7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.2 |
A career bank robber breaks out of jail and shares a moment of mutual attraction with a U.S. Marshal he has kidnapped.
Starring: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Jim Robinson, Mike Malone (II), Steve ZahnCrime | 100% |
Heist | 89% |
Drama | 53% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Romance | Insignificant |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS 5.1
Spanish: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
BD-Live
D-Box
Mobile features
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Elmore Leonard adaptations don't get much sexier than indie godfather Steven Soderbergh's Out of Sight. Between Leonard's ear for criminally cool dialogue, Soderbergh's eye for style and substance, screenwriter Scott Frank's knack for breezy, rapidfire adaptations, George Clooney's uncanny command of his own leading-man charisma and Jennifer Lopez's grasp on Leonard's hard-as-nails, soft-as-silk U.S. Marshal bombshell, how could it be anything less? Actually, it could have been an unmitigated disaster. Behind the scenes, little love was lost between Clooney and Lopez, and reports of on-set hostilities were peppered with quite a few choice words. When two budding stars portraying star-crossed lovers cross wires, it almost always reads on screen: whatever spark there was fizzles, whatever chemistry there might have been flatlines. Not so with Out of Sight. Whether by Soderbergh's steady hand, Frank's smart and snappy script, the actors' raw talent or pure luck, Soderbergh delivered one of his finest, Clooney and Lopez set Leonard's crime caper (and the screen) ablaze, and Out of Sight proved to be, hands down, one of the best films of 1998.
"I think you flooded it."
Soderbergh's award-winning pulp noir oozes style, slick grit and hepcat sophistication; a tricky cinematic long-con Universal's 1080p/VC-1 encoded transfer handles like a pro. Elliot Davis's palette is as shifty as Foley -- vibrant summer hues, penetrating primaries, sultry reds, savory oranges and rich black levels continually give way to joyless jail-house yellows, icy inner-city blues and blown-out contrast -- but it works its magic regardless. While skintones are decidedly oversaturated at times, it's all within the bounds of Soderbergh's intentions. And detail? Detail is excellent on the whole, boasting well-resolved fine textures, crisp edge definition and shrewd but satisfying shadow delineation. The softness that inevitably appears is solely that of the filmic variety, minor ringing and negligible crush are the only issues of note, and most every other inconsistency that arises is linked to Davis's photography, not the studio's encoding efforts. Is the presentation perfect? Not exactly, but it excels nonetheless. Enjoy.
Like any good Elmore Leonard adaptation, Out of Sight is crackling with dialogue, a fact the film's sound design and Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track embrace willingly. Voices are bright, intelligible and nicely grounded in the mix, even when brief bursts of gunplay pierce the soundscape. Effects are clean and natural, resting neatly within the soundfield rather than floating above it, and the rear speakers, though relatively reserved, create a convincing sense of space and location. Ambience teases the listener with coy charm, acoustics are immersive and directionality is accurate. The LFE channel is largely relegated to the film's music, but I doubt anyone will complain. Weightier elements are given full support, bass beats pack a suitably potent pulse and the whole of the experience is blessed with power and presence. Fans of the film will be more than happy with the results.
The Blu-ray edition of Out of Sight doesn't bust out any fancy supplemental footwork, but the special features it does include are excellent additions to an already excellent release.
I can't recommend Out of Sight enough. It offers everything a modern crime caper should, features electric performances from its smartly assembled cast and remains one of Soderbergh's best films. Universal's Blu-ray release exudes cool as well. Its video transfer is striking, its DTS-HD Master Audio track is excellent and its supplemental package is well worth any fan's time. Give it a rent if Soderbergh, Clooney or Leonard don't usually do it for you. Otherwise, throw down a few bucks and pick up this late-90s classic post haste.
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