The 51st State (also known as Formula 51) is a 2001[2] action comedy film directed by Ronny Yu, written by Stel Pavlou, and starring Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Carlyle, Emily Mortimer, Ricky Tomlinson, Sean Pertwee, Rhys Ifans, Stephen Walters and Meat Loaf.
The film follows the story of an American master chemist (Jackson) who heads to Britain to sell his formula for a powerful new drug.
In 1971, a policeman pulls over Elmo McElroy, a recent college graduate with a degree, for driving under the influence of marijuana.
In the present day, drug lord "the Lizard" calls a meeting of his colleagues, hoping to sell a new substance invented by Elmo.
Dakota reluctantly accepts when the Lizard offers to clear her gambling debts and give her a $250,000 bonus.
Felix contacts a gun dealing club owner and drug distributor named Iki, promising him the formula for £20 million.
As Elmo and Felix acquire the ingredients necessary for the drug's manufacture, all of which are over-the-counter products, the now-armed skinheads take them hostage.
Felix, Elmo and Dawn meet Iki in a private viewing box at the football match at Anfield.
The Lizard celebrates with a drink, as Elmo reveals that the drug is a placebo and POS stands for Power of Suggestion.
Screenwriter Stel Pavlou came up with the idea for The 51st State in 1994 while studying at university in Liverpool and working in the kitchens of The Brook Cafe at the Quiggins centre, loosely basing some of the characters on his friends.
[5] The DVD commentary reveals that the script was originally written with Laurence Fishburne in mind, sometime before Jackson became a star.
After five years The 51st State was finally budgeted at $28 million, with financing coming from Canada and the UK via Alliance Atlantis and the Film Consortium.
With the roles of Elmo McElroy (Samuel L. Jackson) and Felix DeSouza (Robert Carlyle) both secured, producer Andras Hamori suggested Meat Loaf to play the antagonist.
Other famous Liverpool landmarks can be seen throughout the film in the background such as St George's Hall and the Liver Building.
Special features include an audio commentary, making-of and production featurettes, a photo gallery, trailer, and cast and crew interviews.