 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Out of Sight
- Review Date: July 17, 2007
- R
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 1998
Common Sense Media says
Clooney and Lopez sizzle in gun-happy heist flick.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this film adaptation of an Elmore Leonard book is racy and full of violence. Almost every character in the film pulls a gun or is shot at least once in the film. People steal cars, shoot people, do drugs, and even undermine criminal investigations. Add to that some really salty language and some sultry stripping (down to underwear) by Clooney and Lopez, and you have a fairly adult feature.
What's the story?
Jack Foley (George Clooney), a bank robber with more than 100 heists to his name. In escaping from Glades prison in Florida, he literally runs into Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez), a federal marshal with some great fashion sense and even more sex appeal. When the two get locked in a trunk together as Jack makes his escape, the rest of the plot seems inevitable: As Jack goes about evading the police and trying to make one final big score -- and Karen tries to deal with her married boyfriend and her job -- the two are drawn inexorably closer to each other. They're fated, Jack tells Karen.
Is it any good?
Sure, it's pretty much the same old forbidden love story we've seen a million times, and the violence and plot almost seem secondary. But it doesn't matter, because OUT OF SIGHT is one of those great Hollywood films. Clooney's legendary charm and Lopez's unreal beauty -- along with their spot-on acting -- are irresistible to the viewers as much as to each other. The two are perfectly cast. Supporting characters are well played by fabulous actors like Don Cheadle, Isaiah Washington, Steve Zahn, and Ving Rhames.
With director Steven Soderbergh's snappy directing, great editing, and perfectly upbeat music, it's not surprising that this film was nominated for two Academy Awards. The only shame in the whole film is that such great actors as Cheadle and Washington are resigned to playing the cliché characters of street thugs. They deserved some meatier roles.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why films like this are such fun. Does the violence make it fun, or are there other parts that are appealing? If they took the violence out, would the film still work? What about the role of music and editing in this film -- how do you think this manipulates the tone? How does this movie compare to the Ocean's 11 series by the same director? Why is this movie better for older viewers than the Ocean's movies?
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| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Director: | Steven Soderbergh |
| Cast: | Don Cheadle, George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 123 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 18, 1998 |
| DVD release date: | April 18, 2006 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | language and some strong violence |
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