtooth
Sean Pertwee	...	Detective Virgil Kane
Michael Starke	...	Arthur
Ricky Tomlinson	...	Leopold Durant
Rhys Ifans	...	Iki
Ade	...	Omar
Nick Bartlett	...	Trevor
Angus MacInnes	...	Pudsey Smith
Joan Campion	...	Hotel Maid
Terry O'Neill	...	Deck Hand
Anna Keaveney	...	Shirley DeSouza
Marc Anwar	...	Pharmacist
Paul Broughton	...	Anfield Commissionaire
Robert Fyfe	...	Hector Dougal McElroy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gaute Grøtta Grav	...	Rave boy (uncredited)
Paul T. Murray	...	Bones (uncredited)
Stel Pavlou	...	Bouncer (uncredited)
Matt Routledge	...	Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Ronny Yu

Writing credits (WGA)
Stel Pavlou		(written by)

Produced by
Mark Aldridge	....	co-producer
Stephanie Davis	....	executive producer
Jonathan Debin	....	producer
Andras Hamori	....	producer
Samuel L. Jackson	....	executive producer
Malcolm Kohll	....	producer
Seaton McLean	....	producer (as Seaton Mclean)
Stel Pavlou	....	co-producer
David Pupkewitz	....	producer
Eli Selden	....	executive producer
Julie Yorn	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Headrillaz
Casper Kedros
Darius Kedros

Cinematography by
Hang-Sang Poon		(director of photography) (as Poon Hang Sang)

Film Editing by
David Wu

Casting by
Nina Gold

Production Design by
Alan MacDonald		(as Alan Macdonald)

Art Direction by
Grant Armstrong
Hannah Moseley
Philip Robinson		(supervising art director)

Set Decoration by
Anita Gupta
Duncan Wheeler

Costume Design by
Kate Carin

Makeup Department
Allan A. Apone	....	makeup artist: Samuel L. Jackson
Helen Barrett	....	hair stylist
Helen Barrett	....	makeup artist
Christine Beveridge	....	hair designer
Christine Beveridge	....	makeup designer
Sarah Grispo	....	makeup artist
Catherine Muir	....	makeup artist
Robert L. Stevenson	....	hair stylist: Samuel L. Jackson

Production Management
Lu Cien Hioe	....	production manager: LA unit
David Myatt	....	unit production manager
Beverley Syme	....	unit manager
Alan J. Wands	....	production manager (as Willy Wands)
Lori A. Waters	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Daniels	....	assistant director: second unit
Kate Hazell	....	assistant director: second unit
Nick Heckstall-Smith	....	first assistant director
Ben Howard	....	third assistant director
Mira Husseini	....	third assistant director: second unit
Carl Lawrence Ludwig	....	first assistant director: Los Angeles
Kerric Macdonald	....	second unit director
Michael G. Maurer	....	second second assistant director: second unit
Crispin Reece	....	second unit director
George Walker	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Tony Asije	....	props
Mario Bueno	....	property master
Matt Gant	....	art department junior
Beverley Gerard	....	assistant set decorator
Rik Loughran	....	art department junior
Nick Pelham	....	storyboard artist
Mike Roberts	....	dressing prop
Christian Short	....	stand-by props
Nic Stubbings	....	stand-by props
Lee Howarth	....	rigger: art department (uncredited)

Sound Department
Christopher Atkinson	....	sound assistant
Chris Atkinson	....	sound assistant
Fred Brennan	....	dialogue and adr editor
Fred Brennan	....	supervising sound editor
Bruce Carwardine	....	production sound mixer
Colin Cooper	....	adr recordist
Stacy Coutts	....	sound re-recording mixer assistant
Roderick Deogrades	....	sound effects editor
Caoimhe Doyle	....	foley artist
Cornelia Mariana Gavrilescu	....	foley recording assistant
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer
Graham Jones	....	assistant dialogue editor
Martin Gwynn Jones	....	assistant sound editor
Garrett Kerr	....	sound designer
Steve Kostick	....	first assistant sound
Goro Koyama	....	foley artist
Kirk Lynds	....	re-recording assistant
Andy Malcolm	....	foley artist
Craig Mann	....	re-recording assistant
David McCallum	....	supervising sound editor
Brent Pickett	....	first assistant sound effects
Mark Shnuriwsky	....	sound effects editor
Orest Sushko	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jane Tattersall	....	sound effects editor
Markus Wade	....	boom operator
Brandon Walker	....	adr editor
Robert Warchol	....	sound effects editor
Don White	....	foley recording mixer

