‘No Sudden Move’ Review- The 1950s Drive Time
This movie streamed in 2021.
No Sudden Move is a crime thriller film directed by Steven Soderbergh, who also serves as the editor and cinematographer. It had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival before going to the MAX streaming service.
Small time criminals Curt Goynes (Don Cheadle) and Ronald Russo (Benicio del Toro) are recruited by the gangster Doug Jones (Brendan Fraser) to help his associate Charley (Kieran Culkin) hold Matt Wertz (David Harbour)’s family wife Mary (Amy Seimetz), son Matthew (Noah Jupe), and daughter (Lucy Holt) hostage. During this time, Matt will steal a document from his boss Mel Forbert (Hugh Maguire), and then the three criminals will leave the family unharmed. However, Matt realizes his boss took the document, forcing the gang to make deals with the criminal underworld, including mob boss Frank Capelli (Ray Liotta), gangster Aldrick Watkins (Bill Duke), and the mysterious Mr. Big (Matt Damon). Meanwhile, Detective Joe Finney (Jon Hamm) is on the trail of the document as well.
To begin with, I would like to say that the acting is very well done. From Cheadle to del Toro to Seimetz to everyone else, they really brought together performances that showed off their talent. Everyone’s chemistry was on point, and their timing was perfect.
David Holmes composed the music for the soundtrack and he did a good job. He is a frequent collaborator of Soderbergh’s, working on several of his films. It was impressive and I thought it was well done.
Outside of that, the story was just not that interesting. While it has a really good opening and set-up, the movie lacks in thrills and excitement. It moves along like a slug with way too many twists and turns to keep up with. Besides all of the movement of the characters, even the side characters have some sort of small plot that you have to remember.
Soderbergh has developed this nasty habit of turning his movies into lectures, with The Laundromat being another example. It is a shame because he is incredibly talented, but now he is buying into this new Hollywood nonsense of turning every film into overt political messaging. It could have been a simple message with crime as the backdrop, but instead, we get “in your face” drivel that serves no purpose other than to drag the film down.
Bottom line, No Sudden Move has a stellar cast with excellent acting, but is bogged down by its overt messaging.
PARENTAL CONCERNS: Violence, Strong foul language
FAVORITE QUOTE: Self-interest is the sincerest form of flattery.
Check out the trailer below:
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, or novel you would like me to review.