Allan Watched "No Sudden Move"
A beautifully constructed crime story with twists and turns laid over the landscape of 1950s Detroit, No Sudden Move is as clever as it is compelling, leaving a final product that is an absolute delight.
Gut Feeling
Every choice Steven Soderbergh makes while bringing Ed Solomon’s script to life is a home run, as we enjoy the story of career criminals trying to survive a convoluted job that begins as simply “babysitting” a family while a document is received from the patriarch’s boss’s safe. What unravels is a delicately plotted and surprising joy ride that touches on race, gender roles, sexuality, the climate crisis, and capitalism, with funny and shocking moments keeping you locked into the action beginning to end.
A Wild, Surprising, Crime-Filled Ride
The story begins with three career criminals Curt (Don Cheadle) Ronald Russo (Benicio del Toro) and Charlie (Kieran Culkin) being brought together by Doug Jones (Brendan Fraser) to do a job that feels too straight forward: one of them needs to bring a General Motors employed father, Matt Wertz (David Harbour), to steal a document from his boss’s safe, while the other two watch the family. When no document is to be found, the plan unravels as they all try to find an outcome that does not cost them their lives, or their money, while trying to decipher who is running the show behind this scheme that involves the Big Four automakers.
Cheadle gives the best performance of the film as Curt, a careful, desperate, and recently released from prison skeptic who doesn’t trust anyone in the race divided streets of 1950s Detroit. Del Toro is a convincing drunk mess-up who is involved with the wrong people at all times, although his character, while enjoyable and comical, is really just a pawn who does not go too far in any one direction. Culkin, along with Harbour, play two guys on the opposite side of the confidence spectrum, and their interactions together provide some of the best chemistry in the onset of the story. Few are better at playing laughable losers who are in too deep than Harbour, and he pulls all of the pathetic energy out of Matt as the story gets worse and worse for him.
A Well Constructed Puzzle
The concept of the film is not exactly unique at face value. Many films have been made around a job that goes wrong with no heroes among the players, but Soderbergh shows in No Sudden Move why he is better than most. There is not a wasted second in the film, each move is meaningful and entertaining, and you still feel like every character gets their due. The themes of capitalism and its affects on the planet’s worsening climate crisis is prominent but not stuffed down your throat, while the moments that touch of race, gender norms, sexual repression, and corruption are gentler and left room for even more investigation.
But none the less, the films superb ending leaves you wanting nothing more, except maybe more beautiful shots of Cheadle walking down beautiful, autumn dusted streets. Outdoor shots aside, Soderbergh’s, erm, I mean “Peter Andrews”, capturing of the film is flawless. There really is not a complaint to be had at all with No Sudden Move.
Random Thoughts
The supporting cast is extremely strong. The fact that it took me this long to mention Jon Hamm is a testament to how much good is happening in this film. Hamm plays a great detective who works in the organized crime unit, and is able to bring this story full of malcontents some real empathy and compassion. It is distracting though that he walks into an office, hands his coat and hat to a secretary, and doesn’t proceed to talk to John Slattery…
Speaking of the rest of the cast, some big names pop up in important roles that I won’t spoil, but they all do an amazing job.
Amy Seimetz is very good as the matriarch of the family thrown into a criminal conspiracy. I think they could have dove more into what her character is repressing, but her actual development turns into footnotes, unfortunately.
Seeing Brendan Fraser being really good in a movie makes my heart warm.
There are some really crafty shots, as you would expect from Soderbergh, but my favorite is when Mary is barely opening the door so her daughter’s friend’s mother can’t see a masked Ron behind the door holding her hostage. You see Mary to the left of the open door, the friend’s face only through the small square window in the door, and then a hiding Ron to the right. It was my favorite shot of the film.
I know Keiran Culkin is in one of the most acclaimed current TV shows, but how is he not in more big movies? He’s tremendous in this role, and his wry sarcastic wit plays well in so many situations.
There are a couple of nods to Goodfellas, but the most obvious one is when Ronald won’t get in the back seat, and Doug Jones assures he’s “Not getting stabbed in the neck,” referencing of course one certain toupeed conspirator who met his end when all he wanted his cut…
Craig Grant aka muMs the Schemer shines in his few scenes. Grant passed away shortly before the release on the film. He was both a great poet in real life and in Oz.
This movie really speaks to the fact that there are a ton of white guys named Matt (including my own brother).
Harbour gives Tuesday its long overdue best GIF (see the bottom of this post). It’s truly special and I can’t wait to use it every Tuesday. Mondays have a ton, the Weekend has the Weekend, Wednesdays have Lemon, but now Tuesdays belong to David Harbour!
Quick Hits:
How many times have I seen this movie?
First time, but I expect to revisit it.
Where was I watching it?
In my office after my first day back from work after a nice week of vacation. No food was consumed, but I did drink some water while I cleaned up emails (stay hydrated and keep that inbox at zero kids).
Favorite trivia about the movie
Cedric the Entertainer was almost in the film, along with Josh Brolin. I think we can all agree that despite the collective love for Brolin, he’s been in too many films like this.
Favorite part
Harbour has some really funny moments, but none better than him having to rough up his boss and he says, “I’m punching you. I’m going to punch you. This will be a punch,” followed by him yelling, “I’m sorry! I love my job!”
Least favorite part
There is a scene where two guys take a guy into the trunk, who they really didn’t beat up or knock out. They go to a phone booth and no one is watching the trunk! There are two of you!
Would I recommend this movie?
1000000%
So What Does Allan Give It?
Two gold thumbs up! In total, a score of 95. It is a pristine movie that I can’t wait to watch again (and use the Tuesday GIF every Tuesday).
