I’m not involved in criminal activity; I simply operate as a businessman. My product just happens to be cocaine. Having accumulated a significant sum of money through his, let's say, profession, a London drug dealer is planning to retire and begin anew elsewhere. But before he can do that, his boss, Jimmy Price, has two urgent tasks for him. Matthew Vaughn directed Layer Cake. He’s better known as Guy Ritchie’s producer on those early British gangster movies like *Snatch*, so he understood what made them so popular with audiences here. It's good to report that Vaughn, through a measured and straightforward style, created a film that is at least as strong as the best of the British gangster genre—and actually establishes new standards for how a movie should be handled. By emphasizing feeling and ambiance over loud action sequences, Vaughn, along with excellent work from Daniel Craig playing the unnamed dealer, elevates the film beyond its typical storyline. What could have been another story about someone completing one final job before going straight turns into something more complicated; it feels like an unseen force is at play. Layer Cake also gets points for presenting a more appealing view of London—it's not a bleak city where tall buildings dominate and threaten the people living there. This London seems prosperous, full of energy, and desirable; its darker side isn’t obvious amongst all the excitement. Ben Davis’ cinematography works well with the captivating music from Lisa Gerrard & Ilan Eshkeri, both of which help make London feel like a character in itself. The film isn't flawless though; at 105 minutes, it feels somewhat brief, and that only becomes clear when all the plot threads converge quickly in the final section. Even so, the conclusion provides a shock, solidifying what I consider to be one of Britain’s best and most well-organized gangster films. 9/10

Source on TMDB