Any heist-themed film marathon must needs have a Steven Soderbergh entry. I already reviewed Logan Lucky (2017) on this blog, and the Ocean's movies are so ubiquitous in pop culture (and the heist genre in general), that I decided to go back to his roots in the heist genre.
I have heard a lot about Out of Sight (1998), but had never managed to sit down and watch the thing from start to finish. So let's do it.
I. What is It?
Out of Sight is an adaptation of an Elmore Leonard novel of the same name that tells the story of an escaped con, his last big score, and the US Marshall that falls in love with him.II. It's A 90s Film That Doesn't Suck
This movie IS the 90s. We have bright colors, a funky soundtrack (by DJ David Holmes), a hip auteur director, and a breakout cast (featuring J-Lo!). And it doesn't suck. Out of Sight is the kind of 90s film that every other film in the 90s aspired to be.
It's that rare Tarantino-like crime caper that manages to stand on its own merits. It is stylish, the dialogue is wonderful, the soundtrack is retro, and Soderbergh's direction is crisp.
It's that rare Tarantino-like crime caper that manages to stand on its own merits. It is stylish, the dialogue is wonderful, the soundtrack is retro, and Soderbergh's direction is crisp.
III. Genesis
This movie is the kickstarter to a lot of people's careers. It isn't their first rodeo, but it stands as the first time they step out into superstar status.
Notably George Clooney: he has plenty of IMDB entries before this film, but his turn as Jack Foley, the smooth-talking handsome rogue, would shoot him into the stratosphere. He would make his career playing roles like this, and would perfect the character (or one like it) in the Ocean's trilogy later in the aughts. Clooney is great, here. He serves Leonard's madcap criminal world wonderfully, and manages to imbue some real heart and soul into a part that could easily have been just a cartoon.
Jennifer Lopez would ALSO have a wonderful '98. She'd already played Selena, and had a wonderful music career. Out of Sight marks the first time she steps into the Hollywood leading lady role, and carves out a niche for herself. She plays the tough, no-nonsense Karen Sisco nimbly and believably. Some people are just damned talented.
Steve Zahn plays the lovable criminal nincompoop common to all of Elmore Leonard's works. Don Cheadle is a delightful psychopath, and Ving Rhames plays a dutiful wingman. The ensemble all know what kind of film they are in, and all seem to be having a blast on camera.
This is Soderbergh's first heist film, and you can see him road-testing some of the stylistic flashes that he would perfect in the Ocean's trilogy. Apparently the man was in a bit of a career slump in the early nineties, and Out of Sight marked the first hit he'd have in some time.
Also: it's really nice to see Dennis Farina play a loving father. He made a career out of playing foul-mouthed toughs, but the care and devotion he displays onscreen is wonderful.
It is a lot of fun watching these people right as their careers are taking off. It's fun to see the ghosts of the stars they would become later.
Notably George Clooney: he has plenty of IMDB entries before this film, but his turn as Jack Foley, the smooth-talking handsome rogue, would shoot him into the stratosphere. He would make his career playing roles like this, and would perfect the character (or one like it) in the Ocean's trilogy later in the aughts. Clooney is great, here. He serves Leonard's madcap criminal world wonderfully, and manages to imbue some real heart and soul into a part that could easily have been just a cartoon.
Jennifer Lopez would ALSO have a wonderful '98. She'd already played Selena, and had a wonderful music career. Out of Sight marks the first time she steps into the Hollywood leading lady role, and carves out a niche for herself. She plays the tough, no-nonsense Karen Sisco nimbly and believably. Some people are just damned talented.
Steve Zahn plays the lovable criminal nincompoop common to all of Elmore Leonard's works. Don Cheadle is a delightful psychopath, and Ving Rhames plays a dutiful wingman. The ensemble all know what kind of film they are in, and all seem to be having a blast on camera.
This is Soderbergh's first heist film, and you can see him road-testing some of the stylistic flashes that he would perfect in the Ocean's trilogy. Apparently the man was in a bit of a career slump in the early nineties, and Out of Sight marked the first hit he'd have in some time.
Also: it's really nice to see Dennis Farina play a loving father. He made a career out of playing foul-mouthed toughs, but the care and devotion he displays onscreen is wonderful.
It is a lot of fun watching these people right as their careers are taking off. It's fun to see the ghosts of the stars they would become later.
IV. A Touch Long
Look, the film is stylish, and well-acted, and wonderfully written. But it is a bit long. Losing ten-to-fifteen minutes would have really made this caper hum. It's two hours and three minutes, and it doesn't really need to be.V. Problematic
There is no way around how problematic it is that a female US Marshall has all of her credibility undermined by instantly falling in love with an escaped convict, and then later aiding his future escape from prison. The story hits some really awkward beats, and it feels like a step forward for female characters and two steps back at the same time.VIII. Should You Watch It?
Miscellany
- Sandra Bullock almost got the part of Karen Sisco, but Soderbergh insisted that she wasn't right for an Elmore Leonard film. Funnily enough, she would play Danny Ocean's sister in 2018's all-female Ocean's 8.- Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Keaton perform cameos in the film. They did so without getting paid. Keaton reprises the role of Ray Nicolette, which he first played in Jackie Brown (1997).
- Soderbergh chose to do this film as a means to "get out of the arthouse ghetto." He felt that he needed to make a more commercial film to really break into Hollywood.
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