I was expecting some cheesy half-baked effort on all parts, but then again, the film itself took on some twists of its own. Sure, a couple of the twists could be seen a mile away, but it was the way the scenes were cleanly executed to the point where you had to wonder "How is he getting out of this?" While some of the reviews are over the top, this is certainly one of those popcorn movies that I wouldn't mind spending a little dough on. Watch for Denzel and Eva Mendes, enjoy for the tension and the great musical score.
149 Reviews
Would you have given it to me if I slept with you?
hitchcockthelegend29 February 2012
Out of Time is directed by Carl Franklin and written by David Collard. It stars Denzel Washington, Eva Mendes, Sanaa Lathan, Dean Cain and John Billingsley. Music is by Graeme Revell and cinematography by Theo Van de Sande.
Matthias Whitlock (Washington) is chief of police in little Banyan Key, Florida. Respected for his work and basically honest in the line of duty. Away from work, however, his marriage to Alex (Mendes) has failed, he's having an affair with an abused wife and he likes a little drink on duty. So when his lover Anne Harrison (Lathan) springs on him the shocking news that she has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, it naturally shakes his world. But this news is merely the start of something bigger, for pretty soon Matt will be in the unusual situation of having to stay one step of his own kind or face dire consequences.
It's a film proudly wearing a badge of homage to film noir of the 40s. In fact it very much plays out as a contemporary riff on John Farrow's excellent Ray Milland starrer of 1948, The Big Clock. But that's fine, especially when you have some knowing craft in front and behind the camera in the shape of Franklin (Devil in a Blue Dress) and Washington (take your pick here really!). Yet as great as Franklin and Washington's work is, they all owe a debt to Collard's screenplay. Inventive in how it plays out as a plot, with it's many tight situations laid down for Washington's duped law enforcer to try and get out of, the screenplay has a knack for deft humour, often sly, which is something that even some of the hardest of noirs from the golden era are tinted with. The secret is being able to blend the humour with quality moments of suspense, and this picture manages to do that with some interest.
Film also benefits greatly from the tight atmosphere created by photographer de Sande. Sweaty Florida in daylight doesn't cry out as being a good starting point for an offshoot of film noir (real Florida locations were thankfully used), but the scenic beauty is never realised during the drama sequences, colours are toned down, even for a stunning red sky, and this perfectly becomes at one with a near frantic Washington as the tricksters of Banyan Key start to close in on him. It's nice too see, also, interracial couples forming the core of the story, while the dominance of sexuality is firmly given a shrewd work over by director and writer. There's good thought gone in to making this, enough to steer it away from charges of just being a faux neo-noir production.
Problems? Yes, a few. Inevitability of outcome is hard to shake off whilst viewing it, especially for those well versed in the genre (sub-genre). Clichés and contrivances are stacked up like a pile of cop thriller 101 books, and Franklin goes smug (daft) by dropping in a couple of slow frame sequences that the film clearly didn't need. While the big showdown in the finale lacks a gut punch. But this is a good viewing, sexy at times and always eye catching, it also pleasingly chooses perky dialogue over action to make its dramatic point. The cast around Washington enhance the quality: Lathan in the tricky role shows a number of layered gears, Cain is imposing as a bully boy husband (where did this Cain go?) and Billingsley almost sneaks in and steals the movie as the loyal and stoic comedy side-kick.
So pesky flaws aside, this is a good recommendation as a night in movie for those with a kink for contemporary neo-noir. 7/10
Matthias Whitlock (Washington) is chief of police in little Banyan Key, Florida. Respected for his work and basically honest in the line of duty. Away from work, however, his marriage to Alex (Mendes) has failed, he's having an affair with an abused wife and he likes a little drink on duty. So when his lover Anne Harrison (Lathan) springs on him the shocking news that she has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, it naturally shakes his world. But this news is merely the start of something bigger, for pretty soon Matt will be in the unusual situation of having to stay one step of his own kind or face dire consequences.
It's a film proudly wearing a badge of homage to film noir of the 40s. In fact it very much plays out as a contemporary riff on John Farrow's excellent Ray Milland starrer of 1948, The Big Clock. But that's fine, especially when you have some knowing craft in front and behind the camera in the shape of Franklin (Devil in a Blue Dress) and Washington (take your pick here really!). Yet as great as Franklin and Washington's work is, they all owe a debt to Collard's screenplay. Inventive in how it plays out as a plot, with it's many tight situations laid down for Washington's duped law enforcer to try and get out of, the screenplay has a knack for deft humour, often sly, which is something that even some of the hardest of noirs from the golden era are tinted with. The secret is being able to blend the humour with quality moments of suspense, and this picture manages to do that with some interest.
Film also benefits greatly from the tight atmosphere created by photographer de Sande. Sweaty Florida in daylight doesn't cry out as being a good starting point for an offshoot of film noir (real Florida locations were thankfully used), but the scenic beauty is never realised during the drama sequences, colours are toned down, even for a stunning red sky, and this perfectly becomes at one with a near frantic Washington as the tricksters of Banyan Key start to close in on him. It's nice too see, also, interracial couples forming the core of the story, while the dominance of sexuality is firmly given a shrewd work over by director and writer. There's good thought gone in to making this, enough to steer it away from charges of just being a faux neo-noir production.
Problems? Yes, a few. Inevitability of outcome is hard to shake off whilst viewing it, especially for those well versed in the genre (sub-genre). Clichés and contrivances are stacked up like a pile of cop thriller 101 books, and Franklin goes smug (daft) by dropping in a couple of slow frame sequences that the film clearly didn't need. While the big showdown in the finale lacks a gut punch. But this is a good viewing, sexy at times and always eye catching, it also pleasingly chooses perky dialogue over action to make its dramatic point. The cast around Washington enhance the quality: Lathan in the tricky role shows a number of layered gears, Cain is imposing as a bully boy husband (where did this Cain go?) and Billingsley almost sneaks in and steals the movie as the loyal and stoic comedy side-kick.
So pesky flaws aside, this is a good recommendation as a night in movie for those with a kink for contemporary neo-noir. 7/10
Chae is the coolest character
lee_eisenberg23 July 2007
While staying in a motel in Bandon, Oregon (on the southern coast) over the past weekend, I noticed that the room had a number of DVDs, including "Out of Time". I decided to kill some time watching it, not expecting very much. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised.
