Best Laid Plans (1999)

A seemingly simple plan to steal money goes increasingly awry.

Director:

Mike Barker

Writer:

Ted Griffin

Stars:

Alessandro Nivola, Reese Witherspoon, Josh Brolin

1 win.

Cast

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

Storyline

Bryce (Josh Brolin) is a successful man who returns to his tiny hometown for a visit. While there, he runs into his old friend Nick (Alessandro Nivola). The two decide to go out for the night. When they enter a bar, Bryce encounters Kathy (Reese Witherspoon), a blonde temptress whom he eventually takes home for the night. When he awakens, Kathy informs him that she is underage and threatens to tell the police that Bryce has committed statutory rape. Bryce panics and decides to tie her up and hide her away in the basement. He then makes a call to Nick. Unbeknownst to Bryce, Kathy is actually Nick's girlfriend Lissa. The two had schemed to use Bryce's money to pay off a $15,000 debt they owe small-time hood Jimmy (Terrence Howard).

---

Plot Keywords:

nutshell | internal revenue service | killing an animal | loss of pet | billiard table | 

---

Taglines:

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.

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 May 1999 (UK)

Also Known As:

El engaño

Filming Locations:

Sea Breeze Restaurant-since moved; 23d and R Streets; Bakersfield, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$14,872, 12 September 1999, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$25,651, 19 September 1999

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dogstar Films, Fox 2000 Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Bryce: She's sixteen. I mean, what 21-year-old carries around a fake ID saying she's 16? The girl downstairs is 16. Sixteen! I mean, it doesn't matter if she said no. It doesn't matter if she screamed yes, and had a notary public certify it; she's underage! It's statutory! If she presses charges, I will go to jail!
Nick: So I guess a second date's out of the question, then, huh?

---

Alternate Versions

The DVD contains some deleted scenes:

• Alternate Opening Titles featuring a vagrant named Cal, riding a bicycle decorated with recycling goods.
• At the pool Nick and Bryce discuss what to do with Lissa.
• Cal collects some tins.
• Nick and Lissa sell the belongings of Nicks's deceased father.
• An extended version of the scene where Nick and Lissa plan to leave Tropico. Here Lissa tells Nick that she wants to get out at all cost.
• A longer version of the scene on the roof of the hotel which fleshes out Lissa's devotion to Nick.
• An extended version of the scene where Nick and Lissa plan the robbery.
• Nick kills some time, buys some cigarettes and inadvertently starts the bush fire.
• An alternate ending which is not as clearly positive as in the final film, but is instead "hopeful".

---

Connections

References The Heartbreak Girl (1985)

---

Soundtracks

Tijuana Lady
Written by Ian Ball, 'Paul Blackburn', Thomas Gray, Benjamin Jo Attewell and Oliver Jame Peacock
Performed by Gomez
Courtesy of Virgin Records Ltd.
By Arrangement with Virgin Records America, Inc.

User Reviews

Clever, but leaves you wanting more.

"Best Laid Plans" has invited a lot of comparisons with "The Usual Suspects", but with its caper-plan-gone-awry storyline it reminded me more of "Palmetto" - except that it's not as good as either of those films. The whole set-up is rather laborious, and the payoff, while clever, doesn't really amount to much. Ultimately, this is a very unexceptional movie; you can easily find many of its equivalents in the "crime" section of your local video store. What makes it worth your time are the performances; Nivola, in particular, has an engagingly laid-back presence and Reese Witherspoon is good as usual. (**1/2)