MovieChat Forums > The Limey (1999) Discussion > Jez...What a BAD movie!

Jez...What a BAD movie!

posted 21 years ago by ssannelli
42 replies | jump to latest

I'm embarassed to have this flick in my dvd collection...
saw it in the stores with good reviews allover it (on a closer look, by magazines I've never heard of...) So I bought it...But was I disapointed!!

Whats so great/good about it??

It's a terrible story, the acting, it all feels so silly, here is this old-brit-guy playing Mr Tough guy?

Aaaa...whatever u do, DON'T BUY/RENT/WASTE YOUR TIME ON THIS MOVIE

Saw IMDB's recomendations from Things to do in Denver when your dead - to check THIS movie out!!! Things to do in Denver...on the other hand is a real "lost diamond" C IT! (sorry 4 my bad spelling)

[–] qrter 21 years ago

it's one of the best films I have ever seen.

it deals with the intricacies of human memory in an unexpected way - against the background of a crime story.

[–] naputtick 20 years ago

I can't believe that anyone would buy a DVD based on the reviews on the cover. Of course they're only going to say positive things!

[–] crazytrain1515-1 19 years ago

second that

[–] R_Kane (15828) 6 years ago

Agreed. Stamp's characterization was inspired. The directing, editing and pacing were refreshing. I am proud to have it in my library. The fact that the OP thinks highly of Things to Do in Denver . . . is telling. That movie is the most labored ass-kiss to Tarantino that I've ever seen, and even Christopher Walken can't save the film and its pathetic efforts to create catch phrases: "Boat drinks"? Really? "Give it a name"? Really? What the fuck does that even mean? If you like crap, class won't appeal to you. THIS movie is the gem. It's not about revenge. It's about forgiveness.

[–] danny_embling 21 years ago

sorry, ssannelli, but thats absolutely ridiculous. i think the burden is on you to define more clearly what your problems are with the film.

for one, im not exactly sure why you find the mystery plot so repellant. it seems perfectly legit to me. indeed, the end of the film is incredibly powerful when stamp's character realizes he is basically the same as peter fonda, the man he hates.

secondly, terrence stamp is a fantastic actor, and plays the role with purposeful understatement. he is supposed to be a dry, seasoned ex-con, hence his deliberate and fair-tempered manner (which you may have taken for boring underachievement).

im not sure what you thought would have been more appropriate. but either way, the editing in the first few minutes alone makes this a unique achievement and certainly worth as much attention as any of soderbergh's other films, (which indeed, can be overrated at times).

[–] Geddles 20 years ago

100% f*cking agreed. This entire movie was well-directed, acted, and played. The ending scene, in itself, will be felt in any father, whether he feels he is loving or not(he is.) Having 3 daughters, this film has hit me hard. Stamp is excellent in this film. Watching him get closure was both uncomfortable and terrific, at the same time. I hope we see TS in action again soon, as the main character.

[–] karelnotte 20 years ago

drown in *beep* you ignorant *beep*,

[–] ngfarland 20 years ago

"The Limey" is an awesome movie, maybe even my favorite by Soderberg. Old Brit trying to be Mr Tough Guy?! Did you see the movie, Terrance Stamp was Mr. Tough Guy. I thought it was well acted, I love Luis Guzman in this role. And Peter Fonda plays a great self-absorbed 60's era producer. It think was one of my favorite movies of 1999 without a doubt.

[–] ssannelli 20 years ago

Karelnotte:

Who's ignorant? can't even write a civilized post/answer.

BTW...Drown your moma in the first *beep* :)

[–] philly_geoff 20 years ago

Watched it for the first time last night. Powerful. TS was excellent and enjoyed the editing.

Nicky Katt makes me laugh as well.

Anyone who buys a movie based on the quotes on the box is an idiot.

[–] OlliK 19 years ago

"Anyone who buys a movie based on the quotes on the box is an idiot."

I just have to comment on that:

Not necessarely, if you love movies in general and collec them, like myself. I have bought a LOT of movies just by cover just to see if the movie is anything like the cover :)
I have not one movie in my collection, that I hate. And I have about 20 Jess Franco movies and counting.

[–] e-nutbuttercup 17 years ago

I agree. I have also bought movies based on who directed, shot, or wrote that movie, because I like that artist's other work. Sometimes this makes more sense than renting first, you can just resell it if needs be.

[–] yo_como_comida 17 years ago

Could I get your copy for free? I loved this movie.