I should identify that the movie has nothing to do with the Rolling Stones' song. Denzel Washington plays Matt Whitlock, a cop in a small Florida town. He's been having an affair with a certain Ann (Sanaa Lathan). Since she's dying of cancer, she's made him the beneficiary of her will. But when she and her husband die in a fire, all evidence points to Matt (you'll understand what I mean if you see the movie). So arises the quandary of how he's going to solve the case and clear his name before it's too late, especially given that his ex-wife Alex (Eva Mendes) is absolutely intent on solving the case.
The movie's real strength lies in the twists and turns that they throw in from time to time. I think that probably the coolest scene is the whole sequence in the police station about halfway through the movie; I would have never imagined any movie having a whole sequence like that! But I actually considered Matt's friend Chae (John Billingsley) to be the best character in the movie; I mean, some of those monologues were so great.
All in all, it's not any kind of masterpiece. But it's better than your average man-on-the-run-has-to-clear-himself story. And if I may say so, Eva Mendes looked mighty fine in some of those outfits!
I should identify that the movie has nothing to do with the Rolling Stones' song. Denzel Washington plays Matt Whitlock, a cop in a small Florida town. He's been having an affair with a certain Ann (Sanaa Lathan). Since she's dying of cancer, she's made him the beneficiary of her will. But when she and her husband die in a fire, all evidence points to Matt (you'll understand what I mean if you see the movie). So arises the quandary of how he's going to solve the case and clear his name before it's too late, especially given that his ex-wife Alex (Eva Mendes) is absolutely intent on solving the case.
The movie's real strength lies in the twists and turns that they throw in from time to time. I think that probably the coolest scene is the whole sequence in the police station about halfway through the movie; I would have never imagined any movie having a whole sequence like that! But I actually considered Matt's friend Chae (John Billingsley) to be the best character in the movie; I mean, some of those monologues were so great.
All in all, it's not any kind of masterpiece. But it's better than your average man-on-the-run-has-to-clear-himself story. And if I may say so, Eva Mendes looked mighty fine in some of those outfits!
Old Film Noir plot??
SceneByScene7 December 2006
This reminded me of an old Film Noir style plot.
Was this film a direct copy of any such plot, does anyone know?
Or was it just an 'homage' to that style of 1940s-ish Hollywood plot-line?
It was a good film and kept you thinking. Though had its flaws, as some of the details as why characters were doing what they did could have been filled out.
Denzel Washington nicely underplayed this role, with none of the histrionics a lesser actor could have used to portray the stress he was under (i.e. with his character under such pressure) - bubbling but not boiling over.
And it was good to see Dean Cain in a 'bad guy' role!!
~ Scene by Scene ~
Was this film a direct copy of any such plot, does anyone know?
Or was it just an 'homage' to that style of 1940s-ish Hollywood plot-line?
It was a good film and kept you thinking. Though had its flaws, as some of the details as why characters were doing what they did could have been filled out.
Denzel Washington nicely underplayed this role, with none of the histrionics a lesser actor could have used to portray the stress he was under (i.e. with his character under such pressure) - bubbling but not boiling over.
And it was good to see Dean Cain in a 'bad guy' role!!
~ Scene by Scene ~
Good, if unoriginal noir
blanche-227 June 2009
Denzel Washington is a policeman who is "Out of Time" in this 2003 film also starring Eva Mendes, Sanaa Lathan, and Dean Cain.
Washington plays Matt Whitlock, a policeman involved in an affair with the beautiful Ann Harrison (Lathan). Whitlock is currently embroiled in divorce proceedings from his detective wife (Mendes), and Ann is married to an abusive ex-football player (Cain). When Ann is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Whitlock wants to help her. It puts him in the center of a crime investigation with potentially devastating implications.
This wrongly accused/framed man storyline has been used with great success in films such as No Way Out and the film on which it was based, The Clock, and "Out of Time" borrows heavily from these two films. Whitlock has to stay one step ahead of his wife's investigation in order to keep from being accused of one crime, and he has to avoid an agent for whom he's holding evidence in order to keep from being accused of another. How he wriggles out of various situations makes for some good suspense and engrossing viewing.
Washington is excellent as the harried cop, and the film is well worth watching, even though it's easy to figure out past a certain point. Although very derivative, it's highly entertaining too.
Washington plays Matt Whitlock, a policeman involved in an affair with the beautiful Ann Harrison (Lathan). Whitlock is currently embroiled in divorce proceedings from his detective wife (Mendes), and Ann is married to an abusive ex-football player (Cain). When Ann is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Whitlock wants to help her. It puts him in the center of a crime investigation with potentially devastating implications.
This wrongly accused/framed man storyline has been used with great success in films such as No Way Out and the film on which it was based, The Clock, and "Out of Time" borrows heavily from these two films. Whitlock has to stay one step ahead of his wife's investigation in order to keep from being accused of one crime, and he has to avoid an agent for whom he's holding evidence in order to keep from being accused of another. How he wriggles out of various situations makes for some good suspense and engrossing viewing.
Washington is excellent as the harried cop, and the film is well worth watching, even though it's easy to figure out past a certain point. Although very derivative, it's highly entertaining too.
Out of time starring Denzel Washington 2003
russianbrother-18 February 2006
Every movie I have seen with Denzel Washington in it has been a good movie.This is no exception .What I liked about out of time is it had everything.It has great comic relief,drama,mystery and action.I really love movies that lead me in one direction and just when I think I have it all figured out wham! They throw a wrench in the cogwheel and everything is completely different then what I expected. Thats what happened in this movie I was not disappointed.This movie kept me entertained from beginning to the very end which is why I watch movies in the first place.If you like mystery comic relief and action then this is a movie for you!
Liked It Better Than Most People Did, But Still Not Up To Standards
ccthemovieman-129 June 2006
This is one of the few Denzel Washington movies that flopped. It was just wasn't likable enough to hit a chord with moviegoers. His acting is still fine, but the film as a whole wasn't up to Washington's standards.
