‘No Sudden Move’ Review – A Tense Star-Studded Criminal Entanglement Event

Synopsis:

From director Steven Soderbergh comes No Sudden Move. Set in 1954 Detroit, No Sudden Move centers on a group of small-time criminals who are hired to steal what they think is a simple document. When their plan goes horribly wrong, their search for who hired them – and for what ultimate purpose – weaves them through all echelons of the race-torn, rapidly changing city.

Who do you trust? Yourself, your mailman, everyone? While I don’t recommend the latter, trust is a gamble regardless of who you lend it to. Sometimes it’s the trust of private information and emotions while other times it’s the trust of someone’s actions, all are important. It can be exhausting as well as consuming having to worry and wonder whether or not someone will break your trust or use it against you. It tends to result in people not trusting anyone, a broad trust of everyone, or oftentimes being so open in order to control the outcome and avoid being hurt or crossed by malicious intent. Trust is one of the most important aspects of life and should be treated as such. Therefore, the betrayal of it can result in and a multitude of responses and actions, including violence. So, whatever your process or plan of action is, protect yourself and be careful because you just never know.

“Who set me up, Jimmy?”

Crime, money, drama, and scandalous behavior are in full swing in Steven Soderbergh’s No Sudden Move. The film is a tense star-studded criminal entanglement event that plays with historical context. Playing out like a gritty whodunit, we are presented with a plate of gangster and a buffet of corporate corruption. Anchored by terrific performances by Don Cheadle and David Harbour, the film surprises with twists and turns and subtle humor that liven Soderbergh films. With trust being the weighted theme, it’s highly entertaining to see that trust be tested multiple times. While the film may not be groundbreaking to some, I had fun with the storyline and character chemistry. I was fully invested in knowing the outcome and seeing how two characters that disliked each other inside and out were going to plot, scheme, and scam their way to their desired outcomes without being killed in the process. The story deals with greed, infidelity, pride, and lets you know along the way that everyone and no one is fully cognizant of who is pulling the strings.

For all that is going on in the film, the tone is suspiciously calm which adds a humorous layer of absurdity to the entire thing. This isn’t a story where you the characters go through some life-altering situation that changes who they are, this is a story of comeuppance and survival. No one is safe and no one can be trusted, even when trust is necessary. I thought the production design is great; I love seeing classic cars and hairdos, the score blossoms the mysterious gangster ambiance, and it left me wanting a deeper dive into some of its characters. No Sudden Move is a film that easily could’ve been a series instead. I had a good time with it. Its rewatchability is high.

Pacing & Pop

While its tone pacing is rather tempered, its happenings are not and I think that pairing makes for an immersive experience.  What really popped for me was the historical aspect. While reality may not have fully played out as the film did, it’s fun and creative to see how Soderbergh and Solomon transform this segment of American history.

Characters & Chemistry

While I feel that Don Cheadle and David Harbour steal the show when it come down to performances, I really enjoyed the chemistry between Cheadle’s Curt and Benicio Del Toro’s character Ronald. It is always entertaining to see characters that would never want to interact with each other be thrown into a scenario where they have team up or else. With two very different motives and both being criminals from opposite ends, they have no choce but to trust each other, even though they don’t. I wish we could’ve gotten more from Noah Jupe’s character since’s he is a phenomenal actor. Also, we never quite get enough of Julia Fox or Jon Hamm. After this, I’m conviced that I need a Bill Duke and Ray Liotta gangster film where they control rival gangs.

No Sudden Move is currently streaming on HBO Max as of July 1, 2021. Stay safe and enjoy.

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Writer: Ed Solomon

Producer: Casey Silver

Executive Producer: Julie M. Anderson

Rated: R

Runtime: 1h 55m

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GRDLX3a-IE]

Dom Fisher

Senior Critic. Observing the human race since 1988.