Rating: 
Summary: The Desire to Leave...
Review: In the town of xxx it seems like nothing ever changes and Nick desires to get out of xxx. When Nick's father dies he thinks he will be able to leave with the help of the inheritance that his father has left for him. However, on the way to the funeral Nick meets Lissa. Nick and Lissa become lovers and after some problems with the inheritance it seems like Nick cannot leave xxx. This in turn leads to some fishy business that snowballs and the story takes some interesting turns that build up a dynamic plot. Best Laid Plans is a contemporary film-noir that offers a suspenseful plot with intriguing sub plots. This leads the audience through a deceitful story that is built on a terrific script, which at the end seems to plunge due to some awkward moments in the film. Overall, this film provides a tolerable cinematic experience.
Rating:
Summary: SLICK WELL OILED ENTERTAINMENT
Review: Just as American Beauty was overwhelmingly red, The End of The Affair overwhelmingly green, the photography of Best Laid Plans makes it an overwhelmmingly brown looking movie, which greatly helps creat a mood of the brooding thriller that it aspires to be. The film has the ingredients of a film noir. The lovers, the fall guy, the dead-end town, the mess the hero gets himself into. Thankfully the film has a heart in its centre in the form of the wonderful actor Allesandro Nevola. You may remember him as Castor Troy's brother in Face Off, you can also see him sporting two different(and perfect) English accents in I Want You (terrible film) and Mansfield Park(average film), but he's a an actor to watch. His character Nick is a deeply intelligent, quiet and observant young man with financial troubles. He is a person we can root for even when his actions start to become criminal, and in that way he similar to the main character of A SIMPLE PLAN Hank, i.e. good people doing bad things. Unfortunatley the movie is not as serious as Nivola and has two major flaws. The first which is near fatal is the structure, the completely unnessecary time shift gimmeckery makes it seem like a rip-off of the much better Pulp Fiction and Usual Suspects, it has absolutley no reason for existing. The second flaw is Josh Brolin as Brice, he seems like a brute. I know his character is meant to be one, but wouldn't it have been more intresting to have a real human being as the fall guy rather then this loud annoying oaf of a guy. We then come to the ending of the film which is ludicrous, lightweight and an illfit to the more hard edged stuff that has gone before. In truth the film as a whole never lives up Allesandro's terrific performance, the moody photography, or that intense musical score. Rent this movie for an entertaining evening alone, but sadly its not worth a purchase.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a bad movie.
Review: Purchased this from Amazon when it came out simply because of the lead actress. I have several of her ealier movies, and I believe she is a talented young actress. Just finished watching it, and really enjoyed it. As you can see from the other reviewers, there is a large discrepency in their ratings. Anywhere from 1 to 5 stars. I think if you watch this without reading the ciritcs and knowing the plot, you will enjoy it, provided that you are not a professional movie critic and are watching movies as a passtime and entertainment.
Rating:
Summary: A Thriller Lacking In Thrills
Review: Screenwriter Ted Griffin takes a page out of the David Mamet book with this story of the things we do for love and money, and how desperation has a way of leading even the most forthright among us into regions beyond the known. And the fact that there is no such animal as a sure thing is pointedly expressed in "Best Laid Plans," a drama/thriller directed by Mike Barker, and starring Reese Witherspoon and Alessandro Nivola. The film begins with a meeting in a bar between Nick (Nivola) and Bryce (Josh Brolin), old college chums who have not seen one another since graduation. Over a few rounds of drinks, they get reacquainted; Bryce is back in town to teach, while Nick has secured employment at the local recycling establishment. They do the good-to-see-you-again thing, and Nick leaves. But at about two o'clock in the morning, he gets a call from Bryce, who begs him to come over to his house (actually one he's watching for some friends who are out of town). Nick doesn't want to go, but Bryce sounds desperate and he can't refuse. What he finds when he gets there is something totally out of left field. Suffice to say, it involves a young woman named Lissa (Witherspoon), whom Bryce picked up in the bar just as Nick was leaving. It's not a pretty situation, and Bryce doesn't know what to do; so it falls to Nick to figure it out. And now, having crossed that proverbial line in the sand, Nick's involved, too. Or so it seems. But then again, maybe there's more to this than meets the eye. There's just something about this whole set-up that instinctively tells you that what appears to be, ain't necessarily so. The question is, what is it-- and who is doing what to whom exactly? Barker has fashioned a fairly involving film from a story that initially seems somewhat convoluted, but which evolves, and later can actually be regarded as having a plot that is quite intricate and credible, making the comparison to Mamet entirely valid. The difference between this film and one