Plot
In 1971, a policeman witnesses Elmo McElroy, a recent college graduate with a Academic degree, degree, smoking Cannabis (drug), marijuana. Due to his arrest and conviction, he is unable to find work as a Pharmacology, pharmacologist. In the present day, a drug lord called "the Lizard" calls a meeting of his colleagues, hoping to sell a new substance invented by Elmo. The meeting goes badly when Elmo, in a bid to escape from the Lizard's manipulation, blows up the building, killing everyone but the Lizard. Enraged, the Lizard contacts Dakota, a Contract killing, contract killer, who previously killed the only witness in a case against the Lizard. Dakota initially refuses the hit, but accepts when the Lizard offers to clear her Problem gambling, gambling debts and give her a $250,000 bonus. Felix DeSouza, a local "Fixer (person), fixer" in Liverpool has been sent by Leopold Durant, head of a local criminal organisation, to collect Elmo from Manchester Airport, Manchester airport, in exchange for two tickets to a sold-out football match between Liverpool F.C., Liverpool and Manchester United F.C., Manchester United. On route to the airport Felix enters a pub full of Manchester United supporters and antagonises them before letting off a rocket flare inside; the United fans give chase but his friends rescue him in their car. Elmo lands in Manchester, is collected by Felix and is taken to the meeting with Durant. At the meeting, Elmo pitches POS 51, a synthetic drug that can be produced with minimal facilities and is 51 times as potent as other drugs. A second opinion from Pudsey, Durant's chemist, confirms Elmo's claims, and Durant gives him over a million dollars in bonds. Since it is $18 million short of the agreed payment, Elmo refuses to sell. On a roof across the street, Dakota is about to shoot Elmo in the head when the Lizard calls cancelling the hit; not wanting to kill Elmo until he has the formula. Instead of killing Elmo, she is to kill anyone who meets with him. She switches rifles to an automatic weapon and kills everyone but Elmo and Felix, who is shot in the buttocks. As Elmo and Felix leave the hotel, a gang of skinheads who want the drug attack them. Elmo protects them with a golf club. Detective Virgil Kane and his partner Arthur arrive on the scene and give chase. They are soon lured into a game of Chicken (game), chicken by Elmo, who escapes. Kane and Arthur return to the crime scene and Kane demands 50% of Durant's deal with McElroy. A miscommunication leads to Durant's death. Felix contacts a gun dealing club owner and drug distributor named Iki, promising him the formula for £20 million. As Elmo and Felix acquire the ingredients necessary for the drug's manufacture, all of which are Over-the-counter drug, over-the-counter products, the now-armed skinheads take them hostage. Elmo is content, as the skinheads claim they have a lab, though it turns out to be a broken-into animal testing facility. Elmo makes two batches of the drug; one blue and one red. He claims that the red pill is the stronger version, and after he takes one, the skinheads try it. While they are partying, waiting for the effect of the drug, in the next room Elmo spits out his red pill. He tells Felix it is a powerful laxative; Elmo and Felix leave after throwing rolls of toilet paper to the incapacitated skinheads. At Iki's rave club, Elmo initiates his deal and delivers the drug to the waiting crowd. Kane and the police interrupt the deal and arrest Felix. When Dakota appears, she reveals that her real name is Dawn and that she and Felix were domestic partners. She abducts Elmo and leaves with him via the roof. Elmo overpowers her, suspending her over the edge of the roof. Having no choice, she strikes a deal with him and they escape Kane. Meanwhile, Kane blackmails Felix during a police interrogation and forces himself into the deal with Iki, which Felix sets up for him. Felix, Elmo and Dawn meet Iki in a private viewing box at the football match at Anfield. This time, the deal is interrupted by the Lizard, who shoots Iki dead and demands the formula to POS 51. The Lizard celebrates with a drink, as Elmo reveals that the drug is a placebo and POS stands for Power of Suggestion. Kane interrupts them as Elmo's cocktail, an explosive ingested by the Lizard, takes effect, killing the Lizard and showering everyone in blood. Kane is knocked Unconsciousness, unconscious and arrested by Arthur, while the main three exit unscathed. Dawn and Felix happily settle down together, and Elmo purchases a castle once owned by the man who owned his ancestors.Cast
Casting
The DVD commentary reveals that the script was originally written with Laurence Fishburne in mind, sometime before Samuel L. Jackson became a star.Production
Development
ScreenwriterPre-production
Actor and film producerFilming
Locations
Almost all of the film was shot on location in Liverpool apart from the opening scene which was shot in Los Angeles, a driving scene which was filmed in Manchester, and another scene which was filmed at Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire. Major locations used in Liverpool included the River Mersey and docks, Pier Head, the India Buildings, India Building, Water Street as well as Liverpool F.C., Liverpool's's stadium Anfield. Other famous Liverpool landmarks can be seen throughout the film in the background such as St George's Hall, Liverpool, St George's Hall and the Liver Building. Production designer Alan Macdonald used the film's production base in Boundary Street to build various sets for interior scenes, as well as a vast disused warehouse space in Blackstock Street.Release
Home media
The film was released on both VHS and DVD. The DVD version was released on 7 October 2002. Special features include an audio commentary, making-of and production featurettes, a photo gallery, Trailer (promotion), trailer, and cast and crew interviews.Reception
For its US release, the film was renamed ''Formula 51'' as the original title was seen as potentially offensive to American audiences. The expression 51st state, in this context, refers to US dominance over Britain.Critical reception
On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film received a 25% based on reviews from 102 critics, with an average rating of 4.3/10, and the consensus reading: "Filled with profanities, ''Formula 51'' is a stylized and incoherent mess that doesn't add up to much." On Metacritic, the film gained a 23 out of 100 based on reviews from 29 critics. Roger Ebert of the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' newspaper called the film "a farce", giving the film one out of four stars, and particularly negative comments on the film's content and script. Generally positive reviews were given by both BBC and ''Empire (film magazine), Empire'' reviewers, with Alan Morrison of the latter calling it "full-on fun" and that the film "goes beyond the boundaries" of British films. IGN.com also gave the film a generally positive review, concluding that "you get exactly what you pay for" and that the film was overall very "enjoyable".Box office
The film had its world premiere on 7 December 2001, in London's West End Curzon Cinema. In total, the film earned over $14.4 million at the worldwide box office, $5.2 million of that in the US and $9.2 million elsewhere.Soundtrack
The soundtrack was written by Darius Kedros, Caspar Kedros and Barney Quinton under the band name Headrillaz, and also featured artists such as PJ Harvey, Run–D.M.C., Nelly and Stephen Day.References
External links
* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:51st State, The 2001 films 2001 action thriller films 2000s buddy films 2001 crime thriller films 2000s crime comedy films British action comedy films British action thriller films British buddy films British crime thriller films British crime comedy films Canadian action thriller films Canadian crime thriller films English-language Canadian films Films about drugs Films directed by Ronny Yu Films set in Liverpool Paramount Pictures films Screen Gems films 2000s buddy comedy films Alliance Atlantis films 2001 action comedy films 2001 comedy films Films shot in Greater Manchester Films shot in Liverpool 2000s Canadian films 2000s British films