Best Laid Plans
Relationships can be murder.
Welcome to Tropico, a gray little town smack dab in the middle of nowhere where nothing ever happens until a botched robbery leaves Nick (Alessandro Nivola) 48 hours to pay up or die. Desperate, Nick and his girlfriend Lissa (Reese Witherspoon) undertake drastic measures to get their hands on some fast cash. Enter Nick's old college chum Bryce (Josh Brolin), a seemingly easy mark who holds the ticket to the couple's salvation. But before long, all three young people will find themselves entwined in a dangerous web of betrayal and seduction that L.A. Weekly calls "a treasure map of double crosses and hairpin turns."
Member Reviews
Meh... - Sheenie
This movie was okay, but nothing special. Acting was nothing special, plot was nothing special... I think it might have been more powerful if the cast and direction was stronger. But, as it is, it leaves a lot of holes and lacks in the suspense department and it's a movie that needs a lot of suspense to work. Reese Witherspoon's character doesn't live up to her reputation, but there isn't a lot of opportunity to show how great she is.A crime drama thriller with minimal violence but intrigue in place of the suspense - napierslogs
Lissa (Reese Witherspoon) accuses Bryce (Josh Brolin) of rape, and then the film unfolds in interesting ways as we see how Nick (Alessandro Nivola) plays a part in her past and their future.
The film relies on the universal desires for love, sex and money. Bryce just wants to get laid, Lissa pretty much just wants love but Nick wants both love and money. His plans to get that money get in the way of other dead-end criminals also wanting money. As the film's title suggests, no plans go quite as according to plan. The various twists in getting the plans foiled weren't particularly ingenious but they were well done. I never quite knew what was coming next, but I always wanted to find out. A crime drama thriller with some crimes but minimal violence, and although it seems a bit slow there is enough intrigue to keep the suspense level, or at least interest, up.
"Best Laid Plans" stars three great actors at the beginning of their careers, and each proved why they have become the respected-stars they are. I recommend it to fans of crime drama thrillers and to fans of Reese Witherspoon, Josh Brolin, or Alessandro Nivola.
Follow my blog Napierslogs' Movie Expositions at http://napierslogs.blogspot.comThrilling and Unconventional - c4th
This movie was dissed by professional critics and tanked at the box office. Despite this and the fact that I am not a Reese Witherspoon fan, I was pleasantly surprised and rather liked it. I’ve never seen a thriller quite like this one. Most thrillers keep the viewer trying to figure out who and some keep you trying to determine what? This one reveals the who and what very quickly, so we start out watching the movie trying to fathom why. Once we know the why, we come full circle wanting to discover a little more of the what and then find ourselves wondering how.
I found this formula quite effective. The movie maintained my interest by continually redefining the mystery. If you are looking for a mystery that creates suspense by following an unconventional formula, you might find this one worth a look.
My one criticism is that the ending is a little weak and disappointing but hey - so is the last fifty feet of every great rollercoaster ride.
Member Reviews
Read All...
Meh... - Sheenie
This movie was okay, but nothing special. Acting was nothing special, plot was nothing special... I think it might have been more powerful if the cast and direction was stronger. But, as it is, it leaves a lot of holes and lacks in the suspense department ...A crime drama thriller with minimal violence but intrigue in place of the suspense - napierslogs
Lissa (Reese Witherspoon) accuses Bryce (Josh Brolin) of rape, and then the film unfolds in interesting ways as we see how Nick (Alessandro Nivola) plays a part in her past and their future.
The film relies on the universal desires for love, sex and ...Thrilling and Unconventional - c4th
This movie was dissed by professional critics and tanked at the box office. Despite this and the fact that I am not a Reese Witherspoon fan, I was pleasantly surprised and rather liked it. I’ve never seen a thriller quite like this one. Most thrillers ...