Out of Time

'Out of Originality'

Denzel Washington is always considered to be above reproach when playing roles. With that said, he always plays the same roles. When he stops acting, he will have played more police roles than some tv police actors have episodes. He is almost always a strong tough black man who is an authority figure such as a detective, cop, navy officer, etc. Hell, in the Branagh Shakespeare film he plays the prince/king. Fortunately, he is quite good in this role type and he seems to realize that everyone thinks so as well. Yet, I would still like to see him try and do something outside his comfort zone like a nerdy scientist. All the same, he plays his typical role in this film and its quite sad that I can feel nothing new for him. Oh well.

Out of Time is a paint by numbers mystery/thriller. With that being said, the real shining moments are the tense bits that occur with Washington at the station trying to cover his tracks from his semi-divorced wife who was recently made detective and head of the case he would easily be suspected and put away for. Yes, Denzel is excellent and I love watching Eva Mendes in anything. Although she also needs something other than the hot chick or tough girl part. Perhaps the best part goes to Dean Cain who plays the villain and whom I didn't recognize until I read the credits. Yep, Supes is evil baby! and apparently a football player. The other main leads are fairly unknown such as Sanaa Lathan who is excellent as the damsel in distress and John Billingsley as Chae, the lovable comedic sidekick to Washington's straight man. Seriously, the twists and turns could be predictable but there is a nice familiarity with a piece like this. Despite the fact that the mystery ends too soon, the plot is familiar enough to let the audience know to just sit back. In fact, the saving grace of this movie is the setting which is supposed to be the Florida coast near Miami but I swear the settings reminded me a lot of New Orleans. Most of the shots caught that by the shore feel perfectly and added an exotic feel to the story that kept things fresh and interesting in the same way that there are so many beach murder mystery novels that I never read but always catch my eye when walking past the mystery sections. Unfortunately, the setting is pretty similar to some of Denzel's later works like Deja Vu and Man on Fire, rendering this film as a complete waste in Washington's canon. So yes, the story is pretty simple and has been told a thousand and one times, but it is conveyed well and it ties itself to the Florida coast exceedingly well through the cinematography. Also, this film had some of the best tension scenes that I have seen in a while. Now in the fighting, but between when Washington's wife would figure out that he is involved with everything. a lot of luck and some great timing elevate those scenes and the long introduction to the characters at the beginning pays off by having us as an audience care for Washington's character and screw ups and root for him to stay with Mendes. In this relationship the movie shines. So, directors of the world, watch this film to figure out how to set up a believable mounting tension sequence and for nothing else, except maybe some beautiful settings and shots. Washington, go do a screwball comedy or something. Anything! end the monotony and remind us why the world still respects you as an actor. Pull a Samuel Jackson and do Snakes on a Train, I don't care. Just switch shit up! Oh, and Carl Franklin proves he has a decent to good grasp of directing, now next time just try and get a better script that doesn't need to try and hide its defects with a lame comedic character.

2.9 out of 5

Wannabe