Special Effects by
James Brady	....	senior special effects technician
Trevor Butterfield	....	senior special effects technician
Mark Clayton	....	senior special effects technician
Conor Coughlan	....	pyrotechnician
Conor Coughlan	....	special effects technician
Yves De Bono	....	special effects coordinator
Mark Griffin	....	special effects buyer
Michael Kearns	....	special effects technician
Roger Nichols	....	special effects technician
David Plewis	....	senior modelmaker
Terry Rigarlsford	....	special effects technician
Robert Schofield	....	wireman
Andrew Wilson	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Simon Carr	....	digital compositor
Tom Debenham	....	visual effects supervisor: LA unit
Robert Duncan	....	visual effects supervisor
Ian Fellows	....	digital compositor
Jamie Hallett	....	digital compositor
Robert Hall	....	digital paint artist
Jolene McCaffrey	....	digital compositor: CFC
Joel Meire	....	digital artist
Stanley Monahan	....	optical effects
Simon Payne	....	digital artist
Dave Salter	....	digital compositor
Maria Stroka	....	digital lab operator
Matthew Twyford	....	compositing artist
Victor Wade	....	digital effects artist
Corrina Wilson	....	digital paint artist
Jan Hogevold	....	digital lab producer: Framestore CFC (uncredited)

Stunts
Dave Bickers	....	stunt rigger
Paul Bickers	....	stunt rigger
Richard Bradshaw	....	stunts
Stuart Clark	....	stunts (as Stuart Clarke)
George Cottle	....	stunts
Gabe Cronnelly	....	stunts (as Gabe Connery)
Graeme Crowther	....	stunts
Ray De-Haan	....	stunts
Jim Dowdall	....	stunt coordinator
Jamie Edgell	....	stunts
Kiante Elam	....	stunt double: Mr. Jackson
Neil Finnighan	....	stunts
Sarah Franzl	....	stunts
Joss Gower	....	stunts
Paul Heasman	....	stunts
Paul Herbert	....	stunts
Nick Hobbs	....	stunts
Morgan Johnson	....	stunts
Sid Karne	....	stunts
Neil Keene-Soper	....	stunt rigger
Derek Lea	....	stunts
Mark Lisbon	....	stunts
Tony Lucken	....	stunts
Tina Maskell	....	stunts
Andy Merchant	....	stunts
Brian Naunton	....	stunt rigger (as Brian Haunton)
Ray Nicholas	....	stunts
Seon Rogers	....	stunts
Lee Sheward	....	stunt coordinator: second unit
Dick Keens Soper	....	stunt rigger (as Dick Keene-Soper)
Alan Stuart	....	stunts
Rocky Taylor	....	stunts
Lynda Van Den Berg	....	stunts
Chris Webb	....	stunts
William Willoughby	....	stunts (as Will Willoughby)
Paul Heasman	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Paul Herbert	....	stunt double: Robert Carlyle (uncredited)
Lynda Van Den Berg	....	stunt double: Emily Mortimer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John M. Barbour	....	assistant camera: stunt unit
David Bourke	....	chief rigging gaffer
Michael Costelloe	....	assistant camera
Liam Daniel	....	still photographer
Zoran Djordjevic	....	director of photography: second unit, car chase sequence
Tom Gates	....	gaffer
Chris Gilbertson	....	lighting console operator
Kenny Groom	....	assistant camera
Alan Hall	....	assistant camera: "a" camera
Ian Jackson	....	gaffer: second unit
Ed Jones	....	clapper loader
Koji Kojima	....	second assistant camera: international unit
Peter Krajewski	....	camera operator: video camera
Rod Marley	....	focus puller
Micky May	....	electrician
David McAnulty	....	second unit: key grip
Adrian McCarthy	....	key grip
Zac Nicholson	....	focus puller: second unit
Stewart Nick	....	video assist trainee
Rupert Power	....	Steadicam operator
Howard Smith	....	Steadicam: second unit
Howard Smith	....	camera operator: second unit
Howard Smith	....	director of photography: second unit
Jamie Summers	....	best boy
Roger Tooley	....	Steadicam operator
Rick Tucker	....	key grip: second unit
John Welsh	....	electrician
Tony Wilcock	....	rigging gaffer

