Simply A Masterpiece

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

It's not that Out of Sight is some sort of monumental motion picture, however, it's a perfectly harmless feature film that entertains from beginning to end. It's one of Steven Soderbergh's more dated films, being that it was made 20 years ago, but it's also one of the sharpest in terms of dialogue and performances.On the outside, the romance between Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney is flooded with clichés. An under-appreciated FBI agent falls for the very guy she's trying to take down. It's been done a thousand times over, and it's not like this time it's all that groundbreaking. But their romance is well-acted on both sides. Clooney does as good as he can playing bad-boy Jack Foley, but I'm not sure I can ever accept that face of his as an antagonist. And Lopez, who isn't known for her acting, is actually quite good as Karen Sisco.Unsurprisingly for a Soderbergh film, the cast as a whole is phenomenal. Clooney, Lopez, Cheadle, Zahn, Rhames, Keener, Farina, Brooks, Davis, Keaton, and the one and only Samuel L. Jackson round out one of the best ensemble casts of all time. The best part is, no one takes their jobs too seriously, but well enough to be effective.As I previously mentioned, Soderbergh's directing is a little dated. Part of it is because the way films were made in the 90's was way different than it is now. For one, the music they used seemed like something out of a cheesy adult film. I mean that in the most respectful way possible, it's just the vibe I got from it. The editing is also something I couldn't entirely get behind. It's obviously intentional on Soderbergh's part, but the weird pauses in shots before transitions to a new scene just seemed weird.With that said, Out of Sight is undeniably fun, smart, and re- watchable. There isn't a whole lot more you can ask from a movie. It's no Oceans' Eleven, but it's definitely something worth watching.7.7/10

Out of Sight (1998): Dir: Steven Soderbergh / Cast: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Dennis Farina, Ving Rhames, Don Cheadle: Potential clever caper given great writing and detail until it starts to resemble Ocean's Eleven. Title isn't exactly focused unless it refers to a getaway plans that never work for the criminal in question. He flicks his lighter rapidly anticipating his options. A plan forms and he calmly holds up a bank teller. His methods payoff until he is arrested shortly thereafter. He spends much of his life in prison but another plan forms where he breaks out. Assisted by his partner the plan works until he finds himself in the trunk of a car with a female cop. Clever writing with a surprise ending involving sacrifice. Stylish directing by Steven Soderbergh who previously made Sex, Lies and Videotape. George Clooney brings charm to a clumsy criminal. Jennifer Lopez is superb as a cop torn between profession and romance but ultimately witnesses the ultimate sacrifice. Other roles are rendered to formula to typical capers. Dennis Farina plays Lopez's father who presents her with a gun on her birthday. Ving Rhames plays Clooney's loyal partner who will play through to the end. Don Cheadle plays another criminal planning to hit the same target. While there is potential for greatness here, the end result is an undemanding screenplay that is out of sight. Score: 7 / 10

A career bank robber (George Clooney) breaks out of jail and shares a moment of mutual attraction with a US Marshall (Jenny From the Block) he has kidnapped.First of all, this is an incredible ensemble cast. Michael Keaton, Ving Rhames, Steve Zahn, Dennis Farina. For a film that has grown increasingly obscure and forgotten, it has a fair amount of bigger names that people may want to see. Why did it become obscure? Was it as part of the anti-Lopez backlash? Who knows? Now, for me, I could have used more of Clooney as the suave bank robber who does not need a gun and less of the romantic angle between him and Lopez. Why complicate a good heist / crime story with phoney Hollywood emotions?

(54%) A clear Elmore Leonard based story with it's characters leaning both between crime and law enforcement, and sometimes even both. This has a little more than a connection with "Jackie Brown", with Michael Keaton reprising his role which is something that doesn't happen very often in movies made by different people. This though isn't nowhere near as good as "Jackie Brown", the characters aren't as well crafted, it doesn't have the depth, and the plot in general is not as good or well told. With that said it is an easier film to get into on the first watch, and it is likely to be Jennifer Lopez's best staring role of her acting career. This is worth a look, but it isn't a modern-day classic that many claim.