Chris here. Tucked away in late summer is Steven Soderbergh's Soderbergh's official return from cinematic retirement Logan Lucky. Why is this return so quiet with little fanfare? Well, probably because we always knew that retirement wasn't going to last long anyway - and maybe if Soderbergh is back, he'll stay low-key.
However, from the looks of the first trailer, Logan Lucky will be anything but a low-key romp. Soderbergh is back to the ensemble heist capers he turned into big hits with the Ocean's films, this time even more broadly idiosyncratic and silly. This film's heist seeks to pull one over on NASCAR, with the lovable thieves a set of goofy oddballs that sound more at home in the land of Coens than Soderbergh. Take a look at the first trailer, and we'll discuss the Yes No Maybe So after the jump...
YES
- This cast! It may not be Ocean's-level wattage, but everyone looks smartly used to maximum comic effect. Even the inclusion of Katie Holmes as a straight shooter is welcome here. Hilary Swank as a self-serious villain? Genius!
- The ascension of Riley Keough. She's been building a profile including brilliant work last year in American Honey, and she promises to become a major talent. That hot pink jacket!
- It's not a bad thing to get so much of a Coens vibe, but Soderbergh's visual wit speaks for itself here.
- The actual heist doesn't look all that convoluted or twisty. The marketing may be relying on Ocean's cache, but it looks significantly different all around.
- When is the last time Daniel Craig got to have fun? Looks like he's having a ball...
NO
- ... but that bleached look is terrifying!
- Everything I said about the ensemble? I had momentary amnesia about Seth MacFarlane.
- How obvious will the flyover state satire be? Let's hope it doesn't go for the easy hillbilly jokes.
MAYBE SO
- This is opening during the usual August doldrums? Looks like this will land right when we need it.
- Can they take down NASCAR completely, and not just one stadium? Pretty please?
- Even less substantial Soderbergh films have their small delights. If this end of being far from his best, something special is bound to pop.
I am emphatic YES on this, but tell us what you think in the comments!