The Limey (1999)
87%RT Audience Score: 78%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 9 nominations
Crafted with eccentric moodiness and style by Steven Soderbergh, The Limey is also a gritty neo-noir showcase for the talent of leading man Terence Stamp
The Limey is like a classic noir film, but with a twist. Terrence Stamp and Peter Fonda are like two old dogs fighting over a bone, and it’s a joy to watch them go at it. The script may be a bit thin, but Soderbergh’s direction makes up for it with some cool visuals and a killer supporting cast. Plus, who doesn’t love a good revenge story? It’s like Taken, but with a British accent and way more style. Overall, The Limey is a fun ride that’s definitely worth checking out.
Production Company(ies)
Cosmo Films, Distressed Films, Film Nation Entertainment,
Distributor
Artisan Entertainment
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
The Astral House, 2210 Astral Place, Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence and language
Year of Release
1999
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 30m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 8, 1999 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 21, 2000
Genre(s)
Crime/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Terence Stamp, Peter Fonda, Lesley Ann Warren, Luis Guzmán, Barry Newman, Joe Dallesandro, directed by Steven Soderbergh, written by Lem Dobbs, crime, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Emanuel Levy, Eleanor Ringel Cater, Liam Lacey, Philip Strick, Edward Guthmann, Mike Clark, Jason Shawhan, David Nusair, Fernando F Croce, Michael Dequina, Pablo Villaça, R rating, Artisan Entertainment, produced by John Hardy, Scott Kramer, Dolby SR, DTS, SDDS, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Digital, Flat (1.85:1), revenge, Los Angeles, ex-con, daughter’s death, Valentine, L.A.’s toughest criminals, bodily harm, neo-noir, gritty, eccentric moodiness, style, talent, leading man, AVOD, WatchFree, Tubi Summer of Streaming 2022, staycation, adventure, streaming movies, TV shows, critics consensus, Tomatometer, audience score, original language, aspect ratio, sound mix, distributor, runtime, release date
Worldwide gross: $3,325,736
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,969,789
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,121
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 651,013
US/Canada gross: $3,204,663
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,752,459
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,767
US/Canada opening weekend: $187,122
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $335,889
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,507
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $10,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $17,950,279
Production budget ranking: 1,419
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $9,666,225
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$21,646,715
ROI to date (est.): -78%
ROI ranking: 1,871
Peter Fonda – Terry Valentine
Lesley Ann Warren – Elaine
Luis Guzmán – Ed
Barry Newman – Avery
Joe Dallesandro – Uncle John
Director(s)
Steven Soderbergh
Writer(s)
Lem Dobbs
Producer(s)
John Hardy, Scott Kramer
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 9 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (84) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (77) | Rotten (7)
The crimer suffers from a slim, underdeveloped script by Lem Dobbs (who also write Kafka), but benefits from Soderbergh’s astute direction that posits two 1960s cinematic icons, Brit Terrence Stamp and American Peter Fonda as long-time enemies.
November 9, 2006 | Rating: B+
Emanuel Levy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Those interested in more challenging work will find the film a unique meditation on the nature of Hollywood.
February 21, 2004
Eleanor Ringel Cater
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TOP CRITIC
An apparently simple movie that demands and rewards a deeper look.
April 25, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/4
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
The film is subtly stolen by Amelia Heinle, joining such actresses as Andie MacDowell, Elisabeth Shue, Betsy Brantley and Jennifer Lopez as the latest in a line of Soderbergh’s saving graces.
December 2, 2002
Philip Strick
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
A first-rate crime thriller and further proof that director Stephen Soderbergh is one of our great contemporary film stylists.
June 18, 2002 | Rating: 4/4
Edward Guthmann
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
This is one of those movies in which pacing, dialogue and the right actors enliven a familiar story.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mike Clark
USA Today
TOP CRITIC
It’s a brisk and relentless story, with a killer supporting cast (Lesley Anne Warren, Joe Dallesandro, Nicky Katt and Luis Guzmán!) and an inevitability that you feel in every cut. Truly one of the great films of 1999.
September 10, 2021
Jason Shawhan
Nashville Scene
…a high-water-mark in Soderbergh’s admittedly spotty body of work.
June 30, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
The Limey is a very simple noir revenge tale, told in broad daylight in a very complicated way.
March 25, 2019
Chris Ryan
The Ringer
Assuredly Soderbergh’s masterpiece
February 14, 2010
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion
Not your standard revenge movie, thanks to the inventive and stylish direction of Steven Soderbergh.
November 28, 2009 | Rating: 3.5/4
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com
A montagem, a interessante utilização de imagens de Poor Cow e, claro, a interpretação impecável de Stamp transformam um roteiro prosaico em uma experiência intrigante.
June 2, 2009 | Rating: 4/5
Pablo Villaça
Cinema em Cena…
Plot
An ex-con, fresh out of prison, goes to L.A. to try to learn who murdered his daughter. However, he quickly finds that he is completely out of place with no understanding of the culture he finds. His investigations are helped by another ex-con. Together they learn that his daughter had been having an affair with a record producer, who is presently having an affair with another young woman. An aging actress, who also knew his daughter, forces him to look at his own failures as a father. The movie does focus on the drama of the situation and the inter-relationships of the characters and seldom slips into an action piece.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Limey is a “gritty neo-noir showcase for the talent of leading man Terence Stamp.”
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