Being someone attracted to good visuals, I loved the colors in this film, set in South Florida. The orange-and-greens were beautiful and I enjoyed the music, too. It all elevated the likability of this modern day film-noir for me. Unfortunately, a lot of people were bored with this because it had so little action. That didn't bother me, although I have to admit at one point I began wondering "when is something violent going to happen." Many film noirs were like this, anyway, building up tension until the end.
I still found it pretty interesting most of the way, with a nice twist at the end. It's worth a rental, but not a purchase.
Being someone attracted to good visuals, I loved the colors in this film, set in South Florida. The orange-and-greens were beautiful and I enjoyed the music, too. It all elevated the likability of this modern day film-noir for me. Unfortunately, a lot of people were bored with this because it had so little action. That didn't bother me, although I have to admit at one point I began wondering "when is something violent going to happen." Many film noirs were like this, anyway, building up tension until the end.
I still found it pretty interesting most of the way, with a nice twist at the end. It's worth a rental, but not a purchase.
Intrigue and suspense movie with Denzel Washington's good interpretation
ma-cortes8 February 2005
The film deals with a police chief (Denzel) who is trapped in a cobweb of offenses and he'll have to free himself of a net of strange events that's caught . He is separated his wife (Eva Mendes) and he has a lover (Sanaa Latham) married to Dean Cain . From the beginning to finish intrigue and frenetic action is continued and unstoppable . The picture mingles emotion , suspense , thriller , drama and is very amusing for the mystery and tension along whole runtime film . As the runtime is about two hours , it is adjusted and neither boring , nor dreary but entertaining because being fast moving and happen many events .
The motion picture obtained enough success around the world , in United States was a number one in box office . The film plot is pretty twisted and the end has an extraordinary surprise . The final confrontation amongst the protagonist and the contenders is thrilling and exciting . Denzel Washington acting is top-notch , he has got much experience in twenty and some years of career , Eva Mendes is enjoyable and enticing and Sanaa Latham ready as future first star in ¨Alien vs Predator¨ , Dean Cain (ex Superman) gives a different role to usual . Carl Franklin direction is excellent , he creates enough tension . TheoVan Sande cinematography and Graheme Revell music is atmospheric . The picture has been rated as +16 years because there is violence and cruel murders ; however , being apt +14 with parents guide . The flick will appeal to suspense and thriller movies buffs . Rating: Good . Well catching.
The motion picture obtained enough success around the world , in United States was a number one in box office . The film plot is pretty twisted and the end has an extraordinary surprise . The final confrontation amongst the protagonist and the contenders is thrilling and exciting . Denzel Washington acting is top-notch , he has got much experience in twenty and some years of career , Eva Mendes is enjoyable and enticing and Sanaa Latham ready as future first star in ¨Alien vs Predator¨ , Dean Cain (ex Superman) gives a different role to usual . Carl Franklin direction is excellent , he creates enough tension . TheoVan Sande cinematography and Graheme Revell music is atmospheric . The picture has been rated as +16 years because there is violence and cruel murders ; however , being apt +14 with parents guide . The flick will appeal to suspense and thriller movies buffs . Rating: Good . Well catching.
No Likeable Characters To Speak Of
SomaQuest7 October 2018
This film is a crime film; established early in the film is that the main character (Washington) is not a straight-arrow cop. When his lapses in judgement lend themselves an opportunity for people to take advantage of him you are supposed to feel for him in terms of rooting for him to get one over on them and come out on top. This anticipated feeling is not felt by this reviewer, in fact I found myself annoyed throughout the vast majority of the movie with why this director and Washington for that fact, would take this project on - the overriding story was poor at best.
Washington is a superb actor, no arguments here, and he did well with what was provided. He acted the heck out of this movie, but bottom line being this; there was nothing to this film, it was shallow in regards to writing and plot structure and therefore that alone killed it for me.
Washington is a superb actor, no arguments here, and he did well with what was provided. He acted the heck out of this movie, but bottom line being this; there was nothing to this film, it was shallow in regards to writing and plot structure and therefore that alone killed it for me.
Enjoyable enough little film but nothing special
bob the moo23 August 2004
Matt Lee Whitlock is the chief of police in a town in Florida. He has an ex-wife on the job and a girlfriend dieing of cancer. When Ann tells him that her husband has changed the details of her life insurance policy, Matt agrees to be named the new beneficiary in order to keep any payout safe. Meanwhile, under pressure to help her treatment, Matt takes drug money from the police safe however, when Ann and her husband are both killed in an arson attack on their home a murder investigation is launched with Matt's ex-wife Alex heading it up. Initially quick to cover all links between him and Ann, Matt soon finds that all the clues are starting to point to him and realises that he is being framed.
Despite a solid (and sexy) cast, this looked too much like an average crime thriller to bother me to go to the cinema. However on DVD I decided to give it a go over the weekend as it seemed more suited to the small screen. Indeed the plot is no great shakes and is essentially a series of little set pieces on the way to a twist that was so apparent that the film doesn't even really deliver it with any great effort. However this is not to say it is no good, but just that it is nothing particularly special. The direction is good and it really helps the film keep a good sense of pace in the way the camera spins around in even the office environment but really it is the cast that make this stand out from the many other crime thrillers that never make it to the cinema.
Washington may well be slumming it here (he criticised it because he said all he did was run) but he holds the attention really well. His character doesn't really act like he should do and sometimes he is just plain wrong but Washington is suitably frantic and sweaty like a man hemmed in on all sides. Mendes is enjoyable even if she has no real character to speak of either, while Lathan rounds out the sex appeal with an OK performance but hardly the femme fatale that she should have been. Cain does better than he usually does and credit to him that he does manage to hold his own with Washington. Generally none of the lead three really act at the level that they can but their presence makes it more interesting.
Overall, my (and most viewers) assumptions were mostly right it is an enjoyable little thriller but not one that is really worth hunting down. The big name cast are sexy and do reasonably well with the little they are given and director Franklin injects more pace that it probably deserved and the end result is a solid enough little film but not one that really does anything special.
