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).

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Taglines:

Relationships can be murder.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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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

Nick: We're fucked.
Lissa: You're telling me.

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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".

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Connections

References Butts Afire (1992)

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Soundtracks

You Must Be An Angel
Written by John Morton and Jim Wolfe
Courtesy of Three Under Music

User Reviews

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.