Logan Lucky

I really wasn't interested in this film until the reviews came in and I learned some more about it. Its positive reception by critics, its director and genre was enough to convince me to take it in. However, the biggest flaw of "Logan Lucky" is that it was hard to follow the plot. When I first saw any of the films in "Ocean's Trilogy", the plot with its flashbacks was such that I was able to keep track of what was going on. The screenplay for "Logan Lucky" had a few plot points in the climax that confused me to the degree that I failed to be entertained. At least the acting in this film was good. That aspect did wonders in establishing the setting of the heist. It is hard not to compare this film with "Ocean's Trilogy" because all three movies are mentioned on the movie poster for "Logan Lucky".

When you watch a previous heist movie directed by Steven Soderbergh, it is not just the climax that is exciting and entertaining but also the majority of the movie as the thieves prepare for the job and encounter snags. For "Logan Lucky", the best part of the movie is rightfully the climax but everything preceding it wasn't exciting and entertaining on its own. It seemed like I was being shown too many plot points that would pay off later in the movie and I felt pressure to keep track of them all. After the film was over, I was left with a few plot holes. I am betting there were no actual plot holes in the story but the mistake by the filmmakers was not helping me keep the whole story straight. Even "Ocean's Twelve" was easy enough to follow and the only part of the story that bothered the audience was how the team was going to get away. The two plot holes I was left with from the ending of "Logan Lucky " was the smoker and when Clyde & Joe run into Dayton White & Max Chilblain. Was it just luck that White and Chilblain had a falling out and that White would not corroborate Chilblain's story? If so, that is pretty lazy writing. As for the smoker, I forget if we were shown when Jimmy recruits him. At least the film did a good job of establishing the character of Jimmy as someone we can sympathize with. I was able to understand during the climatic flashback that Jimmy and Clyde did not trust Sam and Fish and therefore planned to only rob a little money with little risk. That is probably why the original target of the robbery was going to be the carshow. Once the date is changed, they know that only chance they have of pulling off the robbery is to either let Sam and Fish be caught or return most of the money if the robbery ended up succeeding. The confusion resulting from the failed electrical grid and the Speedway management's satisfaction with the recovered loot allows the team to escape justice.

Steven Soderbergh came out of directorial retirement because he liked how the script was the antithesis of one of his Ocean's movies but was still in the heist genre. It is very suspicious that no one really knows who screenwriter Rebecca Blunt is. I believe the theory that it is a pseudonym. As mentioned, the acting was the best part of the movie. You believe their performances and you believe you are watching characters native to West Virginia. Channing Tatum did his job well but I think his supporting cast members deserve most of the credit. Adam Driver and Seth MacFarlane deserve recognition for how well they transformed into their characters. The special effects with Driver's arm fooled me and I forgot that the actor really has two arms (unless he loses one in "The Last Jedi"). MacFarlane will never cease to amaze me because just when I think he has exhausted his ability to come up with a unique character voice, he proves me wrong. I probably would not have even recognized him if I had not seen his name on the movie poster beforehand. Speaking of that, I love how it says "and introducing Daniel Craig as Joe Bang" on the film's poster. Considering Craig's fame as a certain British spy, I am amazed by how well he pulled off a redneck character. Fun fact: both Craig and Driver were in "The Force Awakens" because Craig had a small cameo as Stormtrooper FN-007 (get it?). I also forgot that Sebastian Stan was going to be in this show. David Holmes composed the musical score and the only other film scores I have heard of his were those for "Ocean's Trilogy". The score for "Logan Lucky" provided the same mood as those three films but substituted the glam for southern country. That is noteworthy. I also took note of the use of the songs "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and "Fortunate Son".

I like glitzy feeling of Soderbergh's previous works but I understand that wouldn't have worked for this script's setting. What truly bothered me though was the difficulty in keeping the story straight. The acting is what saved this movie and there were other entertaining elements as well. I am hoping "Ocean's Eight" will be better than this.

3 Stars out of 5