Despite a solid (and sexy) cast, this looked too much like an average crime thriller to bother me to go to the cinema. However on DVD I decided to give it a go over the weekend as it seemed more suited to the small screen. Indeed the plot is no great shakes and is essentially a series of little set pieces on the way to a twist that was so apparent that the film doesn't even really deliver it with any great effort. However this is not to say it is no good, but just that it is nothing particularly special. The direction is good and it really helps the film keep a good sense of pace in the way the camera spins around in even the office environment but really it is the cast that make this stand out from the many other crime thrillers that never make it to the cinema.
Washington may well be slumming it here (he criticised it because he said all he did was run) but he holds the attention really well. His character doesn't really act like he should do and sometimes he is just plain wrong but Washington is suitably frantic and sweaty like a man hemmed in on all sides. Mendes is enjoyable even if she has no real character to speak of either, while Lathan rounds out the sex appeal with an OK performance but hardly the femme fatale that she should have been. Cain does better than he usually does and credit to him that he does manage to hold his own with Washington. Generally none of the lead three really act at the level that they can but their presence makes it more interesting.
Overall, my (and most viewers) assumptions were mostly right it is an enjoyable little thriller but not one that is really worth hunting down. The big name cast are sexy and do reasonably well with the little they are given and director Franklin injects more pace that it probably deserved and the end result is a solid enough little film but not one that really does anything special.
Decent Movie with Strong Performances
mwendel25 January 2004
This is yet another cops and robbers whodunit movie. The movie features solid performances by Denzel Washington (as Matt Lee Whitlock) and Eva Menedes (as Alex Diaz Whitlock) playing the separated couple each working their own angle on the crime that occurs. With excellent supporting work by John Billingsley (as Chae, the medical examiner), Dean Cain (as Chris Harrison), and Sanaa Lathan (as Ann Merai Harrison) this movie keeps you guessing until the end.
There are some interesting plot twists at the end of the movie which you may or may not figure out by the end. I think the climax of the movie could have been a little more fluid, but it works and I think its satisfying to the viewers. I found this movie to be above average compared to much of the standard fare that has been offered in 2003, especially, because I didn't look at my watch once during the entire film.
There are some interesting plot twists at the end of the movie which you may or may not figure out by the end. I think the climax of the movie could have been a little more fluid, but it works and I think its satisfying to the viewers. I found this movie to be above average compared to much of the standard fare that has been offered in 2003, especially, because I didn't look at my watch once during the entire film.
Great hot noir style
SnoopyStyle2 February 2014
Matt Lee Whitlock (Denzel Washington) is the police chief of Florida small town Banyan Key. He just cracked a big drug case confiscating $450k. He's getting divorced from fellow police officer Alex (Eva Mendes) and having an affair with Anne Merai Harrison (Sanaa Lathan) who is separated from violent husband Chris (Dean Cain). Anne has just been diagnosed with cancer, and Matt takes the $450k for Anne's treatment. However, the money, Anne and Chris all burnt up in a suspicious fire.
This has a great noir sweaty style. Matt's questionable morality is interesting. I prefer his problems be forced upon him. However most of his problems are self-inflicted by his lack of judgment. There is a lot of things that needs to be overlook in this movie. While I like the style, the story needs a little help.
This has a great noir sweaty style. Matt's questionable morality is interesting. I prefer his problems be forced upon him. However most of his problems are self-inflicted by his lack of judgment. There is a lot of things that needs to be overlook in this movie. While I like the style, the story needs a little help.
Eva Mendes & Denzel Burned Up the Screen
whpratt123 May 2006
Denzel Washington, (Matthias Lee Whitlock),"Training Day",'01, played the role of a pretty sharp Police Chief when it came to crime. However, he was having wife problems and they were both thinking about divorce and just recently Eva Mendes,(Alex Diaz Whitlock),"Stuck On You", was promoted to a detective on the same police force as her husband. Matthias decides he is going to find romance and hot love somewhere else and finds a gal who really spins of web of destruction all around him and causes his life to become one big mess and both Matthias and his wife really start having problems they never dreamed would ever happen. Have seen better pictures with Denzel Washington, but this film does hold your interest from beginning to the very end.
Nice unexpected ending
dannyclyde28 February 2022
A CRACKING NOIR STYLE MYSTERY COP THRILLER
lukem-527604 May 2020
Denzel Washington is one of the greatest actors in cinema history & he is just amazing in these types of Thriller films & has done so many Brilliant Thriller films like The Bone Collector, Training Day, Fallen, The Taking of Pelham 123, Man on Fire, Unstoppable, Deja Vu & more, Denzel is s movie legend.
Here the great Denzel plays a slick & sexy Florida based police chief named Matthias Whitlock & it's a great role for Washington & he totally delivers a fantastic performance as he's panicking & sweating & trying to keep one step ahead of the Homicide devision because he is framed & set up for all sorts after having an affair with a lady but she suddenly dies in a suspicious house fire & everything spirals out of control. Denzel has to be quick thinking constantly & has to be fast on his feet to cover his tracks.
Out Of Time is a super cool Noir Mystery Thriller set in the beautiful locations of Florida & the beach & all the lovely weather, a sunny suspenseful Cop Thriller that's fun, exciting & intense. Also the music is excellent & suits the movie so well with it's old school jazzy score & sun drenched cinematography, a Classy movie. The cast supporting Washington is good too with Eva Mendes, Dean Cain, Sanaa Lathan & a very funny John Billingsley. I loved this movie & i love Mystery films & i love Cop Thriller's & of course Denzel Washington is always Amazing on screen. Actually one of Denzels best films
Out Of Time is a super cool Noir Mystery Thriller set in the beautiful locations of Florida & the beach & all the lovely weather, a sunny suspenseful Cop Thriller that's fun, exciting & intense. Also the music is excellent & suits the movie so well with it's old school jazzy score & sun drenched cinematography, a Classy movie. The cast supporting Washington is good too with Eva Mendes, Dean Cain, Sanaa Lathan & a very funny John Billingsley. I loved this movie & i love Mystery films & i love Cop Thriller's & of course Denzel Washington is always Amazing on screen. Actually one of Denzels best films
terrible
daanmous12 October 2004
Too many cliché's, really really bad acting, a really slow start and an end that didn't surprise at all. A terrible casting of Denzel's wife. She looked fine, but her face had no expressions and she wasn't a credible character. Just terrible. Once the film started, I guessed the story-line, surprisingly I was wright. Sometimes I couldn't hold my laugh, because of the things the director had invented. Why the cliché's of the wife that wouldn't believe her husband at first, but at the end she came back to him and they lived happily ever after. Why they break up and why she wanted to divorce is not clear. They just did. Someone who wouldn't guess everything would be fine at last, has no knowledge about movie-cliché's. I thought Denzel wouldn't participate in that kind of movies. Maybe he just wanted to kiss some beautiful girls. If that's the reason, okay, if it isn't...I don't get him.
