Daniel Craig and Tom Hardy’s “classic” British crime thriller lands new UK streaming home

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A gangster film starring Daniel Craig and Tom Hardy has just found a new streaming home in the UK.

J.J. Connell wrote and adapted his 2000 novel into the film Layer Cake, a story set within London’s criminal world.

Matthew Vaughn, the director of Kick-Ass, helmed this 2004 film. It stars Craig as a cocaine dealer who dislikes violence and runs his operation more like a normal business.

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I’m so excited! Matthew Vaughn’s first time directing a movie is now streaming on Prime Video here in the UK. And that’s not all – Prime Video also has a bunch of his other films, like Stardust and the whole Kingsman series – Kingsman: The Secret Service, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and The King’s Man. Definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan!

Described by The Washington Post as a “classic gangster saga”, Layer Cake centers on Craig, a criminal who’s planning to leave that life behind. Just as he’s about to retire, his boss, Jimmy Price (Kenneth Cranham), gives him two more jobs to do.

First, the main character needs to locate Charlie (Nathalie Lunghi), who is struggling with drug addiction and is connected to one of Jimmy’s friends. He’s also responsible for managing a large drug purchase from a dangerous and minor criminal known as the Duke (Jamie Foreman).

In addition to Matthew McConaughey, Layer Cake features Tom Hardy as Clarkie, Sienna Miller as Tammy, and Ben Whishaw as Sidney.

The film is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, where it has a rating of 81% out of 141 reviews.

Both The Washington Post and the London Evening Standard gave the film positive reviews. The Washington Post described it as a stylish story of competing empires, and the London Evening Standard particularly highlighted the strong performances from the entire cast, as well as the clever script and director Vaughn’s skillful handling of the film’s many twists.

The review praised Layer Cake for having all the typical twists and turns of a crime thriller, but highlighted its strong cast, clever writing, and the smooth, quick direction by Matthew Vaughn.

Variety noted that the film’s portrayal of a class-based system – reflected in its title – felt somewhat realistic.

The review praised Layer Cake for realistically portraying the connections between wealthy, criminal, and extremely wealthy lifestyles.

Craig is starring in Wake Up Dead Man, the latest Knives Out mystery directed by Rian Johnson. He’s once again playing the detective Benoit Blanc.

Layer Cake is streaming on Prime Video in the UK.

The latest issue of Living Legends magazine is now available, and it’s a special tribute to Dolly Parton! You can find ‘Dolly at 80’ in shops or order it online for only £8.99.

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2025-12-04 00:49