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February 1999

Out of Sight
Reviewed by Doug Schneider
DVD Format

Overall Enjoyment: *****
Picture Quality: ****1/2
Sound Quality: ****1/2
Packaged Extras: ****

Starring George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Ving Rhames

Directed by Steven Soderbergh

Theatrical Release: 1998
DVD Release: 1999
Dolby Digital 5.1
Widescreen


Out of Sight was one of the best movies of 1998 and is one of the finest, sexiest crime thrillers ever made. George Clooney plays Jack Foley, a career bank robber who, despite pulling off over 200 robberies, is still dumb enough to get caught enough times to have spent half his life in prison -- "this time keep the car running," his ex-wife reminds him. Jennifer Lopez plays Karen Sisco, a tough-minded federal marshal with a soft spot for the wrong type of guys. Based on a novel by Elmore Leonard, Out of Sight sizzles with excitement, suspense and the sex appeal of its two stars.

The movie opens with an attempted bank robbery and subsequent prison break which, of course, Foley is all part of. The difference with Foley is that unlike most other criminals, he's kind-hearted and has never used a gun in his life. He gets a lot just by asking. The problem is that Sisco is always in the right place at the right time. She first confronts Foley when she and he get locked in the trunk of a car following the prison escape. They are annoyed at first, but the attraction between the two grows, and it is not long before she is following him from Miami to Detroit, where he is going to pull off his last heist..

Director Steven Soderbergh (Sex Lies & Videotape) paces the film at lightning speed. The film's story makes a complete circle until the final standoff, and it is this non-linear timeline that makes the ending all the more rewarding. With innovative editing, including wonderfully placed jump cuts amidst short- and long-term flashbacks, the visuals are thoroughly inspired and include one of the best pickup and subsequent love scenes ever put to film. Another scene where a grizzly murder takes place is handled with such finesse and beautiful camera work that before you know it, it's done, but it happens in a way you'd never expect. In both cases, Soderbergh shows the audience far less than they think, but with results that are impactful and memorable. Freeze-frames, particularly when Karen tussles with one criminal, are exquisitely framed and perfectly timed. When I first saw Out of Sight in the theater, it was one of the handful of movies that I wanted to watch all over again immediately. It's that good. A movie like this owes a lot to Tarantino's groundbreaking work in Pulp Fiction, but it's more homage than imitation, and I doubt that Tarantino could have pulled off the love story the way Soderbergh does.

The film pulls no punches and is surprisingly realistic and honest in its portrayal of the fate-crossed lovers who would have been better off meeting under different circumstances. Clooney's swagger and mannerisms, unlike in other films, work effectively here, and even if you are not a fan of his, you'll like him in this. Lopez breathes sexuality but is fully believable as a tough-minded cop. The supporting cast is a knockout. Steve Zahn makes a bid to steal the show as the wanna-be hippy who is no good at crime. His facial expressions at key moments are worth rewinding a few times to see. There is also Ving Rhames as Foley's best friend, back-watcher and conscience in crime; Don Cheadle is another career criminal, but one without a conscience; and Albert Brooks is almost unidentifiable in his bald-cap as the unscrupulous rich guy. There is even a cameo appearance by Michael Keaton, who plays Karen Sisco's boyfriend who is cheating on his wife (incidentally, for those who saw Jackie Brown, his character IS the same person).

The transfer to DVD is anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) and properly retains the look of film and without artifacts -- no complaints. The sound is extremely good, with excellent clarity, range and without a hint of the edgy, shrieking, nasties heard on many soundtracks. The DVD is chocked full of extras including deleted scenes, director and screenwriter commentary, and musical highlights. The "trunk scene" is shown shot from a slightly different perspective and tone, and it's a lesson in filmmaking to see how subtle changes can affect the results on screen. It's an excellent presentation all around and one of the best DVDs on the market for extras.

If I had to rank four recent films in this genre, I would place Pulp Fiction first, followed closely by Out of Sight. Next would be Jackie Brown, also directed by Tarantino, and then Get Shorty. Incidentally, all except for Pulp Fiction, are based on Elmore Leonard novels. Out of Sight IS out of sight. It's one of the very best films of 1998, and one I have added permanently to my collection.


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