Director: Steven Soderbergh
Out of Sight draws its story and style from several old Hollywood film genres: the noir, the romantic comedy, and the gangster film. The film it most reminded me of was To Have and Have Not. There is a similar type of chemistry between Clooney and Lopez (though without the off-screen mirroring of Bogie and Bacall): they trade clever, sexy dialogue, and exclude almost everyone else. In fact, when Foley and Sisco are locked in the trunk together, they discuss such old films, and find they both enjoy them.
The whole script is very well-written by Scott Frank, with well-drawn characters as well as witty lines. The plot is a touch convoluted, jumping around its timeline. Clooney is great as the charming bank robber, who is not as good as he thinks. Lopez is the best I have seen her; Karen Sisco is a great character, tough, smart and brave, and Lopez inhabits all these aspects of her character. The supporting cast is also wonderful, with Don Cheadle, Steve Zahn, Ving Rhames, Catherine Keener and Viola Davis all throughly enjoying themselves with the material.
Soderbergh's film is a clever homage to several 1940s Hollywood films with a great cast and a great script. Enjoy watching a younger Clooney and Lopez act together, and wonder about what might have been if Lopez has been offered similarly great roles.
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