Out of Sight (1998)

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Screenplay: Scott Frank (based on the book by Elmore Leonard)

Cast: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Ving Rhames

Music: David Holmes

Time: 123 minutes

Bottom-line: Hilarious and action-packed, with Clooney stealing the show

The film that made Clooney the star he is today, Soderbergh’s Out of Sight is a comedy-heist film, co-starring Jennifer Lopez and Ving Rhames in the lead roles, with Don Cheadle, Steve Zahn and Albert Brooks in the supporting roles. Packed with humour and action, the film is – as the Rotten Tomatoes consensus reads – “witty, sexy and surprisingly entertaining.”

Jack Foley (Clooney) is a career bank robber, who is now serving in Florida prison after a foiled robbery. His friend, Buddy Bragg (Rhames) waits outside the prison in a getaway car, but the plan is interrupted by US Marshal Karen Sisco (Lopez). After a brief tiff, Bragg crams Foley and Sisco in the boot of the car and drives away. Despite the initial hostility, both Foley and Sisco develop a romantic interest for the other. Foley, Bragg and Glenn plan to rob a businessman, Ripley (Brooks), who had gloated to them earlier in prison about having diamonds in his house. Meanwhile, another inmate, Maurice (Cheadle), and his associates, also plan to rob Ripley. As Foley plans to stay ahead of Maurice, he also realises that Sisco is on his tail. But is it to arrest him, or because she loves him?

 

Clooney as Foley

In many ways, it looks like Out of Sight was Soderbergh’s trial run to decide whether or not to go ahead with Ocean’s Eleven. But, after Clooney’s impeccable charm and charisma gave him his much-needed break in his career, Soderbergh had no qualms. From the opening bank robbery scene, Clooney’s acting is brilliant – whether he is having an intimate conversation with Sisco or engaging in a fight. While Lopez’s sexiness is what is most obvious about her character, you have to praise her acting as well. The way she plays both good cop and bad cop with Foley intensifies the chemistry between so much. This film is one of the best examples of the phrase “opposites attract”.

 

Lopez as Sisco

The story rides a lot on the acting to have the effect it does. The blend of action and comedy is really good, and the dialogues are sharp and clever. I like the exchanges between Sisco and Foley throughout the film – from the one the boot of the car to the showdown – playing mind games and trying to prove their wit. The ending is one where Sisco has to choose between career and love, and what she does may not be what you would expect, but I felt it was a clean climax. The bank robbery scene at the beginning of the film and the time Foley and Sisco meet in the bar are my favourite moments in the film.

 

Rhames as Bragg

Action, slapstick humour, biting dialogues and splendid performances, Out of Sight has it all. If that’s not good enough to motivate you to watch it already, then perhaps you should watch it just to see what kicked off Clooney’s career (and to be frank, that’s why I saw the film in the first place!).

My Rating: 3.5/5

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 93%