“That’s a lot of thinking’ for a Logan.”
Steven Soderbergh has a knack for creating fun films. From the likes of Oceans 11, Haywire and Magic Mike, he has flawlessly perfected the art of the ensemble piece, an accomplishment he delivers on with his newest endeavor, the NASCAR heist comedy Logan Lucky.
Channing Tatum and Adam Driver star as brothers Jimmy and Clyde Logan, a pair of redneck guys who can’t seem to outrun the supposed family curse. But luck appears to be on their side when Jimmy conceives a so-crazy-itjust-might-work plan to loot the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
In typical Soderbergh fashion, the film contains a wealthy number of plot twists and turns, mixed in with some well timed comedy and a few key time jumps, all of which will likely prompt the need for a second viewing. But much like the Oceans films, Logan Lucky is simple, straightforward and light, allowing you to sit back, relax, and bask in all things Daniel Craig, who steals every scene he is in as bleached blonde, currently incarcerated bomb expert Joe Bang.
As the film hits its stride and we begin to realize that there is more than meets the eye with our group of southern slingin’ criminals, you can’t help but appreciate the attention that Soderbergh pays to his characters. Their emotional range is highly unusual for a film of this magnitude as you witness the ups and downs of single parenting, unemployment, dismemberment and a hot temper. Throw in a woman who knows her way around a stick and the wheels are all covered.
But with every heist film, half the fun is watching just how everything pans out. From the getaway car to Driver’s hilarious attempt to get thrown in jail so he can help get Bang out, the timing is meticulous, allowing a fun, even flow narrative. Soderbergh also does a swell job refusing to get bogged down in the clichés, maneuvering through the required scenes with precision, ultimately offering up a southern satire of Oceans 11, a painfully obvious comparison that I’d be foolish to ignore, worth seeing.
In the midst of a well calculated prison riot, viewers will be greeted with a justified Game of Thrones jab, LeAnn Rimes will do the National Anthem justice, and Clyde’s prosthetic arm will get caught in the vacuum. But Logan Lucky proves to be much more than all this as actors are cast opposite their personal stereotype and subtle clues pave ways to the heart of the story. And when we return to West Virginia for a high stakes beauty pageant, you can’t help but sit back and take a deep breath, realizing full well that you are witnessing the most American film of the summer.
