I finally found 3 reasons why Out of Sight breaks the convention of crime movies (& yet it's a masterpiece)

Out of Sight breaks the convention of crime movies, and that is one of the reasons why it is indeed a masterpiece.

Helmed by Steven Soderbergh, it was released back in 1998. But now, when we look back at this classic crime film, we realise how ahead of its time this movie was. It is based on a 1996 novel by Elmore Leonard, carrying the same homonym.

Upon its release, the film has been widely appreciated, whopping 94% score at Rotten Tomatoes. The film has been applauded for many factors, which include the storytelling, direction, casting, performances, music, characterisations, as well as the overall tone of the movie.

The film follows the plot of an expert bank robber, Jack, who finds himself falling for the U.S. Marshall Karen. Both characters at the opposite ends of their morals find themselves falling in love with one another, despite the constant internal conflicts.

The film stars an ensemble of talented actors, including Jennifer Lopez, George Clooney, Ving Rhames, Don Cheadle, and more.

Let's find out 3 reasons why Out of Sight breaks the conventions of a crime film.

3 reasons that make Out of Sight an unconventional crime movie

1) No tragic backstory of the criminal protagonist

Unlike many crime and heist stories, we witness a whole backstory behind the criminal's motives to carry out such crimes. Usually, the storylines are rooted in trauma and violence.

However, in Out of Sight, we do not really witness any such storylines when it comes to the lead protagonist, the criminal Jack Foley (George Clooney). In fact, here, we rather witness a sharp, intelligent, and charismatic bank robber whose tranquility and ease just takes the character to the next level. He is quite composed and not necessarily an unstable, villainous man.

2) Unconventional storytelling

Out of Sight does not follow a linear narrative; it leaps from one time to another. And yet, it does not confuse the viewers and makes complete sense in its storytelling.

The story goes back to the past and to the present time. But it is done with ease, so one does not feel it to be unnecessary or too complex. Usually, in many crime films, we witness a heist or a crime scene, and it develops from there on. But in this film, it takes a complete U-turn from the usual ways of storytelling.

3) The villain's character treatment

The film's antagonist, Maurice "Snoopy" Miller (Don Cheadle), is not the quintessential villain. Despite having notorious intentions, he is not the kind of villain who is smarter and more powerful than the protagonist. In fact, Miller is kind of a nitwit.

Out of Sight, with all its elements of high-stakes crimes and romance, also has a kind of humor that works so well for the film. And it is amusing to watch a villain who is not as scheming and calculative, even though he really intends to seem like one.