Muslim Movie Reviews
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Family movie reviews for "Muslim" sorted by average review score:
Formula 51
Released in DVD by Columbia Tristar Hom (02 December, 2003)
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Emily Mortimer, and Robert Carlyle
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
Average review score: 
Can Samuel L. & Carlyle overcome Yu's awful direction?
Formulaic 51A movie that never lives up to its potential, FORMULA 51 seems more like an exercise in filmaking or B-Movie than a major release. People might be looking for a PULP FICTION or a SNATCH here, but it is not quite on the same level. It's more on the level of Mark Wahlberg's 1998 cult action film THE BIG HIT and to no surprise, both films are by directors from the Hong Kong film industry (Ronny Yu and Kirk Wong respectively). What saves the film is the casting of international stars with the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, Meatloaf, and Robert Carlyle with their outrageous characters. They are in a story about an American (Jackson) who has invented the ultimate drug in hopes to sell the formula to make a final score. He travels to Liverpool, England to meet with mobsters in hopes it will become the next fashion drug at 'party raves'. The dialogue is fast and crisp, the action and gunplay are graphic and bloody, and there is the right amount of comedy mixed in with the violence with some plot twists and turns to keep the film moving. There are some plot holes and predictable plot devices and if the film went beyond the right amount of 92 minutes, the audience would have had enough of all the gratuitousness. Overall, entertaining, but only for the fact of the cast and slight comedic moments.
outrageous and funthe beginning is hilarious with JAckson getting pulled over by the cop and he has his afro. Robert Carlyle is crazy and fun to watch as Felix. Emily Mortimor is sexy and deadly. Rhys Ifans is masterful with his pianted up face. Jackson delivers another cool bad ass peformance with a kilt. energetic with a great cast make this one of the hippiest movies of 2002
Born in the USA:Muslim Americans
Released in DVD by Soliman Productions (15 June, 2003)
Average review score:
No reviews found.
The subpar directing continues to the end of the film when the reality of Samuel L. Jackson's ecstasy-style designer drug (the namesake for the title "Formula 51") is revealed. The ending really cheapened the previous 90 minutes (if that was possible).
The redeeming quality of this film is Robert Carlyle (also seen in "The Full Monty"). Robert Carlyle is fantastic. He is the only reason this movie is watchable. He is frenetic and unpredictable. It is classic Carlyle as he jumps between "lightning in a bottle" zaniness mixed with brief glimpses of sincere vulnerability.
What stands out memorably is a scene where Carlyle supports his Liverpool soccer/football team by entering a pub dominated by Manchester United fans, lighting a flare, and preceding to insult them and taunt them. The thirty of them chase him around the pub. It is pure physical comedy and a true fantasy for anyone who loves to hate the Manchester United club.
Samuel L. Jackson is the lead as Elmo McElroy. True to his Scottish last name, he wears a kilt and brandishes golf clubs in fights. He is fairly cool, but not as dominatingly cool as he is in Pulp Fiction.
Yes, there are some laugh-out-loud moments, but they are outnumbered by groan-out-loud moments. Do not expect "Snatch" or "Pulp Fiction" with this one. Ronny Yu is not in the same league as Guy Ritchie or Quentin Tarantino.