Wed 8 Jul 2020
OUT OF SIGHT. Universal Pictures, 1998. George Clooney (Jack Foley). Jennifer Lopez (Karen Sisco), Ving Rhames, Don Cheadle, Steve Zahn, Albert Brooks, Dennis Farina, with cameos by Michael Keaton & Samuel L. Jackson. Based on the novel by Elmore Leonard. Director: Steven Soderbergh.
I can easily image that everyone reading this already knows the story, even if you haven’t actually seen the film. I’ll recap, though, just in case, but as briefly as I can. When a career bank robber by the name of Jack Foley (George Clooney) breaks out of a Floridan prison, he’s forced to share the trunk of the getaway car with a federal marshal by the name Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez). And as it so happens, as they talk about movies and other things, propinquity prevails and romantic sparks fly, as unlikely a thing as that might be.
Except in the movies, of course.
It was a huge hit, rightfully so, and the beginning of very successful movie-making careers for both of the two lead stars. But the secondary players may even be better in this one, thanks to dialogue that if it didn’t come straight from Elmore Leonard’s novel, it could have.
It’s a wonderful romantic film, with a lot of shooting toward the end. I have only one kind of sour note to add to this short commentary, and I feel like a churl for bringing it up, but it did bother me somewhat. How did they get two adults in the same trunk at the same time? I don’t think I could fit curled up in a trunk all by myself, much less along with a fine young lady such as J.Lo.
I’d be willing to try, though.
July 8th, 2020 at 8:19 pm
It’s a natural for a movie, as much of Leonard’s work was despite his hit or miss luck with filmed adaptations of his crime novels.
This one is fun and smart.
July 8th, 2020 at 9:10 pm
My favorite Elmore Leonard crime movie is Jackie Brown, based on Rum Punch. It is also my second favorite Quentin Tarantino movie.
July 9th, 2020 at 8:26 am
Steve,
You answered your own question!
And it’s a very good movie to boot!
July 9th, 2020 at 9:10 am
Boot, as in the British sense of the word??
July 9th, 2020 at 4:27 pm
I loved OUT OF SIGHT when I saw it back in 1998. Jennifer Lopez was terrific. I was sorry she didn’t make more action movies like this one. But she pivoted to Romantic Comedies.
July 9th, 2020 at 7:44 pm
I missed this one when it first came out. I’m glad I finally caught up with it, thanks to streaming TV. You’re right about thinking that J. Lo. should have done more movies like this one.