Decent
HardKnockLife21025 January 2004
When I first saw the trailer for "Out of Time," I was pumped to go and see it when it came out. But then I saw the lame TV spots and decided against going, and the reviews it received didn't exactly give incentive for seeing it either. But I still always sort of had the urge to see it, and I finally got my chance, with decent results.
"Out of Time" is the type of thriller that tries hard, but still comes up short. There were no horrible aspects of this movie, nothing that stands out as being horribly dumb or even horribly unorginal. Yet everything seems mediocre. Denzel's acting was great, but other cast members occasionally seemed a little lost. The direction was also pretty good, but Carl Franklin seemed to have a little trouble pacing the movie, with a couple scenes seeming completely out of place. The music also, by Graeme Revell, was pretty good, but wasn't exemplary or especially dramatic. The cinematography was good, but didn't really stand out, while the screenplay also lagged in places. Plus, the story was original, but not original enough to really keep you guessing.
Yet the movie does create suspense quite well and Denzel saves the movie from complete mediocrity.
Final Grade: B.
"Out of Time" is the type of thriller that tries hard, but still comes up short. There were no horrible aspects of this movie, nothing that stands out as being horribly dumb or even horribly unorginal. Yet everything seems mediocre. Denzel's acting was great, but other cast members occasionally seemed a little lost. The direction was also pretty good, but Carl Franklin seemed to have a little trouble pacing the movie, with a couple scenes seeming completely out of place. The music also, by Graeme Revell, was pretty good, but wasn't exemplary or especially dramatic. The cinematography was good, but didn't really stand out, while the screenplay also lagged in places. Plus, the story was original, but not original enough to really keep you guessing.
Yet the movie does create suspense quite well and Denzel saves the movie from complete mediocrity.
Final Grade: B.
Washington and Franklin give regular story some leadership and class
bigtommytahoe16 June 2005
Nothing much seems to go on in this small, lazy South-Florida town. Just as little is done by its sheriff, Matt Lee Whitlock (Denzel Washington), a fact well illustrated in an early scene of him polishing off a beer, his legs propped up on his office desk. Maybe he's bored. Or maybe drinking beers on the job is just what one does to make it through the humid summers down there. There is one thing happening: an affair he has been nurturing on the side with a steamy young woman, Ann, who calls in an attempted robbery as a sort of thrilling preamble to sizzling sex with the sheriff when he shows up. He may be the lazy type, but you cannot say he's not careful. And the scene does sizzle. Ann is played by the very appealing Sanaa Lathan, and married to a jobless professional quarterback, Chris (Dean Cain), who spends his time working at the county morgue. It is made very clear from the beginning the only thing Matt and Chris have in common (other than Gorgeous Ann) is a mutual distaste for one another. So the stage has been set for the rest of Out of Time, a frenetic, sometimes tense thriller that, by force of star power and sure direction, just manages to elevate itself above the unremarkable genre which binds it.
Many movies before this one have told the story of the innocent man trying to extricate himself from a sticky situation, proving his innocence while at the same time trying to catch the bad guy. The Fugitive comes to mind as one of the better variations on the theme, and there are of course many lesser versions as well. In this film, it's Chief Whitlock who's stuck in a mess. And though there may or not be others involved in putting him there, he has for the most part no one to blame but himself for his lousy predicament. And of course this all involves a host of details and plot particulars which are not mine to tell. Let's just say that it involves these factors: his lover Ann; a double murder; a life insurance policy; his ex-wife investigating the murder; the D.E.A., and hundreds of thousands of dollars in confiscated drug bust money. And in the middle of this swamp of ingredients wades Whitlock himself -- caught very much by surprise, no longer bored, and now with a sense of urgency bordering on panic. And as the title suggests, time doesn't look to be on his side.
Out of Time was directed by Carl Franklin, who is capable and experienced at his craft. Two of his films, One False Move and One True Thing, were alike in more than one way. While their stories were completely unrelated, they both featured strong casts, absorbing dialog and measured, observant direction. With One False Move, a film about outlaws on the run through the deep South, Franklin was adept at controlling the pace of the story, keenly evoking suspense when needed, allowing for tense dramatic pauses when called for. He brings that element of pacing to this movie, saturating the earlier scenes with slow-burn slide guitar music and swelteringly slow shots of the Floridian landscape. Then suddenly, as Chief Whitlock becomes enmeshed in his race for time, so does the film's entire speed. That the audience stay on board through countless contrived chase sequences can be attributed mainly to Franklin keeping them there. Here he has a much less inspired story to work with, having to enlist some extra help from the actors. The supporting cast are convincing in their roles. Eva Mendes, who continues to show great on-screen promise, plays Whitlock's estranged wife. The two actors create just the right kind of chemistry as two people who are apart for good reason, it seems, but who still like each other enough to be able to have civilized conversations while working together on the murder investigation.
But the real glue holding the ordinariness together is Denzel Washington. Once again he has brought to the screen intelligence, wit, integrity and, yes, the likability quotient. He always seems to convey these appealing traits through his characters, including those we are not meant to like at all. Even in Training Day, where he played a dirty, despicable cop, much of the movie focused on his character's ability to convince his partner and us that he was doing the right thing. In Out of Time, Denzel's Whitlock is a sympathetic character, to be sure. He is generally respected by the members of the county he runs. We forgive him his faults, as we do the poor decisions he makes while painting himself into a seemingly inescapable corner. Then as the film progresses, and as his methods of extrication go from unscrupulous to outright illegal, we wonder aloud why we have been on his side through the whole thing. This man may not be a sinner, but neither is he the picture of saintliness. It doesn't seem to wash, but there you have it. But Denzel pulls it off through the whole movie, gracing Chief Whitlock with virtuous, sympathetic qualities he does not possess.
