Best Laid Plans (1999)

Director:

Mike Barker

Writer (WGA):

Ted Griffin (written by)

Release Date:

14 May 1999 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Ever feel like the world is conspiring against you... You don't have to tell me where you've been... Everyone sucks, but us... keeping a relationship alive can be murder.

Plot:

A seemingly simple plan to steal money goes increasingly awry.

Plot Keywords:

Neo Noir | Blackmail | Burglar | Scheme | Independent Film

Cast

Alessandro Nivola	...	Nick
Reese Witherspoon	...	Lissa
Josh Brolin	...	Bryce
Gene Wolande	...	Lawyer
Jonathan McMurtry	...	Vet
Father Terrance Sweeney	...	Priest
Rebecca Klingler	...	Diner Waitress
Rocky Carroll	...	Bad Ass Dude
Kate Hendrickson	...	Bar Waitress
Owen Bush	...	Vagrant
Jesse Woodrow	...	Roach Coach Clerk
James Marsh	...	Barry (as Jamie Marsh)
Michael McCleery	...	Recycling Owner
Terrence Howard	...	Jimmy (as Terrence Dashon Howard)
Sean Nepita	...	Freddie

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:16 (bw) | Ireland:18 | New Zealand:R13 | Singapore:R(A) | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Spain:13 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Bakersfield, California, USA

Company:

Dogstar Films

Quotes:

Nick: I love you.
Lissa: Why do you think I'm doing this?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Dialogue: An Interview with Screenwriter Ted Griffin (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Faithful & True

Good, Underrated Cinema.

I just picked Best Laid Plans up at the video store simply because there was nothing that looked better. Well, even though this isn't a great film, it was probably better than all those other videos in the store that day!

Best Laid Plansd is a dark crime thriller about Nick (Alessandro Nivola) who needs to raise some cash urgently to pay off some mob debts. He enlist his girlfriend Lissa (Reese Witherspoon) to seduce an old college buddy, Bryce (Josh Brolin), out of his cash and to cry rape. However, things do not go to plan when Bryce takes Lissa hostage and asks Nick for advice on what to do.

Director Mike Barker has really gone for the Tarantino side of filmmaking, which he does impressively. Surprisingly, Best Laid Plans is actually better than some of the Quentin Tarantino projects, including Reservoir Dogs and Jackie Brown. It is more intriguing and clever than those two films due to an excellent screenplay and some really good performances; particularly from the rather unlikeable Alessandro Nivola and the stunning Reese Witherspoon.

Not faultless, but perfectly watchable and recommendable.

I rate Best Laid Plans 7 out of 10.