--- title: "Out of Sight: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/out-of-sight/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/out-of-sight" critics_score: 80 critics_reviews: 7 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Out of Sight (1998): what the critics said Critics' score 80 from 7 reviews: 6 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative. The reviews are warm and largely of one mind. Praise clusters on Soderbergh’s direction: the way he mixes suspense, comedy and romance, the flashbacks and pacing, and a mise en scène that gives the ensemble room to work. The chemistry between Clooney and Lopez is mentioned by nearly everyone, and one critic treats the film as Clooney’s breakthrough and Soderbergh’s comeback. Scott Frank’s adaptation of the Elmore Leonard novel is credited with the bright dialogue, and one review calls it the best Leonard adaptation to reach the screen so far. Reservations are scarce; a couple of critics find the central affair strange as well as charming, and one senses a disquiet beneath the pleasure. The spread is narrow apart from a single dissent. Eye for Film finds the plot daft, the style misjudged, the gags flat and the action contrived, while conceding the leads have chemistry in the trunk scene. Everyone else finds it sly, sexy and well made. ## Empire — Ian Nathan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The film marks Clooney's breakthrough and Soderbergh's comeback as a classy, sexy, laid-back Elmore Leonard adaptation with strong ensemble chemistry and witty direction. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/sight-review/) ## Time Out — GA Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. The critic praises Soderbergh's assured direction in mixing suspense, comedy and romance with strong erotic tension from the Clooney-Lopez pairing. The film's pacing, wit and subtle storytelling stand out as its greatest strengths. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/out-of-sight) ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 27 November 1998. It is the best screen translation of an Elmore Leonard novel yet, thanks to its effortless cool, flawless ensemble cast and warm, playful tone from Soderbergh. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/out-of-sight-review/) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 22 June 1998. The critic calls it a sly, sexy, vastly entertaining film that represents Soderbergh's most ambitious and accomplished work, with bright dialogue and blissful chemistry between Clooney and Lopez. The review singles out the bizarre but enchanting central romantic affair and meticulous mise en scene that lets the ensemble shine. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1998/film/reviews/out-of-sight-2-1200453964/) ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 4/5. Clooney and Lopez sizzle in this sexy, sly crime caper that blends heist roots with romantic comedy. Soderbergh's visual style, flashbacks and sharp script create a suspenseful, sophisticated and humorous result. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-zdixte/out-of-sight/) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 6 July 1998. The review highlights that the film turns out to be a good George Clooney movie with a beautiful adaptation by Scott Frank and strong direction from Soderbergh that reaches the difficult core of its hero. It notes the central romantic affair as charming and the film as funny and pleasurable while touching on a more radical disquiet. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1998/07/06/jack-be-quick) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Rating NYT Critic’s Pick. 26 June 1998. The critic praises the sultry chemistry between George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez and Steven Soderbergh's panache in directing this Elmore Leonard adaptation into a steamy, star-crossed romance. The film's hard-boiled cinematography and accessible yet idiosyncratic style are singled out as making it work like a dream. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/26/movies/he-s-a-thief-she-s-a-marshal-they-re-an-item.html) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 19 January 2001. The critic finds the plot daft and criticizes Soderbergh for misjudging the style, focusing too much on Clooney, and failing to balance comedy and thrills, resulting in ineffective gags, weak romance, and contrived action. Notes the good chemistry between the leads in the trunk scene. [Read the review](http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/out-of-sight-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/out-of-sight.md