I went to see Layer Cake at an area theatre as I am a big fan of the British crime film genre. It lacked in many areas. Sexy Beast and The Long, Good Friday were much more compelling and both showed such a good visual aspect of London the city which Layer Cake did not. I was surprised to see the theatre sold out on this one, given the nature of the film: British, small release, accents and criminal slang to work through... Everyone is matching the film's star, Daniel Craig, to Steve McQueen, but it's not an apt comparison. McQueen's career exploded even in his early television days, and he had one of those expressive faces that just pop out at you and demand to be watched. Craig has many similar physicial features, but he's missing that "X" factor which is ironic given the character he plays in the movie is referred to as the anonymous "X."
"X" is that indefinable thing that some call "aura" and others call "command," and yet others refer to as "an unknown quality." It isn't any one thing. In the case of a movie actor, it certain includes being photogenic, but it goes beyond face on film into the hidden powers behind the mask. I find it hard today to name an actor who has "X" to the point where you just can't take your eyes off of them wherever they are on the screen. James Dean had "X" and Marlon Brando. Brad Pitt is handsome, but he lacks "X." Clive Owen has some "X," but not the full blast of it. You could say Angelina Jolie has "X," if you remember how she stole Girl Interrupted away from Winona Ryder. Where are the "X " people? I'm eXasperated. We've mutated down into Adam Sandler world, and it's boring.
By the way, Michael Gambon, playing a crime lord long since assimilated into the upper classes in Layer Cake, walks aways with the picture. You certainly wouldn't call him photogenic, but "X" in Sam Spades.
"X" Squared
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