MovieChat Forums > Out of Sight (1998) Discussion > I have a question...(SPOILERS)

I have a question...(SPOILERS)


Given that the George Clooney character is a career criminal, why are we meant to find him sympathetic and why are we meant to cheer when she pairs him with an escape artist on his way back to prison at the end?

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Really?

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I know, 'Hope in Hades', it sounds obvious, but sometimes people just see things differently...

Okay, from my lowly standpoint, the deal is that like a LOT of other crime films where the main lead is a likable, charming guy, the main idea IS to get you to like him. Add to that a VERY well done romance between the two leads, and you have a formula for the audience to have a VERY strong desire that they not only get together (because you REALLY believe the feelings they have for each other) but because of that, you also hope that he gets away so that they can be together.

That's why I'm VERY glad they added that little snippet at the end that gives the audience a little hope

Now, movies that YOU are more likely referring to would be films where the criminals are NOT portrayed in a very sympathetic manner and the point of the film or moral is more strongly leading to how they kind of get what they deserve for their choices and actions leading up to the end.

Also, keep in mind that they had George Clooney do a HUGELY selfless thing in going back into the house to save the two people who he didn't particularly care about, thus causing him to get caught. That could be argued as an EXTREMELY powerful point in his favour...

I hope that this helps...



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it really depends on the director as to how he is treating the subject matter,recently there was another movie with character of bank robber called "The places beyond the pines" ,in this movie ,director has taken a completely different tone to the subject ,much more dramatic and serious tone

whereas in this movie ,its treated like a caper and fun journey with a light touch ,i think Soderbergh perfected this light touch further in the ocean series

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they gave specific reasons for the viewer to find him sympathetic and side with him in his hopes for freedom and romance with Lopez:

1) he never used a firearm in his robberies
2) outside of being a thief, he did adhere to certain morals and polite behavior. for example at the end he went back into the house to risk his life to save the maid from being raped and killed, when all he had to do was leave with Buddy and he would be home free with over 2 million in diamonds.

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QUOTE:

Given that the George Clooney character is a career criminal, why are we meant to find him sympathetic and why are we meant to cheer when she pairs him with an escape artist on his way back to prison at the end?


It sounds like you see the world in a very black and white color scheme.

In reality, the world is very much made up in infinite shades of gray.

Clooney's character was light gray but Maurice's character was deeply ominous.

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Many cynics and skeptics mistake their hubris negativity for actual intelligence.

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I didn't find him very sympathetic. The movie was pretty heavy-handed in trying to make him sympathetic, but it's hard to get around the fact that he is a serial bank robber who also showed he's not against using violence (assaulting the prison guard, kidnapping the marshall) to get what he wants. For anyone who looks at the movie with any degree of critical thought, it fails in this respect and in establishing the marshall's motivations for her romance with this man. If it happened all while she was kidnapped, we could put it down to Stockholm Syndrome, but this was just bad writing.

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I've never found Out of Sight to be the least bit heavy-handed, particularly in the writing or the depiction of the characters. Clooney's character is a criminal, but the film is written and constructed to put is firmly on his side, hence the narrative structure and the way Foley is positioned at somewhat of a crossroads in his life. Whether one allows themselves to believe in him and invest in him is another question, but the film allows that if the viewer will. With regards to the marshall, Jennifer Lopez's character, Karen Sisco, her first encounter with Foley establishes a connection that advances upon what's previously revealed about her in other scene. She has a soft spot for cowboy cops and dotes on her father, who Clooney looks a bit like. Whilst the conversation in the trunk comes with defences high that are broken into with a shared affection for movies and Foley's humour. She doesn't let her guard down, but stays on her mind and she on his because of a unique situation and how unique they are in each other's life's. It's brilliant writing and a first-class screenplay put over by terrific acting and ace directing. Pulp Fiction aside, there hasn't been a better film of this type in the past twenty five years, and I would say that Out of Sight actually adds layers to what was established by Tarantino.

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Because it’s George Clooney. Have you looked at him?

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