I think what really makes this movie stand out is the editing and the fact that the entire movie is a flashback. The editing is some of the most creative I've seen in a film, especially with the use of jump cuts to really push the idea that what we're seeing is an old man's not-quite photographic memory.

[–] 20 years ago

[deleted]

[–] phjaco 20 years ago

One of the aspects of this film that recommends itself to so many viewers and critics alike is that it presents a wonderfully tight, bare-bones story complete with all of the depth of feeling (often more) than your typical drama. That it doesn't spell everything out for the viewer shouldn't be a flaw. We've been left to fill in the suggestions that Dobbs and Soderbergh have laid out. Just the scene between Stamp and Guzman (when Stamp first arrives) should alone be proof of this. Guzman's seeming incredulity that Stamp would think those were _his_ kids... But yet he _is_ there for them. His conflict over giving up the familiar identity of his criminal past for the man he is becoming is a perfect reinforcement of and contrast to Stamp's own character. The choice to help is not one of regression into old habits but rather a continuation of his new path to be a better man, especially in regard to helping friends and family at the expense of his own wants and needs. A beautiful movie that is all the more so for what it isn't.

[–] tlepsh_7 17 years ago

'A beautiful movie that is all the more so for what it isn't'? Hah. Good - that's what it isn't. Not even Luis 'milk and sports' Guzman can save this turkey. And the cockney stuff IS dodgy, no matter what the other posters say. It's not the accent (though his bizarrely stilted delivery doesn't help), but the script. People say "let's have a butcher's", no-one says "let's have a butcher's hook - you know, a look". Several lines from this film sounded as silly as when Frasier said "Perhaps it's just a mistake" and Daphne Moon said "Mistake my fanny". But that was cool, this film was just awful.

[–] Boocho 20 years ago

Why this is a ehh movie. Sarah Flack makes a great try at saving this movie through her editing style. People want to say this is a well written story blah blah blah. Its a bone with no meet. Could not of cared less about this story. Now think about this when there is not a great story and very elaberate editing there is a cover up here. YES they want to play on the way things are looked at and the Limeys version of his faded memorys of his daughter. I really like the fact that they try and movie the movie with lack of dialog and the cuts in conversations with voice over with the person not talking really gets accross that the words they are saying are not the important thing.

Lastly the acting. There are great actors in this film Terence Stamp and Luis Guzman but Peter Fonda give me a damn break. Yes he is supposed to come off as weak but his acting has never been good and never will be. And for those of you who said you have kids and you can relate...would you really kill every one else then NOT kill the man who killed your daughter???

This movie is way over rated it should not be higher then a five.

Booch

Watch out Peter those rocks can blow your ankle apart!!!

[–] JohnnyR 20 years ago

I think the only problem with this film is Terence Stamp's performance - its a shame he plays the title character. I know Steven Soderbergh would have been without the gimmick of using footage from Poor Cow, but when he wanted someone to play a cockney hardcase he should have gone to Michael Caine, Ray Winstone or Bob Hoskins ahead of the hammy Stamp.

Soderbergh is one of my favourite directors but a number of his movies have been let down by poor individual performances. The normally good Don Cheadle was embarrassing in Ocean's Eleven. I can't work out if it was Topher Grace or his character that was irritating in Traffic - the same applied to Jeremy Davies in Solaris until I saw him in Secretary and realized that he could only play dazed weirdos.

[–] Tomsriv-1 20 years ago

Terrance Stamp was great in this movie. The duo between Guzman and Stamp was one of the best odd-couple duos I have ever seen. Its not to often that you see a Mexican and a Brit share the screen together. The culture clash was hilarious.

[–] 20 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 20 years ago

[deleted]

[–] yossarianbickle 19 years ago

I am at a complete loss as to why people think Stamp was good in this film. He turned a mediocre artsfest into Surf Nazi's Must Die (top film). I don't think he's that bad an actor, but in this!!! I thought he was deliberatley hamming it up.
"tell him i'm coming."
"sorry Mr Stamp could you deliver that with a bit less emotion"
"errrr no"

He wasn't too bad in the moments of reflection i suppose. Mind you he wass working with Guzman so he probably got some tips from a genuine quality actor.

[–] sowhatfilms 19 years ago

It is rather emberassing to read the way you read this movie. I wonder what you considered not a waste of time. May be 'Charlie's Angels'? Geee, pathetic.