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- What Happens in Logan Lucky?
- Logan Lucky Is Expertly Made, Wonderfully Cast, and Riotously Funny
- Logan Lucky Is One of Soderbergh’s Best
As a film enthusiast with over two decades of cinematic adventures under my belt, I wholeheartedly concur with this insightful analysis. Steven Soderbergh has once again proven his mastery of storytelling and character development with “Logan Lucky.” The film’s pacing, twists, and turns are reminiscent of a well-oiled machine, each piece fitting snugly into place to create a captivating narrative.
Even after nearly four decades in the industry, Steven Soderbergh continues to astonish us with fresh approaches. Known as one of the most active independent filmmakers of his time, his movies stand out as distinct from typical studio productions. Though not every production of his is a success, his body of work remains impressively consistent over the years. Among his numerous masterpieces, his debut, Sex, Lies and Videotape, stands as an introspective and contemplative treasure, Out of Sight offers a thrilling experience, and he revitalized the heist genre for a new audience with his captivating Ocean’s Eleven series.
Yet for as massive a filmography as Soderbergh has, arguably one of his best is 2017’s Logan Lucky, his return to filmmaking after a brief retirement. Sadly, it also stands as one of his most overlooked; despite massive critical acclaim, it flopped at the box office, barely recouping its $29 million budget and facing harsh competition from Annabelle: Creation and The Hitman’s Bodyguard. Nonetheless, Logan Lucky holds up as one of the best heist movies of the last decade, and it deserves the audience it’s finding on Netflix.
What Happens in Logan Lucky?
The movie Logan Lucky mainly revolves around Jimmy Logan, a former football player turned blue-collar construction worker, whose career was cut short by a leg injury. When unexpected job loss strikes, he turns to his brother Clyde, an Iraq War veteran who lost an arm in combat, as they both find themselves in a tight financial spot and seek a solution.
Previously involved in digging tunnels beneath the Charlotte Motor Speedway, Jimmy devises a scheme to swindle the racetrack for quick wealth. A significant portion of the movie’s early scenes, following the pattern common in heist films, shows Jimmy and Clyde gathering their team to execute the plan. The team is bolstered by a diverse set of characters, allowing each actor to showcase their talents effectively.
Riley Keough portrays Mellie, Jimmy’s sister, who comes on board as the skilled getaway driver. Swiftly demonstrating her sharp intellect, this role allows Keough to deliver humorous understated performances. Besides Mellie, Jimmy also enlists Daniel Craig’s character, Joe Bang, a brilliantly erratic safe-cracker serving time in prison, for his demolition expertise. In need of assistance, Joe enlists his not-so-bright brothers, Sam and Fish, to aid him. During his free time, Jimmy reconnects with an old classmate, Sylvia (Katherine Waterston), who continues to evoke fond feelings within him.
Reaching the halfway mark, following Soderbergh’s signature style, it’s full steam ahead! Jimmy and his crew make a daring attempt to free Joe from prison for the day, execute a heist, return him to jail, and complete everything on time so that Jimmy can watch his daughter compete in her beauty pageant. As such, Logan Lucky skillfully combines traditional and humorous capers, aiming to keep us amused rather than making fun of our protagonists; we’re left uncertain if they possess the necessary intelligence to pull off their scheme successfully.
Logan Lucky Is Expertly Made, Wonderfully Cast, and Riotously Funny
Through his “Ocean’s” trilogy, it’s clear that Steven Soderbergh excels at crafting thrilling heist movies even with his eyes shut. Within moments of watching “Logan Lucky”, it becomes apparent that he hasn’t lost a step after his brief retirement. The film is meticulously paced, drawing us in immediately and spending the first half making us invest emotionally in Jimmy and Clyde before ramping up the action in the second half as the plan unfolds. What’s more, Soderbergh masterfully times surprise twists to keep us on our toes, particularly when the heist appears to be unraveling.
It also cannot be overstated how much Soderbergh benefits from his ensemble cast, as everyone on display is terrific. Channing Tatum gives Jimmy Logan just the right amount of pathos and makes his character easy to love, even if he’s not the smoothest guy on the planet. Adam Driver underplays Clyde, which proves a valuable asset on the comedic front, as his understated delivery makes his great material even funnier. Everyone gets at least one moment worthy of being called a scene-stealer, from Hilary Swank as the FBI agent suspicious of the crew to Sebastian Stan as a NASCAR driver to Seth MacFarlane as his pretentious British sponsor.
However, it’s Daniel Craig who steals the show with his unexpectedly captivating portrayal. In stark contrast to the serious and somber roles he played previously, Craig brings energy and intensity as Joe Bang in Logan Lucky. Sporting bleached hair, facial tattoos, and a wild screen presence, he perfectly embodies this chaotic character. This performance was so impressive that it paved the way for Craig to be cast in Knives Out, demonstrating his ability to deliver high-quality comedic performances, which many would not have anticipated from him.
Essentially, Logan Lucky serves as an intriguing counterpart to Soderbergh’s Ocean’s trilogy. Unlike the previous films, which were characterized by their stylish flair and impeccably smooth characters who appeared to be far more intelligent than everyone else in the room, Logan Lucky delivers its rewards subtly. At first glance, a redneck heist might seem like a mere gimmick, but the film’s joy lies in our growing understanding that Jimmy and Clyde Logan are far more intelligent than they appear to be at first sight. As events unfold, we come to appreciate that Jimmy’s intellect is not only equal to but also capable of orchestrating a con as intricate as any devised by Danny Ocean himself.
Logan Lucky Is One of Soderbergh’s Best
In a career marked by diversity and quality, Logan Lucky stands out among Steven Soderbergh’s films as one of his most undervalued masterpieces. Though it may lack the depth of Sex, Lies, and Videotape or the sheen of Out of Sight, this film is a delightful heist comedy brimming with humor and universally impressive performances. Sadly, it didn’t receive the box office success it deserved in 2017, but like its central character, its true brilliance has become more apparent over time. Currently, you can stream Logan Lucky on Netflix.
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2024-09-02 00:31