Although he became a star in the 1990s, fans might have missedSamuel L. Jackson’s excellent cameoat the end ofOut of Sight. Based on the novel by Elmore Leonard,Out of Sightstars George Clooneyas escaped convict Jack Foley, who has a run-in with US Marshal Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez), with the two forming an unexpected connection.
The movie maintains its slick crime movie vibe while also exploring this unconventional romance between an outlaw determined to stay out of prison and the determined cop looking to put him back behind bars. It all leads to a pitch-perfect ending that helped to cement it as one of thebest crime movies of the ’90s.
The climax ofOut of Sightreaches its inevitable conclusion as Karen arrests Jack, choosing to do her job rather than letting her feelings for him interfere. The final scene sees Jack getting ready to be transported back to prison, but Karen arranged to escort another prisoner at the same time, introducingSamuel L. Jackson’s character, Hejira Henry.
While making small talk, Jack comes to learn that Henry is also an escaped convict, having previously broken out of nine prisons. He also learns that Karen made sure Jack and Henry would be traveling together, hinting that she was helping to arrange it, so Jack could join their escape artist on his next planned breakout.
Jackson nails the small role, matching George Clooney’s cool line deliveries. He had already become a major star thanks to hisbreakout role inPulp Fictionand his blockbuster role inDie Hard: With a Vengeance. To see Jackson suddenly appear in this final scene was a great surprise that brought one last shock.
The reveal of Karen’s plan gives a crowd-pleasing ending to the story that makes sense. Karen was not about to let Jack walk away free, but once he is back in prison, it’s not her responsibility to make sure he stays. It also suggests this is how their relationship can continue, with him on the run and her chasing him.
Out Of Sight’s Cast Helps Make It One Of The Coolest Movies Of The ’90s
WhileSteven Soderbergh and George Clooneylater collaborated on theOcean’smovies,Out of Sightremains their best project together. Though not a box office hit when it was released, it was a critical success, earning 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. It has also come to be regarded as one of thegreat underrated movies of the 1990s.
Part of the reason the movie maintains its “cool” factor after so many years is its incredible cast, including Samuel L. Jackson’s cameo. George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez have wonderful chemistry together, selling this strange romance at the center of the crime story. They are backed by a perfect ensemble of wonderful ’90s actors.
Ving Rhames is endearing as Jack’s loyal partner, Buddy. Dennis Farina is warm as Karen’s caring father. Albert Brooks has a fun role as a white-collar criminal who gets mixed up with some dangerous people. Jackson also isn’t the only cameo, as Michael Keaton reprises hisJackie Brownrole as FBI agent Ray Niccolette.
However,the scene-stealer of the movie is Don Cheadle as Snoopy Miller, an amateur boxer who becomes a wannabe gangster. He manages to be both menacing and hilarious in the part, making for a seriously underrated ’90s villain. Even Viola Davis had a small role before she became an acclaimed star in her own right.
These perfectly cast roles makeOut of Sightfeel even cooler as a slick ’90s crime movie that still holds up decades later.
