OUT OF TIME (2003)

Directed By: Carl Franklin 
Written By: Dave Collard 
Cinematography By: Theo Van De Sande 
Editor: Carole Kravetz-Aykanian 

Cast: Denzel Washington, Sanaa Lathan, Eva Mendes, Dean Cain, John Billingsly, Arain Ash, Alex Carter, Robert Baker, Terry Loughlin 


This film is so cliche ridden it feels like a quicken version of a noir story down for television. That takes place in the bright daylight of Florida instead of some belated landscape with everyone in suits and dresses. Instead of tropical wear.

It’s also a kind of weak noir that you have to give it more to a mystery that plays by most of the noir rules, but feels more like a weekend afternoon outing. As everyone involved in this film is better than the material they are presented with. As it’s supposed to be a mystery at first then a man at the end of his wits trying to get himself out of trouble and then kind of feels like a buddy comedy

The cast and crew try to make it work, but you can tell they know that this Is lightweight B movie material at best.

This film feels like you are watching stars play on a film written by a freshman screenwriter who got lucky with a spec script sale. That he thought of in high school. Who thinks this is all clever ideas and original and not things people who regularly watch movies can see coming a mile away. It would be one thing if it was more a comedic satire at these cliches but it is more played serious.

As the movie comes off more as a straight to streaming film maybe starring Cuba Gooding Jr.

While all of the danger and thrills are supposed to be scary and put us on the edge of our seats. They come off more flaccid and Almost comical.

Director Carl Franklin can and has done better films ONE FLASE MOVE, DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS. It kind of hurts to see him slumming in what feels like a studio dumbed down thriller. where most of the objectionable material has been obscured or excised. It’s a nice reunion for him and Denzel Washington and maybe that’s why they made this film. Since their original collaboration. Which was a smart mystery adaptation bombed. Why not make a dumb one? That could make a lot of money.

Denzel Washington is way above the material in style and content but this is an easy Pay check for him and he does try. The film does offer him a reunion with his TRAINING DAY Co-Star Eva Mendes yet again playing his wife only here she is his ex. At least this movie finally slows Eva to have more range then some of her other Roles as an actress. Even if she is still kind of in the sides. This was one of the first movies he got paid $20 million for starring in.

Sanna Lathan makes the most of her femme fatale role. In which she is perfectly cast but is given so little to do. She deserves better. Dean Cain is the only actor who seems more at home in his role and he just seems happy to be invited to this party. As he is a good consulate actor but not on the same level as the others.

You can see the twists and turns a mile away but getting there is a little silly but the cast and director give the inspired material a respectability and shine it really doesn’t deserve.

While the movie isn’t great at least there is nothing wrong with it production wise. This is also considered to be a loose remake of NO WAY OUT.

GRADE: C