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Best laid plans

Threat advisory: High - High risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

In the thriller Best laid plans, Alessandro Nivola plays Nick, a young man in his early twenties, whose life is going nowhere. Working in a recycling plant, Nick's only highlight in his life is a new-found romance with Lissa (Reese Witherspoon), a veterinarian's assistant. The two are desperate to leave the depressing town of Tropico, but have no means to make their exit. In search of money, Nick learns from some friends a quick way to make some cash and is persuaded to commit a robbery.

What seems a simple crime quickly turns into a life-threatening disaster. Frantic to extract himself from his predicament, Nick convinces Lissa to help in an elaborate sting on his friend Bryce (Josh Brolin). After a series of unexpected twists and turns, Nick finds himself making difficult moral decisions which may affect the strength of his relationship with Lissa. Each frantic to extract themselves from their predicament, they find they must make difficult moral decisions with life-altering consequences - discovering that even the best laid plans can go wrong...

Also starring Rocky Carroll as the bad ass dude. Directed by Mike Barker from an original screenplay by Ted Griffin.

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Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

Anti-hero loser tries hand at crime and comes off third best. See also Lock, stock and two smoking barrels.

Best laid plans is about American losers but it's still very watchable; while there's a high white trash component it's not at the expense of depth of character. The best thing is that everyone in this film is a loser: their relative status in life is determined by how much of a loser they are.

Alessandro Nivola is the spunky anti-hero, falling into the wrong situations by dint of bad luck. What he does while he's at the bottom of the heap (lie, cheat, steal) is what this fim is about. That's good and so's he. I approve of Alessandro's being cast. Scarily enough, Reese Witherspoon is better as the slut than she is as the nice girl. It's funny what a little challenge will do for an actor. Josh Brolin is great as the preppy putz: arrogant, condescending and desperate.

Like all good black 90s anti-morality morality films, Best laid plans is full of twists and misplaced trust. Nothing is what it seems. When the final turn of the screws nails you to your seat you will feel well and truly hammered. It's a nice feeling for a Hollywood film.