Out of Time

Review by Clint Morris

Matt Lee Whitlock [Denzel Washington], chief of police in the discolored Florida Gulf Coast town of Banyan Key, is about to get in over his head.

He and his soon to be ex-wife Alex (Eva Mendes), who has just been promoted to detective of homicide in Miami, discover the body of two folks, one belonging to a woman Whitlock was having an affair with.

Soon enough, Whitlock finds that he is implicated in the murders – thanks to his secret affair with the dead woman - and soon to be a prime suspect because all the evidence, which has snared him in a net of falsehood and deception, points his way.

Racing against the clock, Whitlock sets out to solve the who’s, why’s, where’s and how’s before the authorities catch up with his secret.

Put one of those floppy hats on him, a tiny umbrella in his drink and some suntan lotion on his nose, and you’d definitely have Denzel Washington looking like he was on Holiday.

But even without those elements, he seems to look quite unperturbed and relaxed in his latest film. It’s not too hard to believe this enjoyable but straightforward thriller might be what the Oscar Winner calls vacation.

Directed by Carl Franklin, Out of Time is about the most unlikely vehicle you’d think Denzel Washington would be interested in. It’s very entertaining, but it’s hardly stellar filmmaking. And there’s nothing novel, nothing Oscar-worthy, not even anything highly praiseworthy about the film choice.

Yet, it’s refreshing for the audience to see him doing something so entertaining, without having to come pen and paper equipped ready to grade him for the next year’s Oscars. Having said that, it’s also one of the best films of it’s genre in quite a spell.

Having Denzel on board makes it so. He’s always solid and plays it many-sided; regardless of how clear-cut his character might have read on paper.

Coupled with a riveting script, full of the twists and turns lovers of the genre crave, Out of Time is an engrossing cinema experience.

3.5 out of 5

Out of Time
Australian release: Thursday January 22nd
Cast: Denzel Washington, Sanaa Lathan, Dean Cain, Eva Mendes.
Director: Carl Franklin.
Website: Click here.