Logan Lucky - movie review
Logan Lucky
Plot: Two brothers attempt to pull off a heist during a NASCAR race in North Carolina.
Cast: Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, Daniel Craig
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Certificate: 12A (infrequent strong language, moderate violence)
Runtime: 1hr 58 mins
Release Date: Friday 25th August 2017
When it comes to well known Hollywood directors, there is usually a grand hullabaloo as we reach their final film before they announce their retirement. What isn't so common is a film to signify a big Hollywood director coming out of retirement and Logan Lucky is exactly that. Steven Soderbergh, whom many of you will know for making films like; the Ocean's trilogy, Magic Mike and Erin Brockovich, has decided to come back into the fray and I was excited to see what he could deliver. I sat in my seat waiting to be bowled over by his fast paced editing and clever wit that made him stand out as a unique filmmaker. Upon leaving Logan Lucky, I cannot deny that it is a unique movie and frequently entertaining but it didn't feel like true Soderbergh.
 |
| Bucky likes to party when Captain America isn't looking. |
If one thing is for sure in a Soderbergh movie, it's that he knows how to assemble a cast and utilise his actors to their fullest potential. In Logan Lucky, we've trodden down a path very similar to the Ocean's films (in more ways that one) because the quantity and calibre of the featured actors is through the roof. Leading the pack is Channing Tatum who plays Jimmy Logan, a mineworker who is laid off and currently struggling to get to see his daughter due to his estranged wife (Katie Holmes). Tatum has always been a charismatic guy in any film he stars in but when paired with the right director, he can truly come out of his shell and prove himself as an amazing actor rather than just a movie star. In this role, Tatum is incredibly likeable as Jimmy and, despite the criminal nature of his endeavours, you do hope he succeeds. My issue with Jimmy is that, aside from the likeability, he's a fairly vapid character. We've seen the father figure who struggles to be there for his child done a million times and so when a huge crux of the film relies on whether he can prove himself to his daughter, whilst endearing and sweet, it does stray into formulaic and cookie cutter territory. The performance by Tatum's onscreen daughter (Farrah Mackenzie) wasn't all that convincing either. She did come across as a bit bratty and irritating so whenever the focus was on her and her beauty pageant rather than the compelling heist, I did find myself checking my watch and anticipating either a shift in story or just the film to wrap up. On the other hand, when the film did steer back on course and depict this heist from underneath a NASCAR track, that's when shades of the original Soderbergh began to seep through.
 |
| Londis are now offering a new drive-thru service. |
Most of that success has to do with the two scene stealers in this film; Adam Driver as Clyde Logan and Daniel Craig as Joe Bang. The two of these actors are giving some of their best performances and, it's even more amazing when you realise that the two of them are acting at complete different ends of the spectrum. Driver gives a very calm and understated performance of a former soldier who, as he would say in the film, hasn't lost his arm but instead lost his forearm and hand. Throughout the film, he seems to be the voice of reason and logic in this madcap adventure and Driver plays that for comedy as well as he can. For Craig, he's like a bat out of hell. This is a wild and fully blown bonkers performance by Craig and you can tell he's really giving it his all. Joe Bang is a current inmate in prison who is known by the Logans to be an explosives expert so, in order for him to help with the heist, they need to bust Bang out of prison, complete the heist and put Bang back into prison without a single guard knowing. It's these complexities and balancing the various storylines and twists that Soderbergh executes so well. He's a filmmaker that will, for the majority of his films, keep you on your toes. Unfortunately, his extensive cast began to be Soderbergh's kryptonite as he struggles to make all of the characters seem relevant and so, it results in a long string of unnecessary and unexpected cameos that serve very little to the story. Seth MacFarlane is a prime example who behaves like he's playing a physical manifestation of one of his Family Guy characters. Hilary Swank also pops up in the films final moments as government officials begin to look into the heist but, and I say this as a usual fan of Swank, she is completely playing this wrong. She comes across like she doesn't belong in the film and instead, would serve more of a purpose in a cartoon caper. Other faces like Katherine Waterston, Sebastian Stan and Katie Holmes are only there to provide yet another famous face rather than make a considerable impact on the film. Truth be told, those cameos are an elaborate form of filler.
 |
| Knock down ginger was never their forte. |
FACT: Daniel Craig had to dye his hair bleach-blonde for the role of Joe Bang.
A clear inspiration for Logan Lucky has to be the style of humour often found in a Coen Brothers movie. The critic quotes on the poster aren't lying to you when they say it's Ocean's Eleven meets the Coens. Soderbergh has always made quirky films that may often be found in the Indie section of a movie rental store but Logan Lucky is by far his most ambitious. Sadly, his ambition may have gone too far because, even though it seems he's trying to emanate a Coen Brothers approach, he isn't a Coen Brother (unless there's a secret Jeremy Kyle-like paternity test waiting in the shadows) and Soderbergh overshoots the comedy at times making many of the jokes miss rather than hit. As mentioned previously, the main source of enjoyment comes from Driver and Craig but whenever we weren't watching them share banter or commit the heist, I really didn't care as much as I wanted to. The film begins entertaining enough but I was waiting for everything to kick into gear and let the fun begin. Thankfully, as we near the heist, the fun gets underway but that joy is short-lived because we then edge back to the regular scheduled programme of adventurous but uninteresting family drama. Not to mention that as soon as Hilary Swank appears and a pointless FBI investigation commences, Logan Lucky slams on the brakes and grinds to an absolute halt in regards to its pacing. And then, just before the credits roll, Soderbergh does his usual twist and reveals all the ins and outs of the heist to leave us satisfied that he answered all of our queries. The sad part is that, not only was I not that interested as to how Tatum transported money, but it hurtled through everything at such a ridiculous speed that instead of sitting in your seat in disbelief as the credits roll, you're stuck there in a mild state of confusion as you try and piece it all together. What might have been better and more fortunate for the film's sake, is to have spent more time crafting a worthwhile conclusion rather than jumping across the finish line in a state of desperation. Imagine Usain Bolt running the 100m and then for the final few metres, he pops on a blindfold because he assumes he'll reach the finish line intact. It's clear that Soderbergh and his screenwriter (Rebecca Blunt, who I believe is a pseudonym for Soderbergh considering she has no former credits and no photos of existence) have good and honest intentions as he navigates the story through themes such as the continuation of the American Dream and the idea of privilege as well as a sweet message about loving and caring for family. Regrettably, these incredibly intuitive and deep components to the film aren't as clear to see because Soderbergh pushes the comedy to the forefront instead.
 |
| Need a hand? |
This is a very strange predicament that I find myself with Logan Lucky. I cannot deny that there has been an undeniable amount of skill put into this film and I am looking forward to seeing where Soderbergh can go from here. His snappy dialogue is ever present and the comedy did make me chuckle in places. Where we begin to encounter some obstacles is that his jokes are of a 50/50 hit and miss ratio (a Game Of Thrones argument in a prison being a highlight) and multiple cameos that never go anywhere. Overall, it's a quirky mixed bag that will likely cause some interesting conversations between audiences and critics.
My Verdict: 6.5/10
If you like what you've seen here don't forget to share this with everyone you know, comment below and check out my other reviews. Thanks for reading!!
Comments
Post a Comment