Entertainment Weekly by Owen Gleiberman

Fast, convulsive, and densely exciting new British gangster thriller.

Charlotte Observer by Lawrence Toppman

Doesn't reveal all its layers until you've taken the last bite.

Philadelphia Inquirer by Steven Rea

Things get a little tricky by the end, but it's the sort of trickery that's immensely satisfying.

Chicago Sun-Times by Roger Ebert

Craig is fascinating here as a criminal who is very smart, and finds that is not an advantage because while you might be able to figure out what another smart person is about to do, dumbos like the men he works for are likely to do anything.

Chicago Tribune by Allison Benedikt

Don't let the fast-and-loose vibe fool you: Right up to its operatic finale, this is one tight one last job.

Variety

There's a proper lived-in believability about Layer Cake's depiction of how the worlds of the rich, the criminal and the criminally rich intersect.

The New York Times by Manohla Dargis

The newest in British gangland entertainment and the tastiest in years.

The Hollywood Reporter by Ray Bennett

Smartly put together, with interesting characters and caustic wit.

Chicago Reader by J.R. Jones

A colorful cast whose combined energy lifts the story off the ground.

Time by Richard Schickel

Layer Cake is a treat--especially if your taste in desserts is devil's food.

Variety by Leslie Felperin

There's a proper lived-in believability about Layer Cake's depiction of how the worlds of the rich, the criminal and the criminally rich intersect.

USA Today by Mike Clark

There's a lot here to feed crime-fiction enthusiasts.

Los Angeles Times by Kevin Crust

A sleek, effective entertainment that is a refreshing respite from the slick emptiness of recent American crime dramas.

The A.V. Club by Nathan Rabin

The always-dependable and chameleon-like Craig has the chops and substance for that kind of film, but Vaughn prefers to keep matters brisk and superficial.

Film Threat

The writing is crisp and deeply layered, and the filmmakers gave themselves a rich array of actors to work with.

TV Guide Magazine by Maitland McDonagh

The result is so intoxicating, it hardly matters that you've heard it all before.

Village Voice by Michael Atkinson

What's abundantly clear is how far this kind of moviemaking has come from any knowledge of real criminal life; it's a geek's ineffectual daydream of mayhem.