150 Word Review: “No Sudden Move” (2021)

Summary

Steven Soderbergh's "No Sudden Move" is a stylish crime thriller set in 1950s Detroit, showcasing Don Cheadle's exceptional acting prowess amidst a cast of quirky characters involved in a high-stakes automotive industry heist.

Abstract

Director Steven Soderbergh's latest film, "No Sudden Move," is a confident and stylized crime thriller that transports viewers to the 1950s Detroit underworld. The narrative centers around a plot involving double-crossing gangsters, conmen, and corrupt businessmen, all vying for secret plans that could revolutionize the automotive industry by reducing pollution but at the cost of profits. The film's standout feature is Don Cheadle's magnetic performance, which critics feel deserves more recognition. Cheadle's character anchors the film with his intensity and thoughtfulness, while the supporting cast, including Benicio Del Toro, Jon Hamm, and David Harbor, add to the movie's charm with their unique portrayals. The plot revolves around the theft of these environmentally friendly car plans, highlighting the tension between corporate greed and environmental responsibility.

Opinions

Don Cheadle's acting is underscored as the film's gravitational center, with praise for his ability to be affable, intense, thoughtful, and intimidating.
The film is seen as an opportunity to fully appreciate Cheadle's talents, suggesting he does not receive the credit he deserves.
Benicio Del Toro is highlighted for his role as a quirky and cool dimwit character, adding to the film's charm.
Jon Hamm and David Harbor's characters are noted for their contrasting roles: Hamm as a straightlaced G-Man and Harbor as a humorous yet greedy and spineless figure reminiscent of a Coen Brothers character.
The plot is described as a classic noir tale of greed and deception, with a contemporary twist addressing the conflict between industrial profits and environmental concerns.

Soderbergh’s stylish noir stars an equally stylish Don Cheadle

Director Steven Soderbergh’s new crime thriller No Sudden Move is a confident quasi-historical tale of double-and-triple crossing gangsters, conmen, and crooks in 1950s Detroit but it’s really an opportunity to appreciate Don Cheadle. I do not think Cheadle gets enough credit as an actor. He’s affable, intense, thoughtful. Intimidating when he wants to be. He is the source of all gravity in No Sudden Moves, the movie’s many other charms orbiting around him.

And there are plenty of charms, including co-star Benicio Del Toro, who is at his quirky best supporting Cheadle as a cool dimwit having an affair with a mob boss’s wife. Jon Hamm is an appropriately straightlaced G-Man and David Harbor is a Coen Brothers-like beancounter, greedy and spineless. The plot? An automobile executive will pay big money for secret plans that would cut down on car pollution but cut into profits. Ain’t that how it is?

150 Word Review: “No Sudden Move” (2021)

Soderbergh’s stylish noir stars an equally stylish Don Cheadle

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