Toward the end of the movie, anyone paying attention to the clock would notice that the movie itself is almost out of time -- probably not nearly enough time to resolve the laundry list of problems Whitlock has burdened himself with. The film nonetheless scurries to its disappointing, pat resolution, careful to tighten most of the loose ends it can remember, but done with such brevity as to leave us all feeling a little pinched, and more than a little let down. This kind of pinched finish effectively washes away all of the potentially intriguing character dilemmas presented in the character of Matt Lee Whitlock. Still, the actor playing him is Denzel, so we don't mind feeling happy for him --in spite of his, and the film's, many shortcomings.
Many movies before this one have told the story of the innocent man trying to extricate himself from a sticky situation, proving his innocence while at the same time trying to catch the bad guy. The Fugitive comes to mind as one of the better variations on the theme, and there are of course many lesser versions as well. In this film, it's Chief Whitlock who's stuck in a mess. And though there may or not be others involved in putting him there, he has for the most part no one to blame but himself for his lousy predicament. And of course this all involves a host of details and plot particulars which are not mine to tell. Let's just say that it involves these factors: his lover Ann; a double murder; a life insurance policy; his ex-wife investigating the murder; the D.E.A., and hundreds of thousands of dollars in confiscated drug bust money. And in the middle of this swamp of ingredients wades Whitlock himself -- caught very much by surprise, no longer bored, and now with a sense of urgency bordering on panic. And as the title suggests, time doesn't look to be on his side.
Out of Time was directed by Carl Franklin, who is capable and experienced at his craft. Two of his films, One False Move and One True Thing, were alike in more than one way. While their stories were completely unrelated, they both featured strong casts, absorbing dialog and measured, observant direction. With One False Move, a film about outlaws on the run through the deep South, Franklin was adept at controlling the pace of the story, keenly evoking suspense when needed, allowing for tense dramatic pauses when called for. He brings that element of pacing to this movie, saturating the earlier scenes with slow-burn slide guitar music and swelteringly slow shots of the Floridian landscape. Then suddenly, as Chief Whitlock becomes enmeshed in his race for time, so does the film's entire speed. That the audience stay on board through countless contrived chase sequences can be attributed mainly to Franklin keeping them there. Here he has a much less inspired story to work with, having to enlist some extra help from the actors. The supporting cast are convincing in their roles. Eva Mendes, who continues to show great on-screen promise, plays Whitlock's estranged wife. The two actors create just the right kind of chemistry as two people who are apart for good reason, it seems, but who still like each other enough to be able to have civilized conversations while working together on the murder investigation.
But the real glue holding the ordinariness together is Denzel Washington. Once again he has brought to the screen intelligence, wit, integrity and, yes, the likability quotient. He always seems to convey these appealing traits through his characters, including those we are not meant to like at all. Even in Training Day, where he played a dirty, despicable cop, much of the movie focused on his character's ability to convince his partner and us that he was doing the right thing. In Out of Time, Denzel's Whitlock is a sympathetic character, to be sure. He is generally respected by the members of the county he runs. We forgive him his faults, as we do the poor decisions he makes while painting himself into a seemingly inescapable corner. Then as the film progresses, and as his methods of extrication go from unscrupulous to outright illegal, we wonder aloud why we have been on his side through the whole thing. This man may not be a sinner, but neither is he the picture of saintliness. It doesn't seem to wash, but there you have it. But Denzel pulls it off through the whole movie, gracing Chief Whitlock with virtuous, sympathetic qualities he does not possess.
Toward the end of the movie, anyone paying attention to the clock would notice that the movie itself is almost out of time -- probably not nearly enough time to resolve the laundry list of problems Whitlock has burdened himself with. The film nonetheless scurries to its disappointing, pat resolution, careful to tighten most of the loose ends it can remember, but done with such brevity as to leave us all feeling a little pinched, and more than a little let down. This kind of pinched finish effectively washes away all of the potentially intriguing character dilemmas presented in the character of Matt Lee Whitlock. Still, the actor playing him is Denzel, so we don't mind feeling happy for him --in spite of his, and the film's, many shortcomings.
Surprisingly good
Pookyiscute19 January 2006
I saw this not that long ago, and was pleasantly surprised with the film. I had expected to see something dull and uninteresting, but the truth is, it was really good. Now, you're probably wondering why I only gave it a six, if it's really good. Well, it's not the best, either. It exceeded my expectations, but it still didn't live up to my standards.
Denzel Washington plays a Floridian chief of police, who's life is to change in one day's mistake. He has only a small amount of time before he can fix, what he's caused. Without giving away what the film is specifically about, suffice it to say, it's a good watch. There are some chase scenes, sex scenes, and intense scenes; all mixed in for a hot film, with a few surprises in between time.
I would suggest it for a rental, and really nothing more than that. I for one, liked it, but not well enough to keep it in my personal collection. But, check it out. It's a good Friday night flick.
Denzel Washington plays a Floridian chief of police, who's life is to change in one day's mistake. He has only a small amount of time before he can fix, what he's caused. Without giving away what the film is specifically about, suffice it to say, it's a good watch. There are some chase scenes, sex scenes, and intense scenes; all mixed in for a hot film, with a few surprises in between time.
I would suggest it for a rental, and really nothing more than that. I for one, liked it, but not well enough to keep it in my personal collection. But, check it out. It's a good Friday night flick.
Not worth keeping but worth a watch...
quatermax-18 February 2008
I'm pleased to admit that I knew nothing about this movie before I viewed it, which is actually quite refreshing. Wooed by this, the cast list and the tag-line 'How do you solve a murder when all the evidence points to you?' (yes, even we hardboiled cynics can fall for such things) I settled down in front of my TV with suitable munchies and a bottle of wine (an Australian Semillon Chardonnay called 'Hair of the Dingo', which I thoroughly recommend by the way) and waited to be entertained.
And waited.
