NO SUDDEN MOVE

US, 2022, 110 minutes, Colour.

Don Cheadle, Benicio del Toro, David Harbour, Kieran Culkin, Matt Damon, Jon Hamm, Brendan Fraser, Amy Semetz, Julia Fox, Bill Duke, Ray Liotta, Noah Jupe,

Directed by Steven Soderberg.

On one hand, the title is correct, all the characters having to be very cautious, weapons, blackmail, betrayals, all kinds of  caution

about decisive action. Which means, in fact, that the film is full of sudden moves.

Steven Soderberg has had quite a stellar career, making numerous films, all kinds of genres, and serving as his director of photography under a pseudonym. Sometimes the films work. Sometimes they don’t. This one works so well that the audience needs to keep paying attention to be able to follow the twists.

The focus is on a criminal, played by Don Cheadle, promised $5000 to do a job. He enlists the assistance of his friend played by Benicio del Toro. They also have an associate played by Kieran Culkin. And their control is the eventually rather sinister, Mr Jones, played by Brendan Fraser. They intrude into a household in order to retrieve a document. The father of the family, played by David Harbour, goes to the office to retrieve it, finds it missing, takes home a fake document.

All kinds of complications ensue, the need for the group to travel to interview an executive of a car manufacturing company (a cameo by Matt Damon). They hope to retrieve the document.

Some of complications include the role of Kieran Culkin, holding the wife and son hostage, his death. Then the machinations of Mr Jones and his confrontation and death. There is also a link with a Mafia boss, Ray Liotta, del Toro in a relationship with his wife.

There is also the detective, played by Jon Hamm, audience suspicions of him at times, but his bringing the case to a satisfactory end.

But, there is a complication with del Toro, escaping with the money with Ray Liotta’s wife – and her turning on him, killing him and taking the money.

There is also the theme of the environment, inventions, car manufacture, issues of pollution, government inspection and taxation.

A solid Steven Soderberg film.

1. A Soderberg thriller? His photography, direction? Working with familiar casts?
2. Detroit, 1950s, the credits and the photos, costumes and decor, setting? The role of Detroit, criminals in Chicago, corporate business and criminal activities and conspiracies? The final revelation about the companies and their concealing the techniques for diminishing pollution, the eventual introduction? And no charges laid?
3. The initial focus on Curt, walking, meeting up with his friend, the job, the money, the short time? Meeting up with Mr Jones? Driving? The introduction to Ronald Russo, the woman, the later revelation that she was the wife of the criminal, Frank?
4. The plan to retrieve documents, controlling Matt Wertz, Charlie and his role, the three going to the house, masked? The reaction of the wife, to continue making the breakfast, Matthew and his reactions, the little girl? Their being held hostage? The information about the affair with the secretary?
5. Charlie left with the hostages, the others going with Matt, to the office, his encounter with the secretary, his relationship with her and the plans? The safe, to retrieve the documents, their missing? Complications, the phone calls, Mr Jones in the car, Ronald and Curt returning to the house? Curt shooting Charlie? The police, the interrogation, the family describing the fact that the father had shot the intruder?
6. The police, the inspector, his staff, waiting outside the house, interrogating Matthew, the truth? The fact that he had been investigating these criminals?
7. Curt and Ronnie, working together, but also Ronnie intending to outwit Curt? Curt and his situation, prison, going to visit his girlfriend, retrieve his case, promising not to come again?
8. The tangle of authorities, Matt Wertz and his responsibilities, his being taken to see his boss, the masks again, the wife, the blanket over her, the bashing of the boss, his giving the documents?
9. The revelation of further tangles, phone calls, communications, the black criminals and their leader, confrontation with Curt?
10. Frank, gangster leadership, his wife, the fact that she was having an affair with Ronnie? Going to the meetings, the restaurant, the fights, the shooting?
11. The plan for everyone to be at the office? Mike Lowen, the chief boss, Swedish background, connections, the motor industry, the need for the documentation, curbing pollution, his plans and hold over the company is? The meeting with Curt and Ronnie, the money, his demands, seeming agreeable? The irony that the police were working for him, the recovery and return of the money?
12. Ronnie, the money, escaping with Vanessa, her shooting him? Her being arrested?
13. Curt, his future, the limited money, the meeting with Watkins? His escaping, future?