of Mamet's, however, lies in the fact that Barker simply doesn't have that Mamet touch when it comes to presenting the material. He does a decent job, but lacks the finesse, the eye for detail and the grasp of what it takes to achieve that necessary sense of mystery that could have taken it to a much higher level. It lacks that sense of fear and menace, and the urgency it needed to be really effective. Barker does manage to give you enough to sustain interest, but his pace is wanting; there are moments when the pulse of his film simply flatlines. Nivola is clearly the star of the show, and his performance is passable, but he lacks that extra something, that quality, that would have made his character anything special or memorable. Nick is believable, but too common; there's simply nothing distinctive enough about him to make you care much what happens to him one way or the other. On one hand, it's good acting-- the character is real-- but he's a guy who leaves you fairly nonplused; he needs a hangnail, as it were, a flaw that would have at least made him interesting. Witherspoon gives a good performance, but this character is certainly not a stretch for her, by any means. Lissa, like Nick, is rather nondescript, and Witherspoon does little to spark much interest in her. In her defense, however, Barker really doesn't afford her the time nor the opportunity to do much exploring by way of characterization. But she is watchable, and fans of hers, especially, will no doubt find her work here satisfying. As Bryce, Josh Brolin is disappointing, giving a one-note performance that is flat and forced. Granted, his character is supposed to be something of a nerd, but he puts nothing into it; a bit of nuance would have done wonders for his portrayal, and it's the kind of character that is ripe with opportunity, like a blank canvas just waiting to be shaded and textured. But Brolin dropped the ball, and Bryce ends up being completely forgettable. The supporting cast includes Gene Wolande (Lawyer), Jonathan McMurtry (Vet), Rocky Carroll (Bad Dude), Jamie Marsh (Barry), Michael McCleery (Recycling Owner), Michael G. Hagerty (Charlie), Terrence Dashon Howard (Jimmy) and Sean Nepita (Freddie). A very average movie, but with enough twists and turns to keep it interesting, "Best Laid Plans" nevertheless comes off as inexplicably lackluster, given the storyline. This one had the potential of being a real edge-of-your-seater, but instead fails to stir the blood much at all. Performances aside, the story alone makes it worth a look; just don't expect too much. It takes some effort to get into it initially, and by the end you'll be reflecting on what a great movie this "almost" was.
Rating: 
Summary: shocking and a very hooking story
Review: see this
it will shock you
move you
thrill you
excite you
chill you
freak you out
it's one amazing, strange movie
it really takes a while to understand it at times
but it has many valuable lessons one can learn
Witherspoons performance is shattering and remarkable among other things. a great movie. will be seen more times then I can count the next times I play it in my player
Rating: 
Summary: Wake me up when it's over...
Review: Snoozer. It's true - the fellow (Rocky something?) who played the drug dealer stole the show. He was great. But the plot was fairly obvious. A better title than "Best Laid Plans" might be - "What happens to you when you make 4,359 stupid decisions in a row." I wouldn't recommend this movie to my dog. In fact, she left the room to take a nap half way through the movie. The sex, violence and extreme profanity were so unnecessary. Ho-hum. All in all, a waste of my time.
Rating:
Summary: Enthralling
Review: The film catches your attention immediately, and doesn't let go until the climax, which is after we've encountered a few surprising plot twists.This film is fresh, and unpredictable. I like that in a film. It doesn't even aspire to be hip, it just comes naturally. This film substitues your average "thrill" with an intense, intelligent plot. Perhaps the people who have written other reviews wanted the typical shoot'em up hollywood ending. I,on the other hand, prefer something better. The film is great as it is, and far from typical.
Rating:
Summary: good movie, great ending
Review: The plot was a little weak, but the ending was outstanding. I liked the cast. DVD picture is good but sound could be better.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous
Review: This film illistrates the human desire for freedom. A man (Nivola) has fallen in a hole and he needs cash fast. His girfriend (Witherspoon) goes to the extremes to dig him out. This is Witherspoons finest role yet. She takes you deep inside her characters mind and shows how love and compassion direct the character through her toughest decisions. Lissa (witherspoon) and her boyfriend (Nivola) need to get out of this town- find out what they will do to do so.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous
Review: This film illistrates the human desire for freedom. A man (Nivola) has fallen in a hole and he needs cash fast. His girfriend (Witherspoon) goes to the extremes to dig him out. This is Witherspoons finest role yet. She takes you deep inside her characters mind and shows how love and compassion direct the character through her toughest decisions. Lissa (witherspoon) and her boyfriend (Nivola) need to get out of this town- find out what they will do to do so.
|
