Daniel Craig plays a handsome, nameless British “businessman” doing his best to keep his conscience clean while working towards an early retirement. That his business is dealing in hard drugs means his plans may not go so smoothly when his superior hands him one final job. Craig’s middle-man character takes pride and comfort in playing by some strict rules, avoiding the typical indulgences and resultant hardships that entail. Ironically, his messy career-capper makes up for all those years of keeping his hands clean. Double-crosses, murders, set-ups and shake-downs ensue, with our everyman getting through only by hesitantly breaking each of his codes of conduct. Layer Cake is directed by Matthew Vaughn (producer of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch), whose work continues to get more stylish and and clever with each movie. The action is slick and cool, with a great cast and soundtrack. The premise of a criminal trying to leave the entanglements of the underworld on his own terms is nothing new, but this is a fun take on the genre.

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