Two unlucky brothers try to pull off a major
heist during a NASCAR race in North Carolina. COMEDY/CRIME
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Logan Lucky (2017)Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Written by Rebecca Blunt Starring Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, Daniel Craig, Riley Keough, Katie Holmes, Farrah Mackenzie, Jack Quaid, Sam Gleeson, Seth MacFarlane, Sebastian Stan, Katherine Waterston, Hilary Swank, David Denman |
Logan Lucky is essentially the hillbilly Ocean's Eleven, but its inherent charm and remarkable screenplay keep it from becoming a caricature and help make it a great sendoff for Steven Soderbergh. It plays with the lives of realistic people trying to make do with the hand they're dealt, and its impressive cast does a great job of pulling that off. 2017 seems to be the year of the heist film, what with Baby Driver setting the bar earlier this summer and now Logan Lucky succeeding it. It's funny, quirky, bizarre, dramatic, and most of all smart.
Channing Tatum plays construction worker Jimmy Logan, who decides to rob Charlotte Motor Speedway after he's fired on a technicality. He recruits his one-armed brother Clyde, played by Adam Driver, and an incarcerated bleached-blonde demolitions expert called Joe Bang, in what may be the most unforgettable performance of Daniel Craig's career. Together, they put together an intricate plan that seems half-assed but is actually pretty good when enacted. The cast plays off of each other really well and is the main reason why this film worked so well. They walk the fine line between comedy and drama that helps keep the film from drifting too far into either territory too much. Logan Lucky marks the end of an illustrious career for director Steven Soderbergh. It's the culmination of everything he's done, and pulls elements from previous films like the Ocean trilogy and even Magic Mike. It's a well-rounded heist film that treats its characters like people living real lives and succeeds because of it. I've no doubt it will see great success amidst a rather disappointing summer movie season. |