Review of Out of Sight (1998) by Chelsea H — 30 Mar 2010

Out Of Sight (1998).

This movie influenced a short-run TV series, called "Karen Sisco", with Carla Gugino playing the U.S. Marshal. However, the series missed the whole point of Out of Sight which was two, somewhat different people, falling in love with each other. This movie has made me want to read some of Elmore Leonard's other books.

Out of Sight was directed by Steven Soderbergh and he pulls the same Tarantino-esqe non-linear flashbacks to tell the story. It's filled with some of the best actors around, and well worth a look. But, it's not exactly a fast-paced crime drama. It's more of a slower-moving romantic comedy with some gritty crime thrown in for good measure.

Jack Foley (George Clooney) is a career bank robber. He seldom gets caught because he's somewhat smart about it, and never uses a gun. However, he had a weak moment (the car wouldn't start) and Jack got caught and sent to a Florida prison. His old partner, Buddy Bragg (Ving Rhames) helps him with his jail break, along with a stoney con, Glenn Michaels (Steve Zahn) but a U.S. Marshal, Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez) gets mixed up in the attempt and they take her with them as a hostage.

While in the trunk of the get-away car, Jack and Karen, sort of have a moment together, and they both can't seem to get each other out of their heads. They both try to play it cool, but there's this weird romantic feeling between them, while still knowing that they are on opposite sides of the law.

Karen is a smart, savvy, proficient, and under-appreciated investigator who knows her stuff. She is trying to find Jack. Karen is also a hopeless romantic who always seems to be attracted to the wrong guy. She's been seeing a married FBI agent, Ray Nicolette (Michael Keaton, reviving his Nicolette character from Jackie Brown), to the disappointment of her private eye father, Marshall (Dennis Farina). Marshall is sort of in on the joke that Karen has more than crime-fighting designs on finding Jack.

On top of that, Jack and Buddy are mixed up with psychopathic Maurice "Snoopy" Miller (Don Cheadle) trying to rob a rich convicted robber baron, Richard Ripley (Albert Brooks) of his uncut diamonds, hidden in his Detroit mansion. Jack is beginning to change his mind about his life of crime, but the thought of one last big score is too much for him.