An extremely volatile and dangerous Englishman goes to Los Angeles to find the man he considers responsible for his daughter’s death.
Before directing “Traffic” and “Erin Brockovich” and “Oceans 11, 12, 13,” came “The Limey,” starring the often underappreciated Terence Stamp as Wilson, an ex-con jailed for a daring robbery in London years ago. Released in 1999, Steven Soderbergh demonstrated early on that he was a director to keep an eye on. Before and after “The Limey,” Soderbergh developed a consistent and solid reputation for directing thoughtful films – this one is no exception.
The plot proves straightforward enough, though told in an interesting fashion. Wilson’s daughter Jenny (Melissa George) mysteriously dies in a flaming automobile accident, prompting his journey from London to Los Angeles. The nature of the father-daughter relationship remains unclear at first. Nevertheless, the narrative confidently lays out over a brief 89 minutes. Use of jump cuts, flashbacks and flash-forwards actually work to enhance the expansive storyline. The juxtaposition of plot elements through time might make things confusing in less competent hands, however, in this case, Soderbergh brings the pieces of the puzzle together nicely when the closing credits roll.
A fine supporting cast that includes Lesley Ann Warren, Luis Guzmán, Barry Newman and Peter Fonda rounds out this impressive production. Fonda as music industry promoter Terry Valentine serves up a suitably sleazy persona, living in his over-the-top Southern California mansion in the hills. His very visible public profile and powerful friends shield him from potential exposure to involvement in Jenny’s death. Newman plays against type as Jim Avery, Valentine’s loyal friend and head of security. As a bad guy, Newman demonstrates a solid versatility, fascinating to behold.
Warren as Elaine shares conversations she had with Jenny regarding her father. As he listens, Stamp vividly conveys Wilson’s regret about his neglected daughter, who in adulthood became smitten with Hollywood and show business opportunities. Yet he also fully appreciates how she refused to sacrifice her integrity, either as a child with her father or later with the oleaginous Valentine.
Guzmán shines as always, turning in another empathetic performance as Eduardo Roel, Jenny’s unlikely friend, the result of a chance meeting during acting class. Eduardo doles out some delightful sarcasm as he helps the dogged Wilson navigate the LA landscape, searching for the truth. Full of welcome surprises, “The Limey” falls into the category of one of the best movies you’ve probably never seen. Well worth the while and highly recommended.
Now available on Digital 4K Ultra HD & On-Demand