Casting Department
Louis Elman	....	adr voice casting
Tamara Gillon	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anette Czagany	....	assistant costume designer: Los Angeles
Askia Won-Ling Jacob	....	costumer
Askia Won-Ling Jacob	....	wardrobe
Dena Thanopoulos	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Randy L. Anderson	....	color timer
Clare Bambrough	....	assistant editor
Andrew Coutts	....	assistant editor
Michele Francis	....	assistant editor
Chad Glastonbury	....	negative cutter
Valerie Laurie	....	post-production assistant
Ricardo Olivero	....	color timer
Catherine Rankin	....	negative cutter
Paul Rubenstein	....	first assistant editor: avid
Dawn M. Stoliar	....	first assistant editor
Deanna Strong	....	post-production coordinator
Paul Whitehead	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Martin Bell	....	music editor
Abi Leland	....	music supervisor
Barney Quinton	....	composer: additional music
Dan Rose	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Guy Bostock	....	action vehicle coordinator
Ian Clarke	....	vehicle technician
John Kennedy	....	driver: Mr. Jackson
Martin Lavelle	....	driver: Mr. Carlyle
Paul Pearson	....	driver: Ms. Mortimer
Steve Royfee	....	action vehicle coordinator
Sean Thornton	....	picture vehicle technician

Other crew
Vicki Allen	....	floor runner
Victoria Allen	....	floor runner
Donald Ayres	....	continuity
Claire Berrie	....	assistant: Mr. Carlyle
Sarah Best	....	assistant: Mr. Debin
Early Boyd	....	executive assistant: Mr. Hamori
Laurie Boyle	....	key production accountant
Jennifer Brooks	....	stand-in: Ms. Mortimer
Jackie Callon	....	utility stand-in
Sue Clarke	....	animal wrangler
Sean Crotty	....	assistant: Mr. Yu (as Sean Paul Crotty)
Steven Cummings	....	stand-in: Mr. Carlyle
Rob Delp	....	assistant: Ms. Selden
Dale Dreher	....	location manager
Dale Dreher	....	location scout
Sammy Duplay	....	stand-in: Mr. Jackson
Ava DuVernay	....	publicity consultant
Anna Graham	....	production assistant
Alice Greenland	....	contact: London
Nicole Gregory	....	unit publicist
David Grout	....	assistant to director: post-production
Andy Holt	....	location manager
Julia Jones	....	unit publicist
Rob Jones	....	creative director: titles
Andrea Mann	....	executive assistant: Mr. McLean
Jaynie Miller	....	production secretary
Michelle Morton-Banks	....	assistant: Mr. Hamori
Andrew Rosen	....	production executive: Alliance Atlantis
Dug Rotstein	....	script supervisor
Donald Sabourin	....	production coordinator: second unit
Janice Schumm	....	script supervisor: second unit
Mark Shelley	....	weapons armorer
Boyan Stergulc	....	title designer
Graham Taylor	....	assistant: Mr. Yu
Leonard L. Thomas	....	assistant: Mr. Jackson (as Leonard Thomas)
Luis Torres	....	title designer
Lucinda Van Rie	....	assistant: Mr. Pupkewitz and Mr. Kohll
Winnie Wishart	....	production coordinator
Chris Judd	....	floor runner: second unit (uncredited)
Jonathan Taylor	....	assistant to head of production: The Film Consortium (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Alliance Atlantis Communications (as Alliance Atlantis)
• Focus Films
• Fifty First Films
• National Lottery
• Artists Production Group (APG)
• Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC)
• Film Council (in association with)
• Film Consortium, The (in association with)

