Directed by Steven Soderbergh Starring: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Review by Cathryn Naiker
SYNOPSIS:
A career bank robber breaks out of jail and shares a moment of mutual attraction with a US Marshall he has kidnapped.
Nominated for 2 OSCARS: Best Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay
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REVIEW:
The wonderfully charismatic professional bank robber Jack Foley(George Clooney) is arrested on one of his lofty attempts. While in jail scheming a get away plan, he hears about a diamond stash through Ripley (Albert Brooks), a shady business guy. His plan to escape works, almost too easily, like he had a ‘get out of jail free’ card.
The smooth Jack Foley has everything in the palm of his hand, except for two things. 1) Maurice Miller (Don Cheatle) another hard knocked criminal, is after the same stash and 2) U.S. Marshal, Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez) happens to end up in the trunk of Jack’s getaway car.
This film was one of the highest critically acclaimed films of the decade, also earning it two Oscar nominations for adapted screenplay and film editing. However it did not translate at the box office at first and made much more money internationally. This film was definitely a slow burner and caught fire later on. Overall (with a little bit of hindsight of course) this film is considered a success.
It also became more popular as all the other stars in the film became bigger celebrities. The pressure was high for the big names involved in this production. George Clooney trying to prove he can be a leading man on the big screen, Jennifer Lopez trying to prove she’s more then a fly girl or Selena for that matter and Director Steven Soderbergh trying to solidify himself in Hollywood as one of its premiere directors, all of them pulling this off beautifully.
This film also became a big break for Actor Don Cheatle and Isaiah Washington who had a small role playing Don’s sidekick. This film definitely ended up foreshadowing a lot of celebrity culture for the following decade.
What makes this film unique is its very sexy and chic style. The film stylistically freeze frames moments it does not want you to miss.
Anything from someone throwing a jacket on the ground or Karen Sisco with her gun over the head of Jack Foley in a bathtub withstrategically places bubbles. Also the sexual tension between Jack and Karen is really what makes this film stand out beyond other cop and robber films. The love scene between these two is one of the most sensual and seductive scenes in film. It also serves as a huge plot point changing the film’s purpose from catching the bad guy to falling in love with the bad guy. All this is cleverly woven into a conversation that happens at a chance or “chance” meeting at a hotel restaurant for drinks.
By and large I think this film is stunning - probably one of the most all around films there is! It’s a great story, has lots of interesting characters and enough suspense to keep you on your toes.
It’s the perfect balance of everything that makes a movie worth watching.
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