Formula 51 |  | Director: Ronny Yu
Actors: Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Carlyle, Emily Mortimer, Nigel Whitmey, Robert Jezek
Studio: Sony Pictures
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.94
Buy Used: $1.25
as of 3/13/2010 11:02 EST details
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New (33) Used (78) from $1.25
Seller: NewMovies2u
Rating:  56 reviews
Sales Rank: 23752
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 99
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 92 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: D08030D
ISBN: 0767884205
UPC: 043396080300
EAN: 9780767884204
ASIN: B00007KK50
Theatrical Release Date: October 18, 2002
Release Date: February 4, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
THIS IS THE STORY OF ELMO MCELROY, A STREETWISE AMERICAN MASTER CHEMIST, WHO HEADS TO ENGLAND TO SET UP HIS LAST BIG DEAL - TO INTRODUCE A NEW DESIGNER DRUG TO THE EURPOEAN MARKET. MCELROY SOON BECOMES EMBROILED IN A WAR OF DOUBLE-DEALING AS HE'S ESCORTED AROUND LIVERPOOL'S UNDERWORLD.
Amazon.com
Wildly entertaining but riddled with as many plot holes as bullets, Formula 51 (a.k.a. The 51st State) is a love-it-or-hate-it action comedy that plays like Tarantino on the Thames. It's a raucous hash, highlighted by the sheer pleasure of Samuel L. Jackson--in a kilt, no less--strutting his stuff among denizens of the British underworld. As freelance chemist Elmo McElroy (whose tartan attire remains glibly unexplained), Jackson is perfectly teamed with The Full Monty's Robert Carlyle in a scam involving Elmo's latest pharmaceutical concoction, which promises to yield a fortune on the rave scene. This attracts a loopy British kingpin (the outrageous Rhys Ifans), Elmo's vengeful ex-boss (Meat Loaf), a corrupt cop (Sean Pertwee), and a lovely assassin (Emily Mortimer) with a soft spot for Carlyle. They're all given generous helpings of Stel Pavlou's profanely zesty dialogue, and director Ronny Yu strikes a breezy balance between rampant hilarity and blood-splattering violence. If that's your cup of tea, Formula 51 guarantees a satisfying buzz. --Jeff Shannon
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 56
 Not your typical slj film December 24, 2009
christopher mangum
OK, so this is not a typical slj (samuel l jackson) movie. This movie mixes a drug dealer, a pharmacist (slj), a hit woman, and a man out for revenge (meatloaf) and you have formual 51. Funny at times, strange at times, and pretty damn cool at times, it a decent ride and moves very quickly and takes you along. Remove brain, insert fun. Im just sayin.....
 [3.5 stars]-Samuel L. Jackson in a Kilt!.....now that's funny August 15, 2006
Jenny J.J.I. (That Lives in Northern Nevada)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This film is all about style, humor and pace and not about character or plotting. In this regard it is an enjoyable ride, albeit a silly and energetic one. The hyper directing from Yu really suits this and he does well even if he is not really very original in regards his shots etc. The editing fits with the formula set by Ritchie and is pretty much what you expect. What makes the film stand out from the rest of the copies is that it actually is quite good fun to watch (as opposed to some copies that are just cheap and nasty) - never hilarious but it is energetic enough to pull you along with it no matter how silly it gets. Of course it has weak points - a few characters are too daft and, whenever the overall plot is the main focus then it struggles.
Despite this the cast do well to keep things moving and they play a massive part in making this work. Jackson may not be doing anything new or wonderful here but he is key to the film working and he is worth every penny they must have paid him. He has great presence and he brings a lot of fun and energy to the film in a way that his lesser co-stars cannot. Carlyle is a good actor but he pales in comparison to Jackson in this - he isn't helped by the awful accent he is lumbered with and the fact that he is a little irritating. Mortimer is annoying as her character is just daft in the context of the plot, but not as annoying as Meatloaf who is easily the worst thing in the film. The support cast includes reasonable turns from Pertwee, Ifans, Tomlinson and Barber but this is Jackson's film 100% and it is difficult to imagine it being as enjoyable without him.
`Formula 51' a.ka.'51 States' moves fast, slick, and clearly had a bit of cash thrown at it and, apart from a handful of stupidly silly moments, is actually quite fun to watch - even if it is almost instantly forgettable. The cast includes quite a few well-known faces but it is the great presence of Jackson (who looks like he is enjoying himself in an undemanding role) that makes this worth seeing. If you are a fan of Snatch and Lock Stocking, you will definitely recognize the ingredients of this movie.
I actually love it May 24, 2006
Lady Raven (Brooklyn, New York)
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
didn't think it would be anything really not Sammy best bet hey i love his sence of humor in movies always funny....
 A Matter of Taste May 2, 2006
C. A. Luster (Burke, VA USA)
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
This will appeal the most to people that like the unusual gang movies like "Get Shorty", "The Usual Suspects", "Snatch", "Weekend at Bernies" and "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels". It has a nice story twist at the end, great acting, good action, unusual dark comedy, and much more. I can't sit through two hours of just bloody gang movies, I can if they have some comedy. This one definitely has a nice comedy touch with a good ending. The irony is when a pharmacist is busted for smoking marijuana right after he graduates college and it ruins his chance to go legitimate, he takes the pharmaceutical version of illegal drugs to a new level. A must see for people that enjoy the movies I mentioned before.
Enjoyable, but don't expect too much March 5, 2006
S. T. H. Thesingh (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
This film does take a lot from Guy Ritchie's style, but it's not exactly the same. It also reminds me of "True Romance". I think this movie also goes a little bit more towards "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas". The basic story is the staging of a drugdeal for the formula of a superdrug. This keeps going wrong due to all the schemes the main characters are involved in. I found this an amusing film. Don't expect anything truly original, but there certainly are memorable performances and characters. If you like something that's a bit off the wall with a lot of action go see his. Don't expect it to be the next great thing though.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 56
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