Eventually, after a way too lengthy exposition (thank God I had the wine), the movie starts to, well, move. Suddenly I was on familiar territory: There's this Florida Police Chief (Washington) who, unbeknownst to his colleagues, has been having rumpy-pumpy (that's quite a clean euphemism in the UK by the way so if I've offended anyone I apologise) with a married woman. She, and her husband, suddenly turn up dead in their burned out house and every bit of circumstantial evidence is pointing to him as prime suspect. At the crime scene he never mentions that he knows the victims, yet it very soon transpires that an eye witness has spotted him outside the house before it was torched; his cell phone number features prominently on the girl's phone bill; he's the new beneficiary of her $1,000,000 insurance policy, and, worse still, he's even borrowed evidence money in his charge to help his girl get cancer treatment, money which is now missing, and the feds are on their way to collect it. As the worst day in his life progresses his colleagues, led by his estranged wife, who's a detective (could it get any worse? Yes it does), are getting closer and closer to solving the case and putting him behind bars, while he is desperately trying to keep one step ahead of them by intercepting phone calls, concealing evidence etc., at the same time conducting his own investigation in an attempt to cover his tracks and clear his name.
I say familiar territory because it's basically a reworking of Costner and Hackman's 1987 NO WAY OUT scenario, which was itself a remake of 1948's THE BIG CLOCK with Ray Milland and Charles Laughton, and, once you accept the implausibility of the situation and the stupidity of Washington's character, it's not half bad, and though it has a few twists I didn't anticipate, the predictable ending is now a little clichéd and leaves too many loose ends for my liking.
Denzel Washington acquits himself well as Denzel Washington; a bearded Dean (SUPERMAN) Cain does a great, almost Colin Farrell quality, turn, refreshingly, as a villain; the girls are gorgeous; but the real star is ENTERPRISE's 'Dr. Phlox', the much underrated John Billingsley, as a beer guzzling baseball capped Medical Examiner (imagine an amalgam of Jack Klugman's Quincy and Oscar Madison characters), and the only one in on Washington's predicament. Director Franklin (DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS (also with Washington), and HIGH CRIMES) makes great visual use of the exotic and sultry Miami area locales.
Not worth keeping but worth a watch.
And waited.
Eventually, after a way too lengthy exposition (thank God I had the wine), the movie starts to, well, move. Suddenly I was on familiar territory: There's this Florida Police Chief (Washington) who, unbeknownst to his colleagues, has been having rumpy-pumpy (that's quite a clean euphemism in the UK by the way so if I've offended anyone I apologise) with a married woman. She, and her husband, suddenly turn up dead in their burned out house and every bit of circumstantial evidence is pointing to him as prime suspect. At the crime scene he never mentions that he knows the victims, yet it very soon transpires that an eye witness has spotted him outside the house before it was torched; his cell phone number features prominently on the girl's phone bill; he's the new beneficiary of her $1,000,000 insurance policy, and, worse still, he's even borrowed evidence money in his charge to help his girl get cancer treatment, money which is now missing, and the feds are on their way to collect it. As the worst day in his life progresses his colleagues, led by his estranged wife, who's a detective (could it get any worse? Yes it does), are getting closer and closer to solving the case and putting him behind bars, while he is desperately trying to keep one step ahead of them by intercepting phone calls, concealing evidence etc., at the same time conducting his own investigation in an attempt to cover his tracks and clear his name.
I say familiar territory because it's basically a reworking of Costner and Hackman's 1987 NO WAY OUT scenario, which was itself a remake of 1948's THE BIG CLOCK with Ray Milland and Charles Laughton, and, once you accept the implausibility of the situation and the stupidity of Washington's character, it's not half bad, and though it has a few twists I didn't anticipate, the predictable ending is now a little clichéd and leaves too many loose ends for my liking.
Denzel Washington acquits himself well as Denzel Washington; a bearded Dean (SUPERMAN) Cain does a great, almost Colin Farrell quality, turn, refreshingly, as a villain; the girls are gorgeous; but the real star is ENTERPRISE's 'Dr. Phlox', the much underrated John Billingsley, as a beer guzzling baseball capped Medical Examiner (imagine an amalgam of Jack Klugman's Quincy and Oscar Madison characters), and the only one in on Washington's predicament. Director Franklin (DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS (also with Washington), and HIGH CRIMES) makes great visual use of the exotic and sultry Miami area locales.
Not worth keeping but worth a watch.
Edge of your seat excitement despite some flaws
blott2319-127 January 2022
Out of Time plays a lot like a modern film noir. It has many of the familiar beats you would expect from classics of the genre, and that worked quite well for me. I'm also a sucker for films that involve a protagonist fighting to clear their name for a crime they didn't commit. It makes almost every single scene of the film tense and stressful, as it feels any moment our hero might get caught. I loved the fact that I could completely understand what was going through Whitlock's head, and why he did each thing as the film goes on. It certainly doesn't hurt that the amazing Denzel Washington is in the lead role, because he has a natural talent for making characters that are charming and sympathetic. There are wonderful twists in the plot throughout, and I could not wait to see what would happen next.
There are really only 2 reasons that I struggled with Out of Time. For starters, while I love Denzel and often think he can do no wrong, it took a long time for me to like this character. He is a man who seems to relish his vices and never apologizes for them. His choices early on are not good, and even when it seemed everything was conspiring against him, I was dealing with feelings of frustration with how he handled things. My other difficulty with Out of Time is a pet peeve about the ending (minor spoilers ahead.) I've always struggled with a finale like this one, where the villain's plan is thwarted, and magically all the things the protagonist did throughout the film will no longer be a problem. The amount of sweeping under the rug that occurs in the finale of this film is almost laughable. But none of that changed the fact that Out of Time was a solid heart-pounding thriller that I'll watch again.
There are really only 2 reasons that I struggled with Out of Time. For starters, while I love Denzel and often think he can do no wrong, it took a long time for me to like this character. He is a man who seems to relish his vices and never apologizes for them. His choices early on are not good, and even when it seemed everything was conspiring against him, I was dealing with feelings of frustration with how he handled things. My other difficulty with Out of Time is a pet peeve about the ending (minor spoilers ahead.) I've always struggled with a finale like this one, where the villain's plan is thwarted, and magically all the things the protagonist did throughout the film will no longer be a problem. The amount of sweeping under the rug that occurs in the finale of this film is almost laughable. But none of that changed the fact that Out of Time was a solid heart-pounding thriller that I'll watch again.
One of Denzel's best
CoolG9110 June 2020
Taught thriller with tension and tenacity
djderka3 July 2012
The interplay between the characters in this taught thriller is delicious.
