Review of Out of Sight (1998) by Sharon W — 30 Apr 2009

Easily my favorite flick of all time. I remember seeing it a lot on the Movie Network in '98 and '99 and falling in love with it. Then it went away and was impossible to find on DVD until 2006. Apparently it was available to find since â??99, but I had no luck. Let's just say it was expensive when I did find it, but well worth it.

Out of Sight is based on Elmore Leonard's (many of his novels have been adapted to flicks: Jackie Brown, 3:10 To Yuma and Killshot to name a few) novel of the same name and stays true to his passion for good pulp noir stories with a twist. Professional bank robber Jack Foley (George Clooney) escapes from Glades Correctional Facility in Florida and temporarily kidnaps U.S. Marshall Karen Sisko (Jennifer Lopez) while making his getaway aided by partner Buddy Braggs (Ving Rhames).

What follows next is an interesting devotion to a good heist flick coinciding with a blossoming romance that we already know just wouldn't work in the real world between two opposites (a thief and a fed). It explores the theme, â??do opposites attract?â??

What I've always found interesting about this flick is the non-linear storytelling similar to that seen in 21 Grams but easier to follow like Reservoir Dogs. Don Cheadle steals every scene as the pitch-perfect former boxer turned Detroit street thug Maurice "Mad Dog-Snoopâ?? Miller. Steve Zahn is funny as he always is as a former convict who wants in on the score but, as Foley puts it, "has a f**kin' vacant lot for a head.".

Look out for bit parts by Albert Brooks (the Simpsons Movie), Catherine Keener (the 40 Year Old Virgin), Luis Guzman (the Counte Of Monte Cristo), Dennis Farina (Get Shorty) and the greatest cameo since Sean Connery showed up as King Richard at the end of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. I'll let you watch it and find out.

All in all, Scott Frank's screenplay stays so true to the novel it's too good to be true. Coming from myself, a huge Elmore Leonard fan, I was pleasantly surprised with how accurate it was and I'm talking down to the slang dialogue. Of course, to Leonardâ??s credit, " If it sounds written, it's wrong," which is his first rule when writing dialogue. Without knowing, you can tell this is a Steven Soderbergh flick who went on to work with Clooney in the Oceanâ??s Trilogy. Youâ??ll definitely find Clooneyâ??s charm and wit viciously enjoyable and like in Oceans, he plays the bad guy you get to root for. A lot of people will question Jennifer Lopezâ??s ability to effectively portray a U.S. Marshall. This is easily her strongest role in a film to date. Sheâ??s tough, sexy and carries a baton like she was born with it. You try sitting there and watch her wield a12-gauge shotgun and not plead for her to squeeze off a round or two.

MEMORABLE MOMENT: A definite WTF moment of accidental suicide so funny, I guarantee youâ??ll rewind it to see it again.

YOU LIKE? THEN YOUâ??LL LIKE:

-Get Shorty.

-Reservoir Dogs.

-Jackie Brown.