layer cake represents the point where matthew vaughn transitioned to directing and making the films that he was previously producing. unfortunately, he stuck so close to that formula that he wasn't able to fully capitalize on the promise and the talent that he has on a director to create something that really feels like his. this feels a lot like a guy ritchie film. but vaughn is not ritchie and, therefore, this film doesn't feel fresh and vibrant as it probably should. while there are some things to like about the film and is able to find some interesting ideas to explore, it never reaches the heights that his later films eventually will. layer cake tells the story of a nameless mid-level drug dealer, played by daniel craig, who is planning on getting out of the game while he is on top. however, due to some unfortunate circumstances, he is roped back into one more job before he is able to achieve just that. from there, the plot thickens and twists to a point where an active attention to how the plot is unfolding is required to fully understand the machinations of the plot. true, it can get kind of confusing but i don't think that is necessarily a problem with the film and it is able to generate some forward momentum through the duration of the film. and the film is a really enjoyable thing to just watch. vaughn is an ultimate stylist and is able to infuse much of the proceedings with a sense of style and brings a cool factor to the visuals of the film. however, he still falls back on some stylings that feel more like an imitation of guy ritchie rather than the unique style that we see emerging in his later films. because of that, it isn't able to feel fresh or separate itself enough to be his vision or differentiate it from some of the other recent films in this particular genre. in some ways, you can see the beginnings of his fascination with playing with the tropes of the genre. he clearly knows how all of them are employed and how they operate within films in this genre but he doesn't seem to have the experience or the audacity to really play with them and challenge some of them. while i may argue that he still hasn't quite got there, it is clear he is leaning on them more than he usually does in this film. daniel craig is pretty fantastic in his role, as well. it is easy to imagine why he would be on a list to play james bond because he exudes those qualities while also being able to infuse them with an arrogance that is offputting but effective at the same time. he is able to find a way to match the cool factor that the film has and plays off of that very well. there are certainly many different things to enjoy here. the moments where vaughn is able to break through and provide us a glimpse of the style that he is well known for and allows his true creativity and skill shine through are immensely enjoyable. unfortunately, that stuff is buried within stuff that feels like it was borrowed from other films to lend this one some more legitimacy. the film is never able to feel fresh or feel like it is bringing something new or interesting to the table. if only for the style, this is a film that is good but could be greater. it is a sign of the talent that vaughn has and what he does bring to the table in making his films later in his career.