In a small coastal Florida town, Chief Whitlock is enjoying a romantic liaison with the smoldering Ann Harrison while he is temporally separated from his wife, Alex Whitlock, who is a detective on the same small police force. No problem until the Chief comes to believe that Ann needs some 1/2 million bucks to undergoing a special cancer treatment, so he retrieves some confiscated drug money to do so. Uh, oh soon he learns that he was set up and the feds are closing in to count the money, which he doesn't have and as Alex is constantly breathing down his neck for answers to an arson and other issues.
Chae is Whitlock's friend and their playfulness and support for each other is a nice reprieve from the "argumentative" cops in 48 hrs and such films. Ann is the hot film noir babe, Alex the hot stylish homicide cop and John the somewhat goofy medical examiner.
Denzel is superb in what is a standard film noir thriller. The plot is simple and not overly complicated like Sleven, which has more twists and turns than The Beast in Kings Island. And no forever car chases, used when scripts run out of steam. Each scene here is necessary and with progression to the storyline. There is very little "down time" for a rest, but constant forward interest in the Chief's dilemma.
Served simply and straight up like two eggs with bacon on the side, this thriller abounds with tension as the Chief is racing against time to retrieve the federal money and trying to deal with a nagging, annoying "separated" wife that seems to put a road block into his every move. This is a richly textured movie with a nice subtle sound track. I liked the "rattlesnake tail shake" sound as he neared danger.
I am so happy the director, Carl Franklin, didn't use the unnecessary "jumpy" visual effects in Quake's editing program that were so prevalent and distracting in Man on Fire.
I have seen this movie several times and although I have the DVD, I watch it whenever it appears on TV. Hope you enjoy the story, direction, music track, editing, and acting as much as I did.
In a small coastal Florida town, Chief Whitlock is enjoying a romantic liaison with the smoldering Ann Harrison while he is temporally separated from his wife, Alex Whitlock, who is a detective on the same small police force. No problem until the Chief comes to believe that Ann needs some 1/2 million bucks to undergoing a special cancer treatment, so he retrieves some confiscated drug money to do so. Uh, oh soon he learns that he was set up and the feds are closing in to count the money, which he doesn't have and as Alex is constantly breathing down his neck for answers to an arson and other issues.
Chae is Whitlock's friend and their playfulness and support for each other is a nice reprieve from the "argumentative" cops in 48 hrs and such films. Ann is the hot film noir babe, Alex the hot stylish homicide cop and John the somewhat goofy medical examiner.
Denzel is superb in what is a standard film noir thriller. The plot is simple and not overly complicated like Sleven, which has more twists and turns than The Beast in Kings Island. And no forever car chases, used when scripts run out of steam. Each scene here is necessary and with progression to the storyline. There is very little "down time" for a rest, but constant forward interest in the Chief's dilemma.
Served simply and straight up like two eggs with bacon on the side, this thriller abounds with tension as the Chief is racing against time to retrieve the federal money and trying to deal with a nagging, annoying "separated" wife that seems to put a road block into his every move. This is a richly textured movie with a nice subtle sound track. I liked the "rattlesnake tail shake" sound as he neared danger.
I am so happy the director, Carl Franklin, didn't use the unnecessary "jumpy" visual effects in Quake's editing program that were so prevalent and distracting in Man on Fire.
I have seen this movie several times and although I have the DVD, I watch it whenever it appears on TV. Hope you enjoy the story, direction, music track, editing, and acting as much as I did.
Have Your Cake And Eat It Too
refinedsugar19 September 2023
I hadn't seen 'Out of Time' since it hit theaters and that was a long time ago. I remembered it being a mildly satisfying popcorn flick and voila it turns out I have a good memory. The cast turn in decent performances in an otherwise hocus pocus story.
Matt Whitlock (Washington) is the chief of police in a small town outside Miami. He's going thru a divorce with Alex (Eva Mendes) who's a homicide detective and he's having an affair with Ann (Sanaa Lathan) who has an ex-pro football abusive husband Chris (Dean Cain). Having just made a big drug seizure when he learns Ann is battling cancer, Matt makes a poor judgement call to give her the 450k in evidence to seek treatment. Suddenly there's an explosion at their house (arson) and they appear to be dead. The money is gone, he's the new beneficiary in her life insurance policy and bits of his involvement are scattered all over.
Denzel wasn't above appearing in light fare. Director Carl Franklin's second team-up with him and needless to say a step down from their first project 'Devil in a Blue Dress'. Be ready to suspend your disbelief. The coincidental timing on events, actions to up the ante and the convenient way the story proceeds with Mendes always being ... one step behind. That's the kind way of putting it. This story doesn't do her much favors. The wrap-up and ending is ludicrous.
At the end of the day, Denzel is fun to watch. Mendez is a sight to behold as always and Dean Cain plays against type. Although he's not the real villain here. John Billingsley provides comic relief. 'Out of Time' is best enjoyed if you don't think too heavily about the proceedings.
Matt Whitlock (Washington) is the chief of police in a small town outside Miami. He's going thru a divorce with Alex (Eva Mendes) who's a homicide detective and he's having an affair with Ann (Sanaa Lathan) who has an ex-pro football abusive husband Chris (Dean Cain). Having just made a big drug seizure when he learns Ann is battling cancer, Matt makes a poor judgement call to give her the 450k in evidence to seek treatment. Suddenly there's an explosion at their house (arson) and they appear to be dead. The money is gone, he's the new beneficiary in her life insurance policy and bits of his involvement are scattered all over.
Denzel wasn't above appearing in light fare. Director Carl Franklin's second team-up with him and needless to say a step down from their first project 'Devil in a Blue Dress'. Be ready to suspend your disbelief. The coincidental timing on events, actions to up the ante and the convenient way the story proceeds with Mendes always being ... one step behind. That's the kind way of putting it. This story doesn't do her much favors. The wrap-up and ending is ludicrous.
At the end of the day, Denzel is fun to watch. Mendez is a sight to behold as always and Dean Cain plays against type. Although he's not the real villain here. John Billingsley provides comic relief. 'Out of Time' is best enjoyed if you don't think too heavily about the proceedings.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