Distributors

• Momentum Pictures (2001) (UK) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2002) (France) (theatrical)
• Indies Film Distribution (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Screen Gems (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (rental)
• Highlight Film (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (retail)
• Humax Pictures (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• GAGA Communications (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• New World Films Internacional S.A. (2003) (Spain) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Gativideo (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Alliance Atlantis Communications (200?) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Hollydan Works (2004) (Serbia and Montenegro) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (2004) (Brazil) (VHS) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Computer Film Company, The (CFC) (digital visual effects)
• Film Effects (additional visual effects)
• Hothouse Models and Effects (modelmaking unit)

Other Companies

• Action Cars  action vehicles
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  second unit camera dollies provided by
• Clairmont Camera  second unit cameras supplied by
• De Lane Lea Sound Centre  adr recording facility: London
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color timing
• Film Effects  opticals
• Future Post  adr recording facility: London
• Moviecam  camera equipment
• Shotmaker  crane provided by (as Shotmaker) (second unit)
• Spin Productions  title design
• Sun Lighting  lighting: second unit
• Tattersall Casablanca  adr recording facility: Toronto
• Tattersall Casablanca  sound editing facility provided by
• Tattersall Casablanca  sound re-recording
• V.F.G.  grip and electrical equipment (as VFG)

Also Known As:

Formula 51 (USA)
Formule 51 (Canada: French title)

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:

Revealing mistakes: The chemical formula on the back of the postcard shows some of the hydrogen (H) atoms forming 2 bonds which hydrogen does not do.

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:

Them Changes

State of surprise at sleeper hit

I remember this being a film I wanted to watch when it was released in the cinemas but I never got a chance to see it. It didn't help when Mum raved about it after watching it on Sky. So last night, Channel 4 gave me the perfect excuse for being late for work today - by showing this film and "Hard Boiled", I'll be a few minutes late after writing the reviews. Yay!

Back to "The 51st State" which revolves around Samuel L Jackson, a master chemist and drug producer who flies to Liverpool to secure the final "big deal" before his imminent retirement. The always fantastic Robert Carlyle is Felix, his contact and unwitting accomplice when things go wrong - as they always do in these sort of circumstances. Haven't they played GTA: Vice City? Anyway, the film is a stylish and comical action thriller with it's unusual setting, eccentric characters and unexpected comic twists. Jackson is, without a doubt, the coolest actor in moviedom at the moment. Only he could pull off wearing a kilt in a movie without looking a moron. Carlyle is perhaps a little excessive on the language (both in volume and content) but plays the Scouse stereotype perfectly. One thing this film does very well: almost every Scouse stereotype you can think of is there - car thief, misguided support for Liverpool, skin heads, every third word an expletive. The only unbelievable segment was the car chase which would never have reached the speeds it did in an actual Liverpool street.

Despite this, "The 51st State" is a fast-paced and well-made film which deserves more credit than it currently gets. I approached this film thinking that its gimmick was its setting - Liverpool is a million miles from downtown LA or New York, let's face it. But not so - there are so many oddball characters to make the film interesting that Sean Pertwee's straight-faced turn as a dirty cop seems out of place. Everyone else has their tongue firmly in their cheek. The sight of Jackson in a mammoth Seventies afro haircut signals this movie's intentions right from the start (and finish).

I have no hesitation in recommending this film. It will undoubtedly appeal to British viewers more than Americans but who cares - it's so refreshing to see that we can make movies like this with a largely British cast at such a standard. Jackson is so cool, it's like he's walking on dry ice and steals every scene he is in. "The 51st State" really does have something for everyone and I'm finding it very hard to find something not to like about this film. It's no "Face/Off" but it's still an enjoyable and exciting film, one which you really should see. Shame you missed it at the cinema, though.