TNMC
This site’s design is only visible in a graphical browser that supports web standards, but its content is accessible to any browser or Internet device.
Out of Time Review
"A dangling from the cliffhanger is what this movie will be. No X-game action stunts necessary here. The quirky plot and its' interestingly positioned characters suffice just nicely. It's shrouded in mystery right from the beginning, and the ending titillates no less. The diabolical, but tranquil mood immediately clues you in to the madness soon to come; but, you just didn't know from what direction. And when the sun finally sets, all hell breaks loose.
If Denzel Washington starring in this film isn't reason enough to at least take a peek at it, the fact that the script practically echoes with intense crime thriller suspense is another reason everyone should just run to the theater when it's released October 3, 2003 (if you're into that sorta thing). Audiences have recently come to see Denzel in morally conflicted roles, so envisioning him as the adulterated police chief he plays in Out of Time isn't a stretch, but still it's something new and a role he'll master quite brilliantly.
While I know for sure that the town setting and some characters have changed since my draft dated Feb. '01 (I believe it was originally written for an all white cast), I'm sure that the basic premise of the story is the same. This story makes me wonder just how closely Dave Collard, debut screenwriter, watched Lawrence Kandash's 1980 Body Heat. While not the same, they're pretty similar in an overarching way. Small town Police Chief Marty Walsh is in the corner of a dangerous love triangle headed by his long time crush, Ann Harrison (Sanaa Lathan). The other corner is occupied by Ann's husband and 'once upon a time' high school heartthrob, Chris Harrison (Dean Cain). Marty also has a thing/fling going on with a big city Detective Alex Cole (Eva Mendez) who's described as being able to make 'three times a detective's salary dancing at one of the local gentleman's clubs'. Hmm, you gotta love that. If I've learned one thing from Hollywood, it's this. If the woman is beautiful, she's either a full blown airhead who needs men for help or a rebellious gun toting badass who needs men for sex. Alex is an offshoot of the latter and she's all the more exciting for it... I admit. Things heat up considerably once Alex and her crime dogs come to town. Big city cops always seem to bring in a level of professionalism and investigative curiosity that the small town cops just never seem to get right. In this case, the small town cops' ignorance is out of extreme necessity, and not just because small town people are stupid. Betrayal, deceit, terminal illnesses, murder, and insurance money all enter the picture in a major way. In the end, the seemingly smarter character is outsmarted, and the power of quasi-good triumphs over a vicious ruthless evil. In this case, that's actually not as bland as Hollywood usually makes it.
I tell you now that we've never seen Lathan in a role like this. Even her work in Disappearing Acts doesn't quite measure up to the gravity that Ann Harrison demands. I could see Angela Bassett working this type of role, but still, Lathan will be interesting to see opposite Denzel. Personally, I would've taken the role just to lay claim to two hotties, Washington and Cain, but... no one approached me with the role, so...
Carl Franklin (One True Thing, Devil in a blue Dress, One False Move) is in the director's chair and his versatile directorial experience, namely that with crime thrillers, will undoubtedly be helpful here.
Collard creates a script that screams surprise, namely because of the 'matter of fact' way in which he lays down the plot. By using a couple of events that any logical person would never have a reason to second guess, Collard builds his elements of surprise. There are also a few events that are conveniently solved in a totally unrealistic time frame, but come movie time, who's really counting? About ¼ of the way into the script, he begins to mark each scene title line with an actual time of day. This hyphenates the script stylistically and makes the suspense more real for the reader, but because the tool isn't used from the onset, it's almost overlooked. ANYWAY, I must say, though, that the main, most important, primary, crucial act that gets this whole slippery slope rolling is confidently written off without questioning whether a logical person(s) might really act in the same manner that the character(s) does. What I'm saying is, who wouldn't t pursue legal action if he/she found out that someone had written a one million dollar insurance policy on him/her... and that person isn't Jennifer Lopez (well, in her case it would be one billion)? Let me mildly restate what I'm trying to say. If you worked at a pretty low paying job, and randomly found out a close family member or what have you made a one million dollar insurance policy in the untimely event of your death, would you not think that the person just may have something up his/her sleeve... I don't know, like inducing your untimely death?!? Wouldn't that be reason enough for authorities to start questioning and arresting? Hmm.
Well, I'll spoil things a bit and say that no legal action is taken against the person, and things spin out of control from there. Had things been questioned right then, the script would have ended by page 21 or so.
But, of course, these types of movies aren't supposed to operate on that level of logic. Actually, if you just go with the flow, you really can enjoy the movie and that isn't so hard.
I can usually tell a good upcoming movie when the pages of the script glide unconsciously through my fingers, one by one. That happened this time. Come Oct. 3, 2003, I know where I will be. On second thought, considering I'm in Arkansas, I'll probably have to wait a couple of months before Out of Time hits our theaters. Thanks movie studios. Before I go, though, I'll leave you with a couple of words from the movie...a 'script' trailer if you will.
INT. KITCHEN-ANN'S HOUSE-NIGHT
Ann and Marty sit at the kitchen table, staring at the $660,000 in the duffel bag.
ANN
What if they want it back?
MARTY
By law, the money has to stay in the possession of the arresting department for one year from the conclusion of the trial.
(beat)
It's all yours.
ANN
(kisses him)
No, it's all ours.
INT.MARTY'S APARTMENT-DAWN (6:32 AM)
Marty, half-asleep in a chair, grabs the phone.
MARTY
(instantly alert)
Yeah…WHAT?!?
EXT.ANN'S HOUSE-DAY (6:45 AM)
Marty's truck slams to a stop outside Ann's house. Or more accurately, what used to be Ann's house...
The house is completely burned down.
I told you it's pretty good! "
(Review submitted by Miss J)
Jean-François Allaire (aka DeadPool)
Questions, comments, praise etc. Email me at deadpool@tnmc.org
Jean-François Allaire is TNMC's first columnist. At only 24 years old he has become a respected entertainment journalist, with his columns appearing in Corona's Coming Attractions and Scr(i)pt magazine. He also writes a monthly column in Screenwriters Monthly entitled 'The Last Word.' Hailing from Montreal this young writer is determined to dig up all the details on the movies before they hit your local theater. If you're part of a movie production then you really